Februan’  9,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
103 
Cymbididm  IIookerianum  (grandiflorum). 
Large  numbers  of  Cymbidiums  are  grown  in  various  places 
throughout  the  countrj^  and  with  reasonably  good  care  and  attention 
seldom  fail  to  give  complete  satisfaction  to  their  owners.  Handsome 
plants  of  Cymbidium  Lowianum  have  a  most  telling  effect  in 
rockeries  in  houses  of  suitable  temperature,  such  as  that  at  Clare 
Lawn,  East  Sheen,  the  residence  of  Sir  Frederic  Wigan,  Bart.  There, 
as  so  excellently  grown  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Young,  they  are  superb,  and 
receive  the  unstinted  praise  of  every  visitor.  The  species  C.  Hooker- 
ianum  is  a  most  attractive  one.  Williams’  “  Orchid  Manual  ”  says 
it  is  “  similar  in  its  habit  of  growth  to  C.  giganteum,  with  tough 
leathery  strap-shaped  distichous  leaves  2  feet  long,  striped  with  yellow 
along  their  sheathing  base.  The  scape  is  radical, 
erect,  nodding  in  the  upper  floriferous  part.  The 
individual  blossoms  (fig.  22)  are  very  large,  4  to 
5  inches  in  diameter,  the  sepals  and  petals  yellowish 
green,  and  the  lip  straw  coloured,  deeper  yellow  at 
the  margins,  near  which,  on  the  crispy  ciliate  front 
lobe,  are  large  blotches  of  rich  crimson  purple,  while 
the  flat-fringed  acute-angled  side  lobes  are  covered 
with  smaller  crimson  dots;  a  pair  of  velvety  crimson 
spotted  lamellae  occupy  the  disc.”  It  is  a  native  of 
the  Sikkim  mountains,  and  should  be  grown  in  the 
Cattleya  house.  This  will  probably  naeet  “  Orchid 
Grower’s”  requirements. 
Saccolabium  IIendersonianum. 
The  pretty  erect  racemes  of  flowers  produced  by  this  species  make 
it  worthy  a  place  in  every  collection.  The  habit  is  dwarf,  and  the 
flowers  are  a  bright  rosy  red  with  a  pale  lip.  The  East  Indian  house 
is  the  most  suitable  place  for  its  growth,  and,  like  others  in  the  genus, 
it  delights  in  ample  sunlight,  so  that  the  plants  may  be  brought  right 
up  to  the  glass,  and  only  shaded  when  it  becomes  absolutely  necessary 
to  prevent  injury  to  the  foliage.  This  treatment,  wdth  a  brisk  moist 
heat,  will  cause  the  growth  to  be  very  free,  yet  hard  and  floriferous. 
It  is  the  foliage  grown  in  dark,  shady,  overheated  houses,  with  too 
little  air,  that  is  apt  to  fail  at  a  critical  time,  such  as  during  a  long 
spell  of  damp,  wintry  and  dull  weather,  the  low'er  leaves  falling 
and  giving  the  plants  a  most  unhappy  appearance.  S.  llcndersoni- 
anum  does  not  require  a  very  large  or  wide  pot  or  basket,  but  at  the  same 
time  there  must  be  sufficient  compost  to  hold  moisture,  as  \\  hen  grow¬ 
ing  freely  it  likes  ample.  The  compost  may  consist  of  clean  sphagnum 
moss  and  charcoal  only,  above  good  drainage.  Dur  nc:  the  resting 
season,  that  is  when  the  points  of  the  roots  closed  over  give  only 
moisture  enough  to  keep  foliage  and  roots  plump.  IS.  Ilendersonianum 
is  a  native  of  Borneo,  and  is  always  found  in  moist  positions,  often 
overhanging  streams. — H.  R.  R. 
Charcoal  for  Orchids. 
Fig.  22.— Cyjibidiujx  Hookeriaxum  (grakdiflorum). 
FOOD  OF  PLANTS. 
The  remarks  of  your  correspondent,  Mr.  D.  Thomson,  in  the  latter 
part, of  his  article  on  page  78  of  the  Journal,  are  much  in  harmony  wi  th 
ihe  practice  that  was  tollowed  in  the  gardens  where  I  held  a  subordinate 
position  some  years  ago,  and  although  the  atmospheric  feeding  of  plants 
was  done  in  a  different  way  from  that  described,  1  think  it  aiuounted  to 
practically  the  same  thing.  Instead  of  fermenting  beds  of  leaves  and 
mmure,  a  tank  which  received  the  sewage  from  the  house,  i..,iblcs,  and 
other  outbuildings,  was  the  agency  which  supplied  the  atmosphere  of  the 
houses  with  food  aud  moisture.  The  water  from  the  tank  was  carted  to  a 
convenient  place  near  the  garden  and  used  for  damping-down  purposes 
instead  of  clear  water  ;  this  was  done  three  times  daily,  sometimes  more, 
according  to  the  weather. 
Orchid.s,  stove  plants,  Melons,  Cucumbers,  and  Vines  responded  to  tho 
treatment  by  making  luxuriant,  healthy  growth.  It  seemecl  quite  whole¬ 
some  to  oneself  after  getting  used  to  it,  and  even  the  ladies  offered  no 
objection.  I  have  looked  for  the  sewage  in  tvo  or  three  plates  where, 
have  {iracticed  since  ;  but,  alas  !  it  is  drained  away  instead  of  emptying 
into  a  tank,  whence  it  might  be  used  with  advantage  in  the  garden.  lo  rny 
present  place  it  empties  into  the  lake,  and  I  get  a  sniff  of  it  sometimes  in 
the  summer,  that  reminds  roe  of  the  atmosphere  of  the  hi  uses  of  which 
I  have  spoken.  In  writing  this  note  I  do  so  in  response  to  the  last  paragraph 
of  Mr.  Thomson’s  article,  not  as  a  teacher  or  a  scientist,  but  as  a  labourer 
suggesting  a  better  method  of  feeding  through  tho  atmosphere. —  R.  al. 
Much  has  been  written  rcfspccting  the  benefits  to 
be  derived  fnm  the  use  of  charcoal  in  tho  different 
composts  for  Orchids.  I  should  much  like  to  know 
if  it  is  really  necessary  to  their  well-being.  For  some 
years  past  I  have  discarded  it,  and  as  yet  I  cannot 
see  any  ill  effects.  I  still  think  if  we  treated  Orchids 
more  rationally,  and  did  not  do  so  much  coddling,  we 
should  not  hear  of  so  many  failures. — J.  T.  B.,  IlessJe, 
[Charcoal  is  not  absolutely  necessary  to  the  well¬ 
being  of  Orchids,  as  “  J.  T.  B.”  has  proved  by  growing 
plants  without  it  for  “some  years.”  It  is,  nevertbe- 
les.s,  one  of  the  most  useful  aids  to  culture,  and  it 
would  be  interesting  to  know  w'hy  yonr  coirespondent 
has  discontinued  using  it.  Charcoal  cannot  possibly 
do  any  harm  if  it  is  of  the  right  quality,  and  has 
been  several  times  slightly  damped  before  use.  It  is 
lighter  than  crocks,  and  therefore  more  suitable  for 
mixing  with  the  compost.  It  takes  up  moisture 
easily,  and  gives  it  off  again  to  the  root  sponcioles, 
while  the  roots  show  their  liking  to  it  by  clinging  to 
it  firmly.  When  repotting  jilants  out  of  order,  we 
have  often  found  the  onl}’-  healthy  roots  to  be  those 
that  bad  by  chance  found  a  bit  of  charcoal. 
As  to  the  coddling,  this  has  nothing  to  do  with  the 
question  ;  the  charcoal  is  used  as  a  means  of  assisting 
the  compost,  for  if  nothing  but  moss  and  peat  be  used,  this  would  get 
very  sour  and  close,  while,  as  mentioned,  the  charcoal  is  lighter  than 
the  crocks  sometimes  used  for  the  purpose.  Difl'erent  kinds  of  volcanic 
substance,  snch  as  tufa,  are  often  used  in  place  of  either,  and  very  good 
results  have  been  obtained.  These  are  not,  however,  always  easy  to 
get  at,  while  cliarcoal  is  to  be  obtained  at  a  very  cheap  rate,  or  it 
may  be  prepared  at  home.  Thus,  unless  “  J.  T.  B.”  can  give  a  specific 
reason  for  not  using  it,  most  Orchid  growers  will  still  probably  go  on 
in  the  old  way,  and  really  some  very  good  plants  have  ere  now  been 
grown  by  its  aiffi] 
PlIAL.EXOPSlS  SaNUERIANA. 
This  must  certainly  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  Moth  Orchids 
in  cultivation.  The  foliage  is  like  that  of  P.  Schilleriana,  but  not  so 
distinctly  tesselated  ;  the  flowers  occur  ou  fine  racemes,  about  half  a 
dozen  on  each,  though  plenty  of  instances  could  no  doubt  he  given  of 
larger  numbers.  Each  flower  is  about  3  inches  acros.*,  the  colour 
varying  from  a  pretty  soft  rose  to  pure  white.  It  is  a  good  grower, 
and  thrives  well  in  abundance  of  heat  and  moisture  in  company  with 
P.  Schilleriana  and  other  well  known  kinds.  Its  habitat  is  in  Mindanao, 
and  probably  other  islands  of  the  Pliillipine  group,  and  has  been  found 
growing  in  close  proximity  to  the  lovely  Vanda  Sanderiana.  It  was 
discovered  by  one  of  Messrs.  Sanders’  collectors  about  1882. 
