February  23,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  Q ARDEN LLL 
l.")l 
Once  nf^ain  the  ^rcat  finti  of  Vcitch  *  Sons,  f.td.,  Royal  Exotic 
Xursery,  (diolsca,  has  sent  forth  a  new  (Jyprij)e(ljiini  tliat  deserved 
recopinition  and  f;ot  it  in  the  form  of  an  award  of  merit  from  the 
Orchid  (Jomrnittee  of  the  Itoyal  Horticultural  Society  on  the  Idth 
ihst.  ('.  Orion  (fisi.  .'ll)  is  a  hybrid  that  resulted  from  a  cross  between 
O.  concolor  and  C.  insigne,  and  it  is  of  chaste  beauty.  The  f^round 
colour  is  cream  throughout,  deeper  in  the  dorsal  sepal  and  Hushed 
with  rose  in  the  peta*ls.  The  spots  over  all  are  crimson,  hut  largo  on 
the  dorsal  sepal  and  minute  on  the  pouch.  The  flowers  measured 
8^  inches  across,  and  partake  largely  of  the  character  of  C.  insigne,  the 
foliage  favouring  C.  concolor. 
'  LytCl.IA  ANCKI'S, 
7'nis  most  useful  and  beautiful  winter  flcwering  Orchid  will  by 
now  have  passed  out  of  flower,  and  will  perhaps  need  attention,  either 
hy  top-dressing  or  putting  into  larger  receptacles.  After  the  removal 
of  the  spikes,  the  plant  should  bo  allowed  to  become  gradually  dry. 
and  be  kept  on  the  dry  aide  till  young  roots  are  observed  to  be  pushing, 
when  those  that  reipiire  larger  pans  or  baskets  (pans  1  i)refer)  should 
at  once  bo  attended  to,  also  those  that  need  top-dressing  or 
te-surfacing. 
As  these  plants  require  when  in  active  growth  a  large  quantity  of 
water,  the  draii.age  must  be  perfect.  1  have  found  peat  lilire,  with 
all  the  fine  [articles  taken  out,  and  the  same  (piantity  of  living 
sphagnum  moss,  with  some  jiieces  of  soft  brick  about  the  size  of 
walnuts  added,  to  answer  admirably  for  them.  After  being  jiotted  or 
re-surfaced,  the  plants  should  have  no  water  till  the  roots  are  in  active 
growth  ;  a  syringing  between  the  [)Ota,  [)an8,  or  baskets  will  be  quite 
sufficient  to  prevent  shrivelling. 
Laelia  anceps  succeeds  in  an  ordinary  intermediate  hou.so,  or  even  a 
warm  greenhouse,  where  an  abundance  of  light  and  air  can  be  aff(  r  led. 
When  in  active  growth  too  much  water  can  hardly  be  given,  but 
•during  the  time  of  rest  a  small  quantity  will  suffice.  The  plants  will 
stand  a  fair  amount  of  sunshine,  some  peojrle  in  fact  using  little 
shading,  but  1  am  of  the  ojnnion  that  it  is  advisalde  to  [a event 
scorching  and  to  kecf)  the  foliage  in  good  condition. 
Beautiful  as  is  the  typical  flower,  the  mrist  attractive  are  the 
white  varieties,  which  when  they  become  thoroughly  (stablished  and 
strong  are  quite  as  free  flowering  as  the  typi*,  as  a  jdant  of 
L.  a.  Sanderiami  before  me  with  eight  s|)ike8  and  thirty-two  flowers 
testifies.  The  rmrst  beautiful  of  the  white  varieties  are  the  true  form 
of  Dawsoni,  Amesiana,  Sanderiana,  Schrdderiana,  Stella,  Williamsi,  arnl 
Virginalis.  Xo  plant  is  more  interesting  or  produces  flowers  at  a  more 
useful  time,  or  will  better  repay  the  time  devoted  to  its  culture. — 
J.  Barkeu,  Jlessle. 
0  .V  C I  m  U  M  P  E<  To  U  A  I.  E. 
Tni.s  is  one  of  the  most  charming  of  the  Brazilian  Oncidiums,  and 
it  is  a  pity  it  is  not  more  plentifid.  The  pretty  spreading  [)anicles  of 
golden  yellow  and  chestnut  brown  flowers  appear  in  the  middle  of 
winter,  and  last  a  long  time  in  perfect  condition,  d’he  habit  is  rather 
dwarf,  and  it  should  be  grown  on  trellis  rafters  in  shallow  baskets 
without  too  much  compost  about  the  roots.  Although  introduced 
many  years  ago  the  number  of  plants  ir^ cultivation  has  never  been 
large;  indeed,  it  was  for  many  years  [iractically  lost  to  cultivation. 
OncIDIUM  CIIEIROI'IIOUUM. 
There  are  few  prettier  winter-flowering  Oncidiums  than  this,  and 
when  well  grown  it  is  also  one  of  the  most  free-flowering.  'I'he  habit 
of  the  [ilant  is  tufted,  the  pseuiio-hulbs  small,  and  the  flower  spikes 
grow  usually  less  than  a  foot  high.  The  individual  blossoms  are 
about  half  an  inch  across,  bright  yellow  with  a  [laler  coloured  lip,  and 
a  large  number  of  these  are  produced  on  a  spike.  'I'he  plants  being  so 
small,  large  pots  or  baskets  are  jilainly  unsuitable  for  them,  for  they 
could  never  produce  roots  in  sufficient  strength  or  number  to  push 
through  the  amount  of  compost  needed.  Many  growers  make  this 
mistake  of  giving  too  much  room  to  these  small-growing  kinds. 
What  they  require  is  small  [lans  with  only  an  inch  or  two  around 
the  plant,  while  small  Bijccirnens  must  not  be  separately  potted,  but 
simply  massed  and  given  suitable  sized  receptacles.  In  this  way  one 
prominent  Orchid  grower  at  least  succeeds  well  with  it,  fine  plant.s  so 
grown  Ireing  often  exhibited  by  him.  It  is  necessary  to  avoid  thick¬ 
ening  the  compost  unduly  in  this  mode  of  culture,  but  it  makes  most 
beautiful  little  6[)ecirnens  where  they  do  well.  'J'he  slightly  larger 
surface  of  the  corn[)08t  conduces  to  a  more  regular  state  as  regards 
moisture,  and  thus  the  little  roots  are  protected  iu  a  measure  from 
rapid  fluctuations.  'J’he  ordinary  compost,  con.sistmg  of  atiout  ecpial 
jiarts  of  peat  fibre  and  S[)hagnum  mos.«,  with  ampie  drainage,  and  a 
few  small  bits  of  charcoal  and  <;rocks,  suits  it  admirably. 
(Joining  from  considerable  elevation  in  its  native  jilace,  (J  cheiro- 
phorum  likes  during  summer  a  cool  airy  .structure,  where  anqdo 
moisture  is  jirescrit,  and  the  heads  are  shaded  from  bright  sunlight. 
During  winter  the  liouse  ought  not  to  fall  below  oO’  or” thereabouts,* 
this  as  a  matter  of  fact  b'-ing  low  enouch  even  for  the  coolest  Drehids* 
though  in  the  majoiity  of  places  they  are  ke[)t  cooler.  In  sumimr,  of 
course,  they  cannot  be  kept  too  cool;  in  winter  they  must  be  brought 
right  up  to  the  glas.s,  so  that  every  ray  of  light  during  the  dull  sunfess 
days  reaches  them. 
Watering  is  neces.sary  all  the  year  round,  for  though  towards  late 
winter  and  early  spring  not  much  growth  will  be  going  eui,  the  tiny 
biilljs  must  not  be  dried,  or  they  soon  shriv’e],  and  the  growths 
siiririgiiig  from  their  bases  will  be  weak  and  spindly.  It  will  lie  noted 
by  the  above  that  no  sjiecial  difficulty  will  he  found  iu  the  culture  of 
this  pretty  (Jncidium,  but  .all  the  season  through  unremitting  care 
Fkj.  .'if.— Cvrttii’KiJiUM  Okiw.>. 
to  the  details  as  they  become  necessary.  Insects  are  not  often 
troublesome,  except  in  collections  where  other  and  dirty  jilants  are 
kept  in  its  vicinity;  here  scab  may  put  iu  aiqiearance,  and  thrips 
damage  the  young  growth,  but  tluse  will  be  got  rid  of  by  the  usu.il 
means. — 11.  R.  R. 
-  NiTttATH  OF  Soda. — As  a  forcing  food  for  the  foliage  parts  of 
plants  nitrate  of  soda  does  not  stand  in  any  need  of  an  advocate  to  day. 
jMon.u.  I’aul  V'incey,  Professor  of  Agriculture  for  the  Depuitinent  of  the 
Seine,  France,  publishes  the  following  a.s  the  results  of  his  experuiients^ :  — 
'I'ho  amount  of  nitrate  of  soda  to  be  employed  to  the  s.iuare  metre 
(39  square  inches)  is  about  30  grammes  if  treating  with  such  crops  a.s 
Cabbage,  2.j  grammes  for  Potatoes,  Carrots,  and  J.ettiices.  Nitrate  of 
soda  should  not  be  mixed  with  manure,  but  be  spread  on  the  surface  of 
the  land  to  be  harrowed  in.  Select  for  the  up[)lication  an  occasion  shortly 
heforo  rain,  or  apply  just  before  watering  ;  but  at  the  lime  of  application 
caro  must  be  observed  that  the  plants  have  not  become  wet  in  any  way, 
because  the  fertiliser  falling  on  the  wet  surlaces  ol  the  leaves  burns  them. 
Care  must  be  taken  not  to  give  a  larger  dose  than  that  indicated  above,  us 
an  excess  will  act  as  a  poison  in  plants.  Nitrate  of  soda  is  olten  aiiulte- 
rated,  for  which  the  following  tests  are  recommended.  First,  place  a 
small  fjuantity  of  the  nitrate  ot  soda  in  an  iron  cup  un  i  put  that  over  the 
lire.  It  the  sample  is  pure  it  will  melt  slowly  and  quietly  in  five  minutes, 
commencing  five  minutes  later  to  boil,  emitting  a  bluish  flame.  If  the 
nitrate  contains  any  chloride  of  sodium  or  chloride  of  j'otassium  mi.xed 
with  other  salts  there  will  be  a  crackling  and  spluttering  while  on  tho 
tire.  'Fhe  second  test  is,  half  fill  a  drinking  glass  with  nitrate  of  soda  j 
fill  the  vessel  with  rain  water  and  agitate  or  stir  with  a  wooden  spoon. 
'J'he  mass  will  be  dissolved  In  a  few  minutes.  If  a  few  drojis  of  a  concen¬ 
trated  solution  of  nitrate  of  silver  are  now  put  in  the  liquor  should  become 
cloudy,  resembling  soapy  water  ;  but  if  a  white  precipitate  is  formed 
resembling  curdled  milk  there  is  adulteration. —  (“American  Gardening.  ) 
