486 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  28,  189«. 
now  they  were  botanically  of  greatest  interest.  Plants  were  seen 
that  one  would  probably  have  to  go  a  very  long  way  indeed 
to  equal  owing  to  their  extreme  rarity.  Some  bore  curious, 
others  beautiful  flowers,  and  on  the  whole  this  stand  attracted  a 
considerable  amount  of  attention.  A  fine  example  of  culture  was 
seen  in  a  plant  of  Odontoglossum  crispum  from  Mr.  P.  Blair, 
gardener  to  the  Duke  of  Sutherland,  which  was  carrying,  when 
staged,  six  highly  creditable  spikes  of  flowers.  Major  Joicey’s 
variety  of  Dendrobium  atro-violaceum,  as  shown  bv  Mr.  Thorne, 
was  worthy  of  more  than  a  passing  glance.  For  the  kind  the  plant 
is  remarkably  strong,  and  was  showing  flowers  of  exceptional 
quality.  These  evidently  last  a  considerable  time,  as  unless  very 
greatly  mistaken,  the  plant  was  the  same  as  was  staged  at  the  Drill 
Hall,  Westminster,  two  or  three  meetings  ago.  There  were  others 
that  might  well  be  mentioned,  but  these  must  now  suffice. 
Notwithstanding  the  many  excellent  specimens  exhibited,  the 
Orchids  were  not,  as  a  whole,  up  to  the  high  standard  of  quality 
that  was  attained  to  last  year.  Let  us  hope  that  in  thanking  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society  and  its  officials  for  the  glorious 
panorama  of  flowers  they  provided  for  us,  when  next  the  Temple 
show  is  with  us  the  Orchids  and  the  many  other  plants  and  flowers 
shown  will  be  of  an  excellence  never  before  seen  in  London,  or 
indeed  in  the  United  Kingdom.  Horticultural  Great  Britain  will 
be  ready  in  its  thousands  to  flock  to  the  Temple  Gardens  once 
again  to  see  that  which  will  at  once  interest,  elevate,  and  amuse. 
— F.  R. 
Bulbophyllum  barbigertjm. 
One  of  the  most  attractive  and  interesting  plants  at  the  recent 
Temple  show  was  this  diminutive  Orchid,  the  flowers  of  which  are 
furnished  with  exceedingly  sensitive  beard-like  (hence  the  deriva¬ 
tion  of  the  specific  name)  greenish  brown  coloured  stamens  and 
anthers  attached  to  the  labellum,  and  which  are  readily  agitated  by 
the  slightest  breath  of  air  with  an  upward  current,  so  that  they 
appear  to  be  endowed  with  animal  life,  or  resembling  minute  grubs. 
Happening  to  be  standing  behind  a  small  party  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen  watching  the  movements  of  the  flowers,  and  who  were 
puzzled  as  to  the  cause  of  the  phenomenon,  and  which  had  an 
intermittent  motion,  I  concluded  that  it  was  owing  to  the  action  of 
one’s  breath.  I,  unconscious  to  the  spectators,  quietly  blew  towards 
the  plant  several  times  in  succession,  with  the  desired  effect,  to 
their  great  amusement  and  wonder.  This  novel  plant  is  an  epiphyte, 
and  of  which  there  are  at  least  a  score  of  known  species,  was  intro¬ 
duced  from  Sierra  Leone  in  1836. — G. 
Arpophyllum  giga*nteum. 
The  Arpophyllum  can  hardly  be  regarded  as  a  popular  genus 
of  Orchids,  several  of  the  species  being  unknown  outside  botanical 
collections,  or  at  all  events  rarely  seen.  The  species  named  above, 
however,  is  a  very  fine  Orchid  when  well  grown,  and  may  be  con¬ 
sidered  the  best  in  the  genus.  The  colour  of  the  flowers,  a  combi¬ 
nation  of  deep  purple  and  bright  rose,  is  by  no  means  common  in 
the  genus,  and  the  shape  and  disposition  are  also  very  distinct.  On 
strong  plants  the  spikes  attain  a  length  of  about  a  foot,  9  or 
10  inches  of  this  being  closely  Bet  with  the  small  but  pretty 
blossoms.  They  are  produced  from  the  apex  of  the  last  matured 
pseudo-bulb  after  the  manner  of  several  Epidendrums,  and  last  a 
considerable  time  in  good  condition  if  kept  dry  in  a  cool  house. 
It  is  a  fairly  strong  rooting  plant,  and  by  no  means  difficult  of 
cultivation,  given  reasonable  care  and  attention.  We  grow  it  in 
the  Cattleya  house,  keeping  the  plants  well  up  to  the  light,  and 
have  no  reason  to  complain  of  paucity  of  blooming.  The  chief 
points  to  study  are  to  encourage  all  possible  growth  during  the 
summer  by  watering  the  plants  freely  and  keeping  them  healthy 
at  the  roots,  then  as  the  sun  begins  to  lose  power  in  autumn  expose 
them  as  much  as  possible  to  its  influence,  so  as  to  thoroughly  ripen 
the  growth  made.  As  soon  as  the  young  shoots  begin  rooting, 
water  may  be  given  very  frequently,  never  allowing  the  compost 
to  become  dry,  and  continuing  this  ample  supply  right  on  up 
to  the  time  of  reducing  the  temperature  as  winter  draws  near. 
When  quite  at  rest  only  water  need  be  given  to  keep  the  some¬ 
what  thin  bulb-like  stems  from  shrivelling,  allowing  the  roots  to 
get  fairly  on  the  dry  side,  but  not  dust  dry  before  watering. 
Early  in  spring — the  exact  time  varying  of  course  according  to 
the  heat  provided — the  flower  spikes  will  appear,  and  rather  more 
moisture  will  then  be  found  necessary.  If  the  plants  are  required 
for  any  given  date  they  may  easily  be  hastened  by  allowing  more 
heat  ;  but  it  is  not  so  easy  to  retard  them  after  the  end  of  this 
month.  If  repotting  is  necessary  it  may  take  place  immediately 
after  flowering,  before  the  young  growths  have  made  much 
progress.  A  fairly  large  pot  or  pan,  according  to  the  size  of  the 
plant,  should  be  given,  as  if  happily  treated  it  soon  makes  a  large 
plant,  and  frequent  disturbance  is  not  advisable. 
The  drainage  must  be  free  and  open,  at  least  half  the  depth  of 
the  pot  being  filled  with  ballast  or  crocks,  and  this  covered  with  a 
layer  of  rough  moss.  When  turned  out  of  their  pots  examine  the 
roots  carefully  and  cut  away  all  decayed  parts,  also  picking  out  any 
sour  portions  of  compost.  If  in  very  bad  condition  wash  the  whole 
of  the  old  peat  away,  and  see  that  the  bases  of  the  old  bulbs  are 
sound  ;  if  not,  cat  them  clean  out. 
Spread  the  plants  out  to  dry  on  a  stage  in  the  house,  or  in  the 
potting  shed  if  the  weather  is  warm,  before  repotting.  A  good 
compost  will  consist  of  equal  parts  of  p6at  fibre,  light  loam,  and 
sphagnum  moss,  adding  plenty  of  rough  lumps  of  charcoal,  or 
working  these  in  as  potting  proceeds.  Unhealthy  or  weak  plant# 
are  better  without  the  loam,  and  should  be  placed  in  as  small  pots 
as  possible  until  they  acquire  a  little  strength,  when  they  may  be 
treated  as  usual.  This  treatment  is  also  advisable  for  semi- 
established  plants,  and  all  require  slightly  warmer  and  moister 
quarters  than  healthy  established  specimens.  If  it  is  desired  to 
propagate  the  species  it  may  easily  be  done  by  cutting  through  the 
rhizome  with  a  knife  and  dividing  at  potting  time,  the  cutting 
taking  place  some  time  previously  for  preference,  though  not 
actually  necessary.  In  this  way  a  large  old  specimen  will  make 
many  useful  plants  for  flowering  in  about  5-inch  or  6-inch  pots, 
a  size  in  which  they  are  very  useful  for  grouping. — H.  R.  R. 
HARDY  FLOWER  NOTES. 
There  is  generally  in  every  pleasure  some  drop  of  bitterness 
we  could  well  have  done  without,  or  something  lacking  to  make 
our  joy  complete.  So,  at  the  time  of  writing,  there  are  sunny 
skies  above  and  bright  flowers  around  and  among  our  feet  ;  but 
amid  all  the  brightness  there  i#  a  pressing  need  of  cloudier  skies 
and  the  gentle  rainfall  to  bring  welcome  refreshment  to  the 
garden’s  occupants.  To  all  who  have  to  do  with  outdoor  plant  life 
#uch  a  change  would  be  indeed  welcome,  and  one  can  but  hope  that 
long  before  this  appears  the  parched  land  may  have  been  refreshed, 
and  that,  among  other#,  we  who  love  flowers  may  have  the  wants 
of  our  favourites  supplied.  Not  many  of  our  hardy  flowers  like 
drought,  and  those  of  early  summer  soon  have  their  day  of  beauty 
over  wiih  a  glaring  sun  o’erhead  and  parched  ground  beneath. 
Watering  becomes  a  necessity  with  some,  but  nothing  can  ever 
make  up  for  the  gentle  dropping  rain,  which  gives  new  life  to 
drooping  plants  and  longer  days  to  many  bloom#.  In  dry  weather 
the  rockeries,  when  well  constructed  in  terraces,  best  repay  water¬ 
ing,  and  in  my  porous  soil  it  is  frequently  done  to  the  great  benefit 
of  the  alpines.  Ere  choosing  from  the  garden’s  treasures  a  few 
flowers  for  fuller  notice,  we  may  profitably  glance  round  and  note 
briefly  what  may  strike  the  eye,  either  on  account  of  their  brilliancy 
or  more  modest  charms. 
There  are  Paeonies,  like  rounded  globes  of  colour,  which  lead 
us  to  wonder  at  their  magnificence  ;  while  the  single  varieties, 
more  elegant  in  appearance,  give  true  pleasure  as  their  shining 
cups  are  examined  and  pondered  over.  There  are  Irises  many, 
puzzling  one  when  of  necessity  we  have  to  endeavour  to  tell  of 
their  marking  and  colouring.  They  are  a  welcome  relief  from 
other  garden  flowers  in  the  forms  of  their  flowers  and  leaves, 
various  as  these  are  among  the  different  sections  and  species. 
There  are  flowers  among  them  which  have  borrowed  the  colours  of 
the  rainbow,  and  have  blended  them  in  a  way  impossible  to  describe 
and  enchanting  to  admire.  The  golden  yellow  Alyssum  saxatile 
has  put  off  the  first  flush  of  its  beauty,  and  when  rain  comes  it 
will  have  reassumed  its  Quaker  garb,  and  look  unlike  that  plant 
which  yielded  so  much  bright  gold.  The  Tulips  have  bad  too 
short  a  time,  and  we  part  from  their  flamed  and  feathered  flowers, 
and  the  many  pretty  breeders  and  species,  as  well  as  from  the 
fantastic  blooms  of  the  Parrot  varieties,  with  unmingled  regret. 
They  are  nearly  gone,  but  in  their  place  have  come  the  Poppies 
in  brilliant  array.  Papaver  umbrosum,  of  which  I  bought  a  packet 
of  seed  some  years  ago,  puts  in  an  appearance  every  two  years. 
This  is  its  regular  year  of  appearing,  and- it  is  universally  admired, 
with  its  pretty  foliage  and  it#  glossy  scarlet  petals,  with  tbeir 
shining  black  blotches.  P.  rupifragum,  with  its  fragile  “  salmon  ” 
coloured  flowers,  has  also  entered  the  field  ;  and  the  great  Eastern 
Poppies,  with  their  gorgeous  flowers,  seem  to  look  disdainfully 
upon  the  minor  magnificence  of  their  kindred. 
From  the  rockeries  and  along  the  edgings  of  the  walks  bang 
sheets  of  the  varieties  of  Phlox  subulata,  ranging  from  the  white 
of  P.  s.  Nelsoni  to  the  deep  purple-red  of  P.  s.  atro-purpurea,  and 
relieved  by  spires  of  Encrusted  Saxifrages  from  the  diminutive 
ones  of  S.  aizoon  minor  to  the  towering  ones  of  S.  longifolia.  The 
odorous  Wallflower  has  well  nigh  passed  away,  but  the  bright 
Cheiranthus  Marsballi,  C.  alpinus,  and  C.  versicolor  shine  on  the 
rock  garden  slopes.  From  a  low,  damp,  but  well  drained  pocket 
at  the  fcfise  of  a  rockery  the  yellow  Ladies’  Slipper  (Cypripedium 
