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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
April  9,  1896. 
collection  extant,  and  possibly  has  not  since  been  surpassed  if 
equalled.  It  was  truly  a  Fern  lover’s  paradise,  and  not  less  happy 
for  the  plants  it  contained,  particular  care  and  forethought  being 
given  to  those  gems  of  the  species  which  required  it.  At  this 
period,  some  thirty  years  ago,  a  veritable  craze  appeared  to  exist  on 
the  subject  of  Fern  culture  not  confined  to  hardy  kinds  alone,  for 
the  first  imported  (or  some  of  the  first)  G-leichenias  found  their 
home  here,  a  special  house  being  built  for  their  accommodation, 
one  plant  of  G.  Speluncm  afterwards  changing  hands  reluctantly 
for  sixty  guineas.  This  was,  of  course,  many  years  before  my 
time,  and  would  probably  be  about  or  prior  to  1830. 
Mv  memories  of  the  past  are,  I  fear,  running  away  with  me  all 
over  that  garden,  the  history  of  which,  so  far  as  Ferns  are  concerned, 
would  fill  a  volume  ;  yet  while  thinking  of  the  houses  I  would 
like  to  mention  that  tall  and  stately  Tree  Ferns  were  transferred 
from  them  during  the  summer  season  to  vantage  points  of  the 
hardy  fernery,  where  their  arching  fronds  were  the  crowning  glory 
of  the  lesser  Filices.  Masses  or  single  specimens  of  the  elegant 
crested  varieties  of  the  Lady  Fern,  Athyrium  Filix-foemina,  with 
the  darker-hued  Lastreas  and  all  but  evergreen  Scolopendriums 
were  plentifully  bestowed  about  the  banks,  and  in  some  cases  the 
wants  of  some  particular  kinds  were  specially  catered  for  ;  thus, 
for  instance,  the  Parsley  Fern  (Allosorus  crispus)  of  the  Yorkshire 
moors  was  planted  in  the  interstices  of  boulders  thrown  up  at  a 
sharp  angle  on  a  peat  foundation.  A  rare  form  of  Asplenium 
trichomanes  (cristata,  if  I  recollect  aright)  was  also  happy  in 
pounded  rubble. 
Impossible  as  it  is  for  me,  after  the  lapse  of  time,  to  enter  into 
a  detailed  account  of  species  and  varieties,  of  which,  I  believe, 
every  then  known  kind  was  represented  here,  and  some  of  which 
were  unique,  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  the  whole  summed  up  a 
collection  of  beauty  and  interest  which  is  still  vividly  presented  to 
my  mind.  Somehow  the  floral  beauties  and  acquisitions  of  later 
days  appear  to  have  eclipsed  these  more  modest,  yet  not  less 
interesting,  plants  with  their  simple  requirements.  That  all  the 
varied  forms  are  still  in  existence  is  doubtless  a  fact,  and  with 
additions,  too,  but  to  meet  with  a  collection,  and  a  collection  so 
happily  and  so  naturally  disposed  as  in  this  hardy  fernery  of  long 
ago,  is  now  of  rare  occurrence,  if  it  happens  at  all.  This,  at  least, 
is  my  experience  founded  on  migratory  data. 
During  the  winter  season — the  season  of  rest — these  hardy 
Ferns  were  snug  and  comfortable  under  the  protection  of  their 
dead  fronds.  No  clearing  up  or  question  of  untidiness  invaded 
their  quarters  till  such  time  as  returning  spring  renewed  the 
interest  in  their  welfare,  then  the  awakening  crowns  were  neatly 
trimmed  with  some  top-dressing  disposed  about  them,  and  a  good 
soaking  of  water  was  given  to  the  banks  if  they  proved  to  be  dry. 
Holding  a  position,  as  these  plants  do,  removed  from  all  possible 
invidious  comparison  with  other  phases  of  plant  culture  and  care, 
and  yielding  so  much  refined  enjoyment  in  their  distinctive  yet 
appropriate  relation  to  more  florid  beauty,  I  look  forward  to  the 
time  when  their  claims  will  be  re-asserted,  though  the  enthusiasm  a 
former  generation  endowed  them  with  may  never  return. — 
Invicta. 
Dendrobium  moschatum. 
This  grand  old  species  is  now  in  flower,  the  rich  orange  of 
some  of  the  better  varieties  contrasting  finely  with  the  dark 
maroon  on  the  lip.  It  has  one  great  defect,  and  that  is  the  short 
time  the  flowers  last  in  good  order,  rarely  much  over  a  week. 
Strong  plants  push  vigorous  growths  6  or  7  feet  high,  and  if 
these  are  well  ripened  in  the  autumn  they  produce  a  large  amount 
of  flower,  spikes  appearing  three  or  four  years  in  succession  on  the 
same  stems.  It  is  one  of  the  easiest  in  the  genus  to  cultivate, 
owing  to  the  vigour  of  the  roots.  These  will  push  through  a 
thickness  and  quality  of  compost  that  would  ruin  the  smaller  rooted 
kinds,  such  as  the  deciduous  group  consisting  of  D.  Devonianum, 
D.  Bensoniie  and  others. 
Large  pots  and  abundance  of  drainage,  a  compost  consisting  of 
equal  parts  of  peat  fibre,  loam,  and  sphagnum  moss,  and  a  liberal 
supply  of  heat  and  moisture  while  making  its  growth  ;  these  are 
all  that  are  required  during  the  summer,  and  in  the  winter  the 
plants  may  be  grown  in  any  house  that  does  not  fall  below  45°, 
keeping  them  rather  on  the  dry  side,  but  not  allowing  the  foliage 
to  get  limp  or  the  stems  to  shrivel.  Insects  are  not  often  trouble¬ 
some,  and  may  be  kept  under  with  ordinary  vigilance.  It  is  also 
known  as  D.  calceolus,  and  is  a  native  of  various  parts  of  India, 
whence  it  was  introduced  in  1825. 
Odontoglossum  luteo-purpureum. 
This  is  a  very  useful  and  ornamental  species,  not  in  the  least 
difficult  to  grow,  and  always  presenting  a  good  flowering  return. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  variable  Orchids  in  cultivation,  and  even  in 
collections  where  hundreds  of  plants  are  grown  it  is  seldom  indeed 
that  two  are  found  exactly  alike.  The  typical  form  has  flowers 
about  3  inches  across,  yellow  on  the  segments,  freely  blotched  with 
brown  ;  the  lip  is  white  and  brown,  sometimes  plain  on  the  edge, 
but  usually  undulate  and  deeply  cut  or  fringed.  The  habit  is 
exactly  like  that  of  0.  crispum,  and  like  that  favourite  species  it  may 
be  well  grown  under  cool  house  treatment. 
The  plants  must  be  placed  in  rather  small  pots,  firmly  fixed  in 
a  compost  consisting  of  equal  parts  of  peat  fibre  and  sphagnum, 
with  abundance  of  finely  broken  crocks  at  hand  to  be  mixed  in  as 
potting  proceeds.  Newly  imported  plants  should  have  a  very  thin 
layer  of  this  compost,  and  about  an  inch  is  enough  for  wellestab 
lished  pieces.  Plenty  of  water  will  be  needed  all  the  year  round 
if  potted  on  thi»  system,  as  the  roots  are  always  more  or  less 
active.  A  light  sunny  position  should  be  found  for  them  during 
the  winter  months,  but  in  the  summer  the  house  or  pit  wherein 
they  are  grown  must  be  heavily  shaded  and  freely  damped. 
Phal.enopsis  Luddemanniana. 
A  good  spike  of  this  charming  Orchid  is  now  in  full  beauty,  the 
prettily  marked  sepals  and  petals  and  the  highly  coloured  lips  being 
very  distinct.  The  spikes,  however,  to  a  certain  extent  lack  the 
grace  and  elegant  carriage  of  P.  amabilis  and  the  superb  P.  Schil- 
leriana.  Nor  is  it  as  a  rule  quite  as  happy  under  culture  as  these 
two  easily  grown  kinds.  Like  all  in  the  genus  it  may  be  reared 
with  comparative  ease,  the  growing  temperature  being  easily  enough 
maintained,  but  the  winter  treatment  is  more  difficult,  and  to 
bring  plants  unscathed  through  a  severe  season  requires  careful  and 
intelligent  culture. 
Our  plants  never  looked  better  than  at  the  present  time,  the 
mildness  of  the  winter  possibly  having  something  to  do  with  this 
satisfactory  state  of  affairs,  and  as  several  of  them  have  not  been 
shifted  for  years,  as  soon  as  they  go  out  of  bloom  we  shall  rebasket 
them.  This  is  an  operation  requiring  care,  for  not  only  is  it 
difficult  to  do  without  checking  the  plants  now,  but  even  after 
they  are  done  considerable  risk  is  run  of  damaging  the  roots  by 
extremes  of  dryness  and  moisture.  The  roots  will  generally  be 
found  running  parallel  with  the  rods  of  the  basket,  making  it 
difficult  to  cut  the  latter  off.  If  the  wires  are  drawn  out  at  the 
corner,  any  of  the  rods  with  no  roots  attached  may  easily  be 
slipped  out,  leaving  room  to  get  at  a  good  deal  of  the  old  and 
decayed  moss  and  roots,  while  those  having  living  roots  on  them 
may  be  cut  back  to  where  the  latter  extend,  and  placed  in  the  new 
baskets.  In  every  case  is  is  important  that  no  particle  of  decayed 
material — be  it  wood,  root,  or  compost — is  allowed  to  remain,  for 
it  is  extremely  injurious  to  the  new  roots,  and  apt  to  breed  the 
troublesome  white  fungus,  so  feared  by  orchidists. 
Clean  and  freshly  gathered  sphagnum  is  the  best  of  all  mediums 
for  Phaleenopsis  to  root  into,  a3  it  holds  just  sufficient  moisture 
and  gives  it  off  in  proportion  to  the  need  of  the  plant.  Charcoal 
must  be  added  to  keep  it  open,  as  without  this  the  moss  settles  down 
closely  and  decays  instead  of  growing.  The  base  of  the  plants 
must  just  sit  on  the  convex  mound  that  will  be  formed  bv  the 
moss,  and  after  carefully  fixing  it  in  position  and  trimming  off  all 
ragged  ends  and  replace  at  once  in  the  growing  quarter.  Keep  the 
moss  growing,  and  as  a  rule  the  plants  will  be  wet  enough  at  the 
roots  for  a  few  weeks,  but  afterwards  they  will  require  more 
water.  Allow  all  the  light  possible  without  injuring  the  leaves  by 
sunburn,  and  especially  as  the  autumn  draws  near  shade  only 
when  the  sun  is  at  its  hottest,  thus  preparing  the  plants  by  the 
consolidation  of  their  tissues  to  pass  the  winter  in  safety. — H.R.  B. 
Orchids  at  Great  Grimsby. 
By  some  persons  it  is  thought  that  there  is  nothing  but  fish  at 
Grimsby,  but  I  can  assure  our  horticultural  friends  that  although 
the  fish  trade  reigns  supreme  there  are  many  signs  of  horticultural 
progress  in  and  around  this  thriving  seaport.  One  of  its  most 
liberal  and  enthusiastic  plant  lovers  is  Geo.  Marshall,  Esq.,  J.P., 
the  popular  owner  of  Claremont  House,  whose  splendid  collection 
of  Orchids  is  fast  making  itself  more  than  a  provincial  reputation. 
This  cannot  be  wondered  at,  for  it  numbers  many  fine  and  rare 
specimens,  all  in  the  best  possible  health  and  vigour,  plainly  indi¬ 
cating  that,  given  skilful  culture;  there  is  no  fear  whatever  of  the 
successful  growing  of  all  that  is  rarest  and  best  in  the  Orchidaceous 
family.  Rightly  or  wrongly  I  have  an  idea  that  the  environment 
