JH)y  8,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
21 
already  knowledge  and  a  corresponding  desire  for  extending  and 
strengthening  it  becaase  its  weak  points  are  recognised. 
The  methods  adopted  will  necessarily  depend  upon  the  sahjeots 
to  be  investigated,  but  there  are  some  general  preliminaries  that 
should  always  be  observed.  The  first  is  to  subject  as  many 
individual  plants  as  may  be  convenient  to  the  same  kind  of  treat¬ 
ment  ;  this  increases  the  value  of  an  experiment  greatly,  in  direct 
proportion  indeed  to  the  numbers  of  plants  dealt  with.  If  it  be 
then  possible  to  watch  the  growth  and  variation  of  the  individuals 
forming  the  series  over  a  lengthened  period  of  time,  still  further 
valuable  facts  for  checking  observations  and  modifying  conclusions 
will  be  obtained. 
The  second  matter  of  urgent  importance  is  insuring  a  uniformity 
of  conditions,  and  in  dealing  with  plants  under  glass  this  can  be 
done  to  a  large  extent,  for  soil,  heat,  and  moisture  are  under  full 
control.  With  regard  to  plants  or  trees  out  of  doors  it  is  not  so 
easy  of  accomplishment,  as  though  it  may  be  possible  in  a  small 
way  to  have  soil  specially  prepared  for  plants  in  the  open,  on  a 
larger  scale  the  only  means  is  to  have  a  series  of  careful  soil 
analyses  prepared,  and  then  to  keep  an  accurate  record  of  all  that 
is  supplied  subsequently.  Even  then,  however,  there  are  possi¬ 
bilities  of  differing  conditions  interfering  materially  with  the 
results.  Unquestionably  the  most  satisfactory  method  is  to  prepare 
a  soil  of  which  the  constituents  have  been  determined,  and  the 
exact  weight  should  be  taken,  whether  the  plants  be  in  pots  or 
beds. 
If  the  plants  are  to  be  raised  from  seeds  these  should  be 
weighed,  and  the  number  to  any  particular  weight  determined  ; 
while  if  rooted  plants  are  to  be  used  these  should  be  both  weighed 
and  measured,  so  that  as  many  details  as  possible  may  be  at 
command.  When  water  or  manures  are  supplied  the  quantities 
must  be  exactly  noted,  and  the  times  of  application  should  also  be 
the  same  for  the  whole  of  any  experiment.  It  is  obvious  that  these 
remarks  apply  chiefly  to  cultural  experiments,  as  in  cross-breeding 
there  are  many  conditions  that  would  require  discussing  at  greater 
length  than  the  limit  of  this  letter  will  permit,  though  it  may  be 
returned  to  on  another  occasion. 
A  word  or  two  must  be  given  to  the  noting  of  results,  for  this 
may  affect  the  whole  work  of  the  observer.  Frequent  observations 
should  be  taken  at  regular  intervals  of  the  condition  of  the  plants, 
growth,  foliage,  and  flowers  all  furnishing  characters  for  record, 
together  with  fruit  or  seeds  in  the  case  of  some  trees  and 
vegetables.  No  point  of  difference  should  be  considered  too  small 
for  notice,  and  nothing  must  be  overlooked  ;  in  fact,  the  subjects 
must  be  studied  with  eager  and  intelligent  interest. 
When  the  condensing  and  analysing  stage  is  reached  still  further 
care  is  needed,  for  in  dealing  with  any  form  of  life  it  is  so  easy  to 
found  a  wrong  conclusion  on  limited  evidence,  that  it  is  wise  to 
withhold  any  definite  judgment  until  one  series  of  observations 
has  been  confirmed  or  modified  by  subsequent  experience.  To 
those  who  have  devoted  many  years  to  such  work  it  is  astonishing, 
and  sometimes  confounding,  to  find  the  opinions  which  had  been 
apparently  founded  upon  such  sure  grounds  completely  upset  by 
later  knowledge. — Observer. 
Cambridge  Lodge. 
The  collection  of  Orchids  at  Cambridge  Lodge  is  so  good 
that  one  may  pay  a  visit  at  any  time  and  be  sure  of  finding  a 
number  of  flowers  open  to  interest  them.  Then  there  are  the 
thousands  of  plants  of  all  kinds  that  even  if  they  are  not  in  flower 
must  have  attention  on  account  of  the  excellent  condition  in  which 
they  are  always  to  be  found.  Several  journeys  have  been  made  at 
various  times,  but  never  without  some  information  having  been 
gleaned,  and  something  of  more  than  average  interest  seen.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  Mr.  H.  J.  Chapman,  the  grower,  is  easily  a 
master  of  his  craft,  and  that  R.  I.  Measures,  Esq.,  the  owner,  is  an 
orchidist  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word,  and  grows  the  plants 
either  for  the  beauty  of  their  flowers  or  by  reason  of  the  botanical 
interest  attaching  to  them.  _ 
If  we  accord  the  premier  position  to  plants  that  were  in  flower 
we  must  put  the  Miltonia  vexillaria  first,  for  they  were,  and 
probably  still  are,  making  a  really  superb  display.  The  forms  and 
colours  vary  very  considerably,  and  while  some  are  deep  in  hue  and 
large  in  size,  others  are  softer  and  smaller,  all  being  good .  The 
plants  as  a  rule  are  not  very  large — luch  not  being  desired — but 
the  excellent  health  they  were  in,  and  the  splendid  spikes  of 
flowers  which  they  produce,  prove  the  correctness  of  the  system  of 
culture  adopted.  Very  conspicuous  was  a  variety  with  white 
flowers,  the  lip  of  which  was  of  enormous  breadth  and  fine 
substance.  Flaked  forms  were  also  to  be  seen  here  and  there, 
while  others  of  a  rich  rose  hue  were  abundant.  The  plants  are 
Fig.  4. — Cypripediubi  Chapmani  magnificum. 
arranged  on  the  side  stages  of  a  square-built  structure,  and  pro¬ 
duce  a  charming  sight  with  their  flowers  of  diverse  shades, 
greyish  green  leafage,  and  clean  healthy  growth. 
If  the  Cattleyas  were  not  making  such  a  brilliant  display  from 
a  floricultural  point  of  view,  they  were  no  iota  less  interesting. 
The  hundreds  of  labiatas,  amongst  which  are  many  varieties  of  the 
very  best  quality,  were  looking  remarkably  well,  and  will  probably 
render  as  good  an  account  of  themselves  in  the  future  as  they  have 
BO  often  done  in  the  past.  Besides  these  there  are  hundreds  of 
Mendelis,  aureas,  Mossiaes,  and  the  several  other  types,  whose 
chief  characteristics  were  excellence  of  health.  We  have  a  recol¬ 
lection  of  seeing  them  in  flower  at  different  times,  and  can  speak 
emphatically  regarding  the  excellence  of  the  stock  in  this  respect. 
Not  a  poor  weakly  specimen  was  to  be  seen,  while  insect  pests  were 
equally  conspicuous  by  their  absence  ;  all  were  clean  and  the 
foliage  Vas  wonderfully  strong  and  fresh  in  appearance.  This, 
indeed,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  sections  of  the  whole  col¬ 
lection. 
Cypripediums  are  one  of  the  specialties  of  Cambridge  Lodge, 
and  the  collection  is  nothing  less  than  a  magnificent  one.  Almost 
every  procurable  species,  hybrid,  and  variety  is  represented,  while 
much  of  Mr.  Chapman’s  time  is  spent  in  endeavouring  to  produce 
new  ones  by  the  aid  of  hybridisation.  There  are  thousands  of 
seedlings  of  various  ages  that  have  not  yet  flowered,  and  are  not 
likely  to  do  so  for  some  years  to  come.  These,  it  is  anticipated, 
will  give  some  splendid  results.  One  of  the  most  beautiful  of  this 
hybridist’s  results  is  the  one  represented  by  the  illustration  (fig.  4), 
which  is  named  C.  Chapmani  magnificum.  Our  figure,  while  it 
represents  the  marking  and  the  form  of  the  flower,  is  not  of 
life  size— ^in  fact,  it  is  reduced  considerably  from  nature.  The 
variety  received  an  award  of  merit  at  one  of  the  Drill  Hall 
meetings,  and  a  first-class  certificate  at  the  Temple  Show.  The 
form  was  obtained  from  a  cross  between  C.  bellatulum  and 
C.  Curtisi.  The  round  dorsal  sepal  is  white,  veined  and  spotted 
dull  crimson,  which  is  the  colour  of  the  petals.  The  pouch  is  of 
splendid  shape  and  deep  claret  in  colour.  Many  other  Cypri- 
pediums  could  be  named,  but  space  now  forbids  it. 
