November  18,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
475 
Cypripedium  venustum  Measuresianum. 
Amongst  the  very  numerous  Cypripediums,  the  well-known 
venustum  is  highly  appn  dated.  Every  collection  comprises  the 
type  and  several  variations  from,  some  of  which  occasionally  find 
their  way  to  the  Drill  Hall.  Amongst  the  most  distinct  of  these 
varieties  was  one  staged  by  Mr.  11.  J.  Chapman,  Camberwell,  and 
named  C.  v.  Measuresianum.  When  it  was  shown  before  the  Orchid 
Committee  it  received  an  award  of  merit.  The  flowers  were  inclined 
to  be  small,  but,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  woodcut  (fig.  71),  the  mark¬ 
ings  were  very  distinct.  The  dorsal  sepal  was  white  lined  with 
green,  while  the  petals  and  pouch  were  yellow  barred  with  green. 
The  foliage  Avas  pale  green,  blotched  Avith  a  darker  shaile. 
Notes  on  Cattle yas. 
Seldom  have  these  Orchids  been  so  satisfactory  at  this  time  of 
year  as  they  are  this  season,  a  fact  accounted  for  in  a  measure  by  the 
brilliant  weather  recently  experienced.  But  all  through  the  season, 
as  the  different  species  of  the  labiata  group  have  come  into  flower, 
they  one  and  all  have  given  a  good  account  of  themselves.  Just  now 
we  have  the  grand  old  autumn  flowering  labiata,  a  plant  that  came  to 
us  a  few  years  since  almost  as  a  novelty,  yet  Avith  a  character  of 
nearly  eighty  years’  standing ;  and  Avell  has  it  borne  out  the  good 
opinion  first  formed  of  it,  for  it  is  of  a  magnificent  constitution,  very 
free  and  constant  in  flowering,  and  the  blossoms  present  an  almost 
endless  variety. 
All  are  good,  especially  Avhen  it  is  remembered  that  these  gorgeous 
blossoms  occur  at  a  time  that  used  to  be  noted  for  the  dearth  of 
flower.s.  To  say  it  is  easily  cultivated  hardly  goes  far  enough.  I 
have  plants  now  in  flower,  and  carrying  about  a  dozen  blooms  on  each, 
that  were  bought  at  about  2s.  6d.  each,  and  have  never  been  potted 
but  once.  And  this  reminds  me  of  the  fact  that  all  these  plants  may 
with  perfect  safety  be  potted  at  any  time  of  the  year  Avhen  it  is 
apparent  that  a  glut  of  young  roots  is  about  to  be  put  forth  from  the 
rhizomes  near  the  leading  pseudo-bulb. 
A  little  assistance  in  the  AA’ay  of  top-dressing  is  very  often  of  great 
benefit  to  many  species  just  now,  any  that  push  roots  in  advance  of 
SAvelling  the  bulbs,  such  as  C.  Mossiae  especially.  It  is  true  they  are 
producing  floAver  spikes,  but  there  is  no  need  to  disturb  the  roots 
much  unless  they  are  in  really  bad  order,  and  then  they  are  better 
out  of  the  pots  than  in  them.  The  atmosphere  of  the  house  at  this 
time  of  the  year  refpiires  careful  management ;  on  the  one  hand  to 
give  sufficient  stimulus  to  any  late  plants  to  finish  their  groAvth,  on  the 
other  to  prevent  earlier  ones  starting  out  of  season.  Much  can  be 
done,  of  course,  by  the  arrangement  of  the  plants  in  the  house,  but 
oven  this  Avill  not  do  unless  the  atmospheric  conditions  arc  right. 
The  worst  plants  to  start  out  of  season*  are  the  varieties  of 
C.  Dowiana  and  C.  gigas,  but  even  C.  Ga,skelliana  Avill  do  the -same 
thing.  This  must,  if  possible,  be  prevented,  as  although  the  growths 
are  sometimes  strong  and  healthy,  there  is  noihing  to  beat  a  true 
annual  cycle  of  groAvth  and  rest  as  required  naturally  by  the  indi¬ 
vidual  species.  Of  course,  the  times  for  this  vary  ;  for  instance, 
C.  Warneri,  which  is  often  described  as  the  spring  flowering  labiata, 
may  often  be  met  with  at  this  season  just  starting  to  grow  from 
the  base. 
The  best  Avintcr  position  for  this  plant,  and  for  any  of  the  last- 
named  kind  that  have  not  kept  in  proper  order,  is  one  not  more  than  a 
yard  aAvay  from  the  roof-glass,  Avhere  abundance  of  light  reaches 
them  from  all  sides.  The  beautiful  C.  Percivaliana  is  almost 
unrivalled  in  the  beauty  of  the  tints  on  the  lip,  lovely  combinations 
of  gold  and  deep  crimson  often  occurring.  This,  too,  delights  in 
ample  light — will  not,  in  fact,  thrive  without  it,  and  it  is  just  as 
important  for  the  finishing  growths  of  (J.  Mossiae,  the  most  justly 
popular,  perhaps,  of  all. 
Coming  to  the  u{)right-growing  species,  as  represented  just  now 
by  the  quaintly  coloured  C.  bicolor,  a  good  clear  light  is  of  the  utmost 
importance.  The  growths  are  finishing,  and  must  be  well  consolidated, 
or  any  slight  check  during  winter  will  be  severely  felf.  Then  badly 
ripened  bulbs  shrivel  if  alloAved  to  get  a  little  on  the  dry  side,  Avhile 
those  properly  developed  Avill  stand  drying  for  weeks  Avith  impunity. 
The  many  varieties  of  C.  guttata,  C.  intermedia,  C.  Schofieldiana,  and 
0.  amethystoglossa  are  all  alike  in  this  particular.  With  regard  to 
root  moisture  during  the  winter,  it  may  be  noted  that  the  smaller, 
more  seed-like,  pseudo-bulbs  Avill  not,  as  a  general  rule,  stand  so  much 
drying  as  the  more  obese,  or  club-shaped  kind. 
Tliere  is  no  better  time  than  the  irrcsent  for  an  overhauling  of  the 
Cattleya  house,  cleaning  every  part  of  it  thoroughly,  and  re-arranging 
the  plants  in  their  Avmter  quarters.  If  possible,  all  the  plants  should 
be  taken  out  of  the  house,  but  as  this  would  be  inconvenient  in  many 
cases,  they  should  be  shifted  to  one  end  and  protected  by  a  large  piece 
of  tiffany  or  light  canvas  while  cleaning  the  opposite  end.  This  Avill 
}irevent  the  foliage  being  splashed  from  water  and  dirt.  Begin  with 
the  roof,  and  wash  this  thoroughly  inside  and  out,  mopping  doAvn  the 
glass,  and  scrubbing  the  Avoodwork  with  hot  soapy  water  and  soluble 
paraffin. 
Sponge  the  glass  inside,  and  then  scrub  down  all  lattice  stages  and 
walls,  the  stages  dressed  with  gravel  or  spar,  having  this  turned  and 
placed  back  clean,  dusting  a  little  soot  and  lime  about  first.  Having 
done  the  house,  the  plants  should  be  all  sponged,  first  dipping  the 
heads  in  warm  water  and  a  solution  of  softsoap  afterwards,  sponging 
every  leaf  carefully.  The  rhizomes,  too,  must  come  in  for  careful 
Fig.  71. — CAmRiPEDiuM  a’'enustum  Measuresianum. 
attention,  as  the  small  white  scab  so  prevalent  among  Cattleyas  here 
finds  congenial  quarters.  Wash  the  pots  thoroughly,  and  before 
re-arranging  renew  any  stakes  or  ties  that  may  be  defective. — 
II.  11.  if.  ■' 
NOTES  FROM  IRELAND. 
The  Mildness  op  the  Season. 
The  month  of  October  ran  its  course,  so  far  as  weather  was  concerned, 
in  a  very  satisfactory  manner,  and  it  is  difficult  to  realise  the  fact  that 
mid-November  is  now  with  us.  On  the  seaboard  of  Dublin  Dahlias  still 
make  a  brave  show,  being  there  less  affected  by  damp  than  further  inland. 
A  long  border  of  these  lately  seen,  consisting  of  some  200  plants,  were, 
and  in  all  probability  are  still,  charming  both  in  profusion  and  perfection 
of  bloom.  Fuchsias,  and  many  a  firight  patch  of  Lobelia  fulgens,  are 
still  in  all  their  glory,  whilst  the  last  Rose  of  summer  not  only  lingers 
with  us,  but  is  well  represented  by  that  gay,  good,  and  generally  satis¬ 
factory  variety,  Ulrich  Brunner.  On  a  sunny  bank  near  the  Phoenix 
Park,  where  a  humble  florist  assiduouslycultivates  a  little  patch  surrounding 
his  thatched  home,  one  sees  in  passing  a  delightful  display  of  the  German 
Scabious,  varying  in  tint  from  white  to  rosy  red.  It  should  be  a  rare 
season  for  outdoor  Chrysanthemums,  but  these  are  little  in  evidence. 
Vagaries  among  the  fruit  trees  are  common,  both  Apples  and  Pears 
putting  forth  occasional  blooms.  As  for  Strawberries,  present  appear¬ 
ances  promise  fruit  for  Christmas,  blossom  and  a  prospective  crop  swelling 
on  many  plants  leading  to  that  inference. 
Although  a  wet  and  cheerless  September  gave  us  a  few  nipping  nights 
ere  it  departed,  the  effects  on  tender  jdants  were  but  partial,  and 
recovery  Avas  rapid,  the  cottage  homes  still  being  bright  with  the  gold 
and  scarlet  of  Nasturtium  blooms,  set  off  by  the  vivid  green  foliage.  But 
in  no  instance  is  the  effect  of  this  protracted  mildness  more  noticeable 
than  in  the  vegetable  supply  to  the  Dublin  market.  So  much  is  this  the 
case,  that  in  one  place  where  large  breadths  of  the  staple  kinds  are  grown 
for  it,  the  conclusion  has  been  reluctantly  arrived  at  that  they  do  not  pay 
for  the  labour  of  gathering  and  cartage,  and  a  temporary  cessation  of  the 
catering  has  been  decided  upon,  excellent  samples  of  autumn  Broccoli 
and  Veitch’s  Autumn  Cauliflower  returning  at  the  rate  of  only  6d.  per 
dozen,  and  Brussels  Sprouts  are  realising  relatively  low  prices. 
Celery,  too,  in  grand  condition,  and  entailing  a  considerable  outlay  on 
labour  in  its  production,  yields  the  grower  Id.  per  stick.  Yet  one  sees 
