October  1,  1898, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
319 
chlorophyll  or  green  colouring  matter  commences  to  develop,  at 
which  time  more  light  can  be  admitted. 
Shortly  afterwards,  unless  the  weather  is  damp  or  dull,  water 
will  be  needed,  and  the  bulbs  must  never  sufEer  for  want  of  it 
subsequently.  In  mild  weather  afford  air  freely,  excluding 
draughts  and  strong  winds. 
As  the  flower  spikes  make  their  appearance  in  the  centre  of  the 
tuft  of  short  sturdy  leaves,  a  number  of  pots  may  be  drafted  to  a 
warm  and  eventually  a  hotter  position,  but  always  a  fairly  light 
one,  lengthening  the  spikes  and  developing  the  flowers.  Before 
all  are  fully  open  the  pots  may  be  removed  to  cooler  quarters,  in 
which  the  spikes,  especially  in  favourable  weather,  will  reach 
perfection.  In  severe  weather  it  may  be  necessary  to  keep  them 
in  heat  longer,  in  order  to  assist  the  opening.  Bottom  heat  is 
essential  in  such  cases,  and  really  indispensable  for  the  earliest 
batches. 
The  Narcissi  having  larger  bulbs,  a  less  number  can  be 
accommodated  in  the  similar  sized  pots.  The  6-inch  size  are 
usually  found  small  enough,  three  bulbs  being  suflicient  for  these. 
The  bulbs  form  a  large  number  of  roots,  and  so  much  soil  ought 
not  to  be  placed  in  the  pots  before  placing  in  the  bulbs.  If  potted 
hard  the  bnlhs  lift  owing  to  the  pressure  of  the  roots.  It  is  an 
excellent  plan  to  plunge  the  pots  rather  deeper,  as  the  weight  of 
material  assists  in  keeping  the  bulbs  in  position. 
The  time  required  for  the  pots  to  remain  plunged  is  less  than 
for  Hyacinths,  three,  or  at  the  most  four,  weeks  being  ample  for 
Polyanthus  Narcissi,  but  if  some  bulbs  are  slow  in  starting  they 
must^  remain  longer.  No  hard  and  fast  rule  can  be  laid  down. 
The  judgment  of  the  cultivator  must  be  exercised,  the  principle 
being  the  formation  of  plenty  of  roots  before  top  growth.  The 
other  details  of  management  are  practically  the  same  as  for  Koman 
Hyacinths.  A  light,  airy,  cool  position  will  prevent  the  weakening 
and  drawing  out  of  the  foliage,  which  it  is  imperative  should  be 
kept  short  and  sturdy  until  the  buds  are  advanced.  A  forcing  heat 
may  then  be  afforded,  and  successful  results  are  bound  to  follow 
if  the  large  crowded  mass  of  roots  is  kept  constantly  moist. 
It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  spikes  advance  into  bloom 
very  well  when  taken  out  of  a  forcing  temperature  some  time 
before  fully  open,  but,  like  Hyacinths,  they  do  so  better  in  favour¬ 
able  weather  than  when  severe  in  character.  The  grower  for  early 
bloom  should  take  this  into  account.  When  bloom  is  wanted  in  a 
cut  state  it  is  essential  to  forward  it  in  heat  in  order  that  it  may  be 
cut  in  a  developed  condition.  For  conservatory  decoration  a 
gradual  opening  of  the  blooms  meets  all  requirements,  and  prolongs 
the  display. 
In  addition  to  the  Paper  White,  there  is  the  largo  yellow  variety 
Bathurst ;  Her  Majesty,  white  with  yellow  cup  ;  Phyllis,  yellow 
with  orange  cup  ;  Soleil  d’Or,  yellow  ;  and  White  Perfection,  an 
excellent  variety  with  large  trusses  of  white  flowers. 
All  can  be  recommended  for  affording  a  grand  display  later, 
especially  for  conservatory  decoration.  Being  more  expensive  than 
the  Paper  White,  they  are  not  so  largely  employed  for  forcing. 
The  Double  Homan  ought  to  have  been  included  with  the 
Paper  White.  It  comes  in  very  useful  prior  to  that  variety. — 
A  Gkavesend  Gardener, 
Habenaria  carnea. 
The  exhibits  of  Habenaria  militaris  at  various  shows  during 
the  last  year  or  two  have  drawn  more  prominent  attention  to  this 
brilliant  Orchid  than  it  had  previously  received.  Partly,  perhaps, 
on  that  account,  hut  largely  owing  to  its  intrinsic  beauty,  the  newer 
species  carnea  received  a  considerable  share  of  notice  and  criticism, 
which,  on  the  whole,  was  of  a  favourable  character.  In  general 
character  and  expression  the  flower  greatly  resembles  H.  militaris, 
but  it  is  larger  and  of  a  tender  rose-tinted  flesh  or  blush  colour. 
Considerable  interest  attaches  to  this  charming  Orchid,  and  the 
engraving  (fig.  61)  will  therefore  be  welcomed. 
Dendrobium  Phalyenopsis  Schroderiana. 
In  the  whole  of  this  favourite  and  extensive  genus  there  is 
probably  not  a  single  plant  so  indispensable  as  this  lovely  Orchid, 
and  it  is  well  worthy  to  bear,  as  it  does,  the  name  of  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  families  of  plants  in  cultivation  and  also  that  of 
one  of  the  greatest  living  orchidists.  The  specific  name  is 
singularly  appropriate,  for  in  the  elegant  and  delightful  racemes  of 
flowers  the  likeness  to  some  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  Phalm- 
nopses  is  strikingly  apparent.  As  a  garden  plant  it  has  few  equals  ; 
true  it  requires  plenty  of  heat  to  grow  it  well,  but  given  this  and 
reasonable  care  it  cannot  be  styled  a  difficult  plant  to  grow. 
The  great  range  of  colour,  its  beauty  and  floriferousness,  make 
it  a  favourite  wherever  grown,  and  although  it  must  be  regarded 
FIG.  61.— HABENARIA  CARNEA, 
as  a  variety  or  geographical  form  only  of  the  older  though  less 
known  type,  this  by  no  means  detracts  from  the  importance  of  its 
introduction.  The  difficulties  attending  this,  and  the  danger 
incurred  by  the  collectors  responsible  for  it,  have  now  passed  into  a 
matter  of  Orchid  history,  and  are  well  known  to  those  interested  ; 
the  lovely  flowers  growing  on  the  remains  of  long  past  cannibal 
feasts,  the  difficulties  to  be  overcome  owing  to  the  prejudices  and 
superstition  of  the  natives,  the  ship  on  fire,  and  return  for  a  fresh 
supply. 
In  all  this  there  is  ample  material  for  weaving  quite  a  romance 
around  this  king  of  Dendrobes,  and  to  crown  all  we  have  the 
lovely  blossoms  now  with  os,  tributes  to  the  zeal  and  intrepidity  of 
those  who  journey  far  from  the  haunts  of  civilisation  to  enrich 
our  collections  by  the  fruits  of  their  travels.  Respecting  the 
interest  taken  in  these  men,  compared  with  the  firms  that  introduce 
their  novelties,  one  is  tempted  to  mention  the  case  of  the  cook  and 
the  waiter,  but  this  is  a  theme  for  the  moralist,  and  dangerous 
ground. 
In  habit  and  general  characteristics  D.  Phalaenopsis  Schroderiana 
is  too  well  known  for  any  description  to  be  needed,  but  a  few  lines 
of  the  best  methods  of  treatment  may  be  acceptable.  It  does  not 
require  a  large  body  of  material  about  the  roots,  and  on  this 
account  the  pots,  baskets,  or  whatever  is  used  for  them  need  only 
be  of  limited  size.  The  small  suspending  pans  are  useful  for  small 
plants,  these  holding  quite  sufficient  compost,  and  throagh  being 
hung  near  the  glass  the  plants  have  the  full  benefit  of  all  the  light 
obtainable.  The  ordinary  peat  and  moss  mixture  of  good  quality, 
and  with  plenty  of  small  crocks  mixed  in,  will  suit  it  well,  and  the 
drainage  must  be  ample. 
