July  16,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  ANT)  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
depend  upon  that  altogether.  If  the  border  is  at  all  dry  a  thorough 
watering  should  be  given  and  slight  shade  applied,  unless  the  foliage  is 
enough  to  prevent  the  sun  shining  directly  on  the  fruit.  In  nearly  all 
vineries  the  wires  are  much  too  near  the  glass,  2  feet  being  quite  close 
enough.— North  Yorks. 
[The  advice  here  given  is  excellent.  Too  many  Vines  are  certainly 
trained  too  near  the  glass,  and  are  defective  in  foliage,  in  several  cases 
no  doubt  through  over-dry  borders  and  their  poverty  in  appropriate 
Vine  food.] 
Odontoglossum  Haruyanum. 
Introduced  from  the  United  States  of  Columbia  as  recently 
as  1886,  this  grand  species  has  become  one  of  our  most  popular 
Orchid*,  its  distinct  character  making  it  much  sought  after  by 
collectors  and  cultivators.  The  plant  is  quite  distinct  from  all 
other  Odontoglots  even  when  out  of  flower,  and  has  ribbed 
pseudo-bulbs  about  3|-  inches  high  bearing  a  couple  of  light 
green  leaves,  on  strong  plants  from  10  inches  to  a  foot  in  length. 
The  flowers  are  produced  at  different  seasons,  the  scapes  erect 
and  bearing  many  flowers,  each  about  4  inches  in  diameter, 
though  the  size  of  the  blooms  varies  considerably.  The  sepals 
and  petals  are  in  the  typical  form  deep  chestnut  with  bands  of 
yellow,  the  lip  white  in  ground  colour  streaked  with  purple. 
Many  variations  will  be  found  from  this,  but  all  are  useful 
decorative  Orchids. 
Its  culture  is  not  difficult,  but  it  requires  rather  more  heat  than 
the  crispum  and  triumpbans  section  to  grow  it  well.  It  should  be 
grown  in  thoroughly  well  drained  pots,  the  compost  consisting  of 
equal  parts  of  peat  fibre  and  sphagnum,  plenty  of  crocks,  finely 
broken,  being  mixed  with  this  to  insure  an  open  condition  that  the 
roots  may  enter  freely  at  all  times.  Although  no  drying  off  is 
neceisary,  a  considerable  difference  should  be  made  in  the  resting 
and  growing  seasons.  The  best  time  to  repot  is  when  the  growths 
are  just  starting,  care  being  taken  that  they  are  not  injured  in  the 
operation. 
Habenarias. 
As  is  well  known,  this  is  the  genus  that  contains  the  British 
Butterfly  Orchid  and  other  kinds  indigenous  to  this  country,  and 
to  it  we  owe  the  delicious  perfume  of  our  copses  and  woods  in 
many  parts.  Those  who  seek  may  find  them  in  most  counties, 
though  in  some  they  are  comparatively  rare,  and  the  spikes  cut  and 
placed  about  the  house  make  a  pleasing  changjft'from  the  usual  run 
of  wild  flowers.  No  system  of  culture  can  ever  compare  with  the 
natural  grow-th  of  the  plant ;  but  it  is  one  of  the  easiest  of  Orchids  to 
establish  in  moist  shrubberies  and  similar  positions.  They  thrive  so 
much  better  under  Beech  and  other  trees  than  most  things.  If  their 
cultivation  is  to  be  attempted  the  plants  should  be  marked  in  their 
native  woods  when  in  flower,  and  taken  up  just  before  growth 
commences  in  spring,  careful  treatment  of  the  tubers  and  roots 
being  well  repaid. 
The  stations  for  the  plants  may  be  prepared  by  removing  j  the 
soil  to  the  depth  of  a  couple  of  feet,  and  mixing  a  rough  compost 
of  turfy  loam  and  leaf  mould,  filling  up  with  this  some  time  in 
advance  of  planting.  A  good  mulch  of  short  manure  or  leaf  soil 
should  be  placed  over,  and  a  good  soaking  of  water  given  to  settle 
the  soil  about  the  roots.  They  ought  not  to  be  dotted  about 
at  regular  intervals,  but  good  masses  of  the  tubers  planted, 
and  wide  spaces  left  between  them,  a  much  prettier  and  more 
natural  effect  resulting.  In  a  suitable  position — that  is,  where 
the  growth  will  be  shaded,  and  considerable  atmospheric  moisture 
is  present,  but  little  further  care  will  be  needed,  the  plants  being 
well  able  to  take  care  of  themselves.  In  dry  localities,  on  the 
other  hand,  or  very  open  positions,  a  little  attention  to  watering 
and  other  cultural  details  is  well  repaid  by  the  superior  spikes 
produced. 
The  North  American  kinds,  such  as  H.  ciliari-i,  H.  blephori- 
glottis  and  others,  are  quite  as  hardy  as  our  native  species,  but 
must  be  more  carefully  treated  with  regard  to  position  and  soil. 
Where  a  natural  bog  exists  this  makes  an  ideal  place  for  them,  or 
they  will  do  well  in  a  shady  position  at  the  base  of  a  rockery  or 
hardy  fernery.  Here,  too,  unless  the  soil  is  as  described,  it  should 
be  taken  out,  and  a  compost  consisting  of  rough  peat  and  leaf 
mould  mixed  with  chopped  sphagnum  substituted. 
Moisture  in  abundance  both  in  summer  and  winter  must  be 
arranged  for  it  is  useless  to  commence  their  culture  without  it, 
and  when  once  planted  they  ought  not  to  be  disturbed  ofteuer 
than  is  absolutely  necessary.  H.  ciliaris  is  a  yellow  flowered 
kind  growing  about  2  feet  high,  the  lip  being  ornamented 
with  a  long  fine  fringe.  There  is  also  a  white  form  of  this 
but  it  is  very  rare.  H.  blephoriglottis  is  somewhat  similar,  but 
grows  much  stronger  and  pushes  up  larger  spikes,  H.  fimbriata 
is  an  earlier  flowering  kind,  with  larger  heads  of  pretty  rose  purple 
blossoms. 
The  tropical  kinds  are  principally  natives  of  the  East  Indies, 
and  are  worthy  of  more  extended  culture  than  they  receive.  They 
are  not  so  difficult  of  cultivation  as  many  people  imagine,  but  on 
j  the  other  hand  they  require  careful  treatment.  They  commence 
growth  early  in  spring,  pushing  up  a  leafy  flower  spike,  which  dies 
down  again  in  autumn.  The  pots  should  be  very  carefully  drained, 
and  plenty  of  rough  broken  crocks,  charcoal,  or  similar  material 
mixed  with  the  compost,  as  it  is  necessary  to  keep  this  moist  during 
winter,  and  if  close  or  heavy  the  tubers  frequently  decay.  Too 
often  after  the  stems  die  down  the  plants  are  placed  in  some  out- 
of-the-way  corner  and  allowed  to  get  dry,  conditions  that  they 
FIG.  9.— HABBNARIA  MILITARIS. 
never  are  exposed  to  in  a  state  of  nature,  and  as  a  consequence 
the  tubers  become  weak  and  shrivelled. 
The  point  to  study  is  to  give  enough  moisture  to  keep  these  in 
proper  condition,  and  by  good  drainage  keep  them  from  getting  into 
a  close,  heavy,  or  waterlogged  state.  AVhile  growing  it  is  only 
necessary  to  give  them  a  moist  atmosphere  and  sufficient  water  at 
the  roots.  H.  carnea  and  its  variety  alba  are  as  easily  grown  as 
any,  the  former  bearing  pink,  the  latter  white  flowers.  H.  militaris 
(fig.  9)  is  a  bright  and  pretty  kind,  with  brilliant  scarlet  and  rose 
flowers,  produced  in  late  summer  and  autumn. — H.  R.  K. 
