February  2,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HOnriCULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
81 
Thanks  to  recent  importations  this  beautiful  species  is  now  within 
the  reach  of  all,  and  whore  there  is  heat  at- command  should  certainly 
1)0  grown.  The  flowers  are  of  Ions  duration,  lasting  some  thirteen  or 
fourteen  weeks,  and  the  colours  are  so  quaint  and  novel  that  they 
always  command  attention. 
Having  grown  D.  atro-violaceum  (fig.  16)  successfully  for  some 
vears,  perhaps  a  few  notes  respecting  its  culture  might  be  interesting. 
In  the  first  place  this  species  should  be  grown  in  the  smallest  ])an8 
possible,  as  it  detests  soil  that  is  tlie  least  sour,  but  at  the  same  lime 
water  must  be  given  freely  when  in  active  growth,  with  less  during 
the  period  of  comparative  inaction,  though  never  allowing  the  compost 
to  get  very  dry.  The  plant  I  find  thrives  well  in  a  compost  of  one 
half  best  peat  fibre,  broken  in  lumps  as  large  as  walnuts,  and  nearly  as 
much  fresh  green  .sphagnum  moss,  and  must  be  potted  moderately  firm. 
They  should  be  hung  close  to  the  glass,  in  a  house  tliat  never  goes 
much  below  00°  Fahr.  In  hot  weather  they  must  be  carefullv 
examined  every  now  and  then  for  red  spider  and  thrips,  which  if 
allowed  to  get  a  foothold  will  soon  injure  the  leaves  and  cause  them 
to  fall.  This  species  I  find  likes  a  shady  position  in  the  house  rather 
than  a  sunny  one. — J.  Barker,  llessle. 
Culture  of  Calanthe  Veitchi. 
As  we  grow  Calanthes  successfully  here,  I  venture  to  forward  a 
few  remarks  regarding  their  culture  and  an  illustration  of  the  house  in 
which  we  grow  them.  The  structure  has  a  central  path  with  a  slant¬ 
ing  stage  on  each  side,  these  being  covered  with  a  groundwork  of 
Adiantum  cuneatum  edged  with  Panieum  variegatum.  When  the 
Calanthes  are  in  flower  we  dispose  them  amongst  the  Ferns,  and 
these  by  covering  the  pots  and  pseudo-bulbs,  materially  enhance  the 
effect, 
Calanthes,  although  simple  to  cultivate,  are  perhaps  the  best  and 
most  useful  winter-flowering  Orchids  we  frossess,  and  the  long  time 
they  keep  in  flower  should  induce  cultivators  to  grow  them  far  more 
extensively.  I  am  surprised  that  florists  and  market  gardeners  do 
not  turn  their  attention  to  the  culture  of  Calanthes,  especially  those 
who  have  several  houses  devoted  to  Cucumber  growing,  as  the 
conditions  here  requisite  suit  Calanthes  admirably. 
Our  mainstay  is  C.  Veitchi,  as  we  consider  it  one  of  the  best  to 
grow  in  quantity.  The  bold  habit  of  carrying  the  flower  spikes,  and 
their  gracefully  arching  character,  make  it  more  suitable  for  decorating 
than  any  form  of  wh  ch  1  know,  while  the  beautiful  rose  colour  is 
very  pleasing  under  the  electric  light.  After  flowering  we  give  the 
bulbs  a  rest  till  they  show  signs  of  restarting  into  growth,  when  they 
are  potted  singly  in  5  and  6-inch  pots,  with  ample  drainage,  using 
nothing  but  good  turfy  loam  as  rough  as  we  can  procure,  and  a  little 
dry  cow  manure.  Great  care  is  taken  in  watering  till  the  pots  are  full 
'of  roots.  Then  we  give  them  sufficient  for  their  welfare  in  a  tepid 
state,  and  when  the  bulbs  have  swelled  a  little  and  growth  is  active 
we  give  liquid  ntanure  about  twice  a  week  till  the  flower  spike 
appear-s.  After  this  clear  water  is  reverted  to,  and  if  too  much  is 
given  the  pseudo-bulbs  are  apt  to  turn  black  and  decay  at  the  b^se. 
By  the  above  mode  of  culture  our  bulbs  are  from  10  to  12  inches 
in  length,  and  the  majority  of  them  throw  up  two  flower  spikes  from 
the  base,  and  we  have  a  few  that  have  three  spikes  which,  although 
not  ([uite  so  large,  are  very  useful. — W.  K.  Pettigrew,  Ilewell  Grange 
Gardens,  Worcestershire. 
[The  photograph  sent  by  our  contributor  conveys  but  a  poor  idea 
of  the  beauty  of  the  combination  he  so  ably  advocates,  and  which 
we  have  more  than  once  seen  ado[)ted.  Unfortunately  the  picture  is 
not  suitable  for  reproduction.] 
CyPRlPEDIUM  Arthurianum. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  distinct  and  beautiful  of  the  C.  Fairrieanum 
crosses,  which  are  now  getting  quite  a  numerous  section.  It  was 
raised  from  the  latter  fine  species  and  C.  insigne,  its  parentage  being 
easily  seen  in  the  hybrid  itself,  which  has  the  drooping  sepals  of 
0.  Fairrieanum  with  the  colours  mostly  of  C.  insigne.  Though  not  a 
particularly  vigorous  plant,  it  thrives  well  with  ordinary  care.  The 
plants  may  be  repotted  in  spring,  spreading  the  roots  out  carefully  as 
the  work  proceeds,  and  working  the  compost  down  among  them,  the 
latter  consisting  of  good  loam,  a  little  peat,  and  some  roughly  chopped 
sphagnum  moss,  with  abundance  of  crocks  and  charcoal.  The  pots 
used  should  be  of  medium  size,  for,  as  noted  above,  the  habit  is  only 
moderately  vigorous,  and  the  plants  will  not  be  satisfactory  if  stuck 
into  the  middle  of  a  large  pot. 
Cy|)ripediums  differ  from  most  Orchids  in  that  water  maybe  given 
immediately  after  repotting,  the  roots  being  of  a  stronger  constitution 
than  those  of  the  majority  of  kinds,  and  delighting  in  ample  moisture 
always.  It  may  be  grown  iti  an  intermediate  temperature,  or  in  any 
house  whore  0.  insigne  thrives  ;  but  it  is  more  easily  checked  than 
this  old  species,  and  this  fact  must  not  be  lost  sight  of.  It  was  raised 
in  the  nurseries  of  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  ■&  Sons,  as  was  the  pretty  variety 
C.  A.  pulchollum. 
Oncidium  Cavendisiiianum. 
The  fine  handsome  spikes  of  this  species  are  now  opening,  the 
beautiful  yellow  tint  being  very  clear  and  pretty.  It  is  an  easily 
Fig.  1G.— Dendrobium  atro-violaceu-m. 
grown  kind  that  should  be  in  every  collection,  flowering  at  mid¬ 
winter  and  lasting  an  immense  time  in  perfect  order  if  care  is  taken 
not  to  wet  the  flowers.  The  roots  are  strong  and  vigorous,  liking  a 
very  rough  open  compost  and  abundance  of  water  all  the  year  round. 
It  likes  an  intermediate  house  and  a  good  light  positiefn.  It  is  a 
native  of  Guatemala,  where  it  was  discovered  by  Mr.  G.  lire  Skinner, 
and  sent  home  to  Mr.  Bateman  in  1835. — II.  K.  R. 
WARK  PRUNING. 
The  objection  of  “  W.  S.,”  page  60,  to  ringing  as  a  substitute  for 
root-pruning,  is  simply  that  it  would  not  cause  the  roots  to  become  of 
a  fibrous  nature.  He  does  not  question  or  doubt  the  fruitful  results 
accruing  therefrom  as  recorded  by  the  Hditor,  Mr.  B.  Uuckhurst,  and 
myself.  . 
I  think  it  will  bo  admitted  that  luxurious  growth  is  invariably  the 
outcome  of  large  roots  escaping  from  ^eir  int'-nded  sphere  and 
[lenetrating  into  a  strong  subsoil.  If,  therq  ringing,  being  resorted  to, 
subdues  the  exuberance  and  causes  fruitiulness,  but  does  not  result  in 
the  rciots  becoming  more  fibrous,  it  is  evident  that  fibrous  roots  are  not 
a  sine  ([ud  non  in  fruit  culture.  The  chief  aim  of  the  cultivator 's  not 
the  production  of  fibrous  roots,  but  of  fine  fruit  in  ipiantity.  If  the 
latter  be  obtained,  why  need  he  be  anxious  as  to  the  form  and  location 
of  the  roots  ? 
I  do  not  wish  to  underrate  the  value  attached  to  the  fibrousness 
of  roots,  but  I  do  say  that  if  the  roots  become  large  and  strong. 
