April  20,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
315 
A  Floriferous  Cypripedium. 
In  our  issue  dated  January  2Gth  of  this  year,  pige  61,  we 
published  a  brief  note  under  the  above  heading,  which  had  been 
written  by  Mr.  J.  Dawson  of  Ilangemore.  Our  correspondent  now 
supplements  those  remarks  with  a  photograph,  from  which  the 
illustration  (fig.  73)  has  been  engraved.  At  the  same  time  Mr. 
Dawson  writes : — 
“  The  Cypripedium  referred  to  was  raised  in  these  gardens,  and  is 
the  result  of  a  cross  between  C.  bellatulum  and  C.  venustuin,  the 
latter  being  the  seed  parent.  The  plant  is  about  five  years  old,  and 
is  now  growing  in  a  5i-inch  pot.  The  usual  number  of  flowers  borne  on 
one  stalk  is  two  or  three ;  all,  as  a  rule,  open  simultaneously.  It  is  a 
very  vigorous  grower.” 
The  name  of  Venubel  has  been  given  to  it,  and  no  one  will  doubt 
that  it  is  a  vigorous  grower  when  one  knows  that  five  flowers  out 
of  the  six  produced  were  expanded  at  one  time,  all  of  which  can  be 
seen  in  the  illustration.  The  spike  may  be  a  fasciated  one,  but  even 
then  the  number  from  one  spike  is  exceptional,  and  it  will  be  interesting 
to  watch  the  plant’s  procedure  in  the  future,  and  we  hope  Mr.  Dawson 
will  let  us  know,  if  he  can,  how  the  plant  flowers  next  season. 
Cypripedium  insigne  IIarefield  Hall  variety. 
This  gigantic  form,  which  was  exhibited  by  the  owner,  E.  Ash¬ 
worth,  Esq.,  at  the  Drill  Hall  at  the  last  meeting  in  1898,  and  of 
which  a  fine  cut  was  given  in  the  Joiirnal  of  Horticulture  on  January 
5th  of  the  present  year,  is  probably  unequalled  for  size.  But  as  showing 
how  near  some  of  these  forms  approach  each  other,  I  may  mention  that 
I  recently  saw  flowering  with  Messrs.  Hugh  Low  &  Co.  of  Bush  Hill 
Park,  a  form  with  flowers  very  nearly  approaching  it,  and  e(iually  fine 
m  build  and  colour.  There  is  no  doubt  that  many  grand  forms  of  this 
old  species  have  long  been  in  cultivation,  but  in  out-of-the-way  places 
where  their  merits  have  not  become  known. 
Albino  Cattleyas. 
Nothing  in  pure  white  Orchids  is  so  chaste  and  beautiful  as  are 
the  white  forms  of  the  various  Cattleyas,  and  few  even  of  the  rarest  are 
more  prized  by  their  fortunate  owners.  Though  in  visiting  exhibiiions 
of  Orchids,  such  as  the  Temple  Show  and  the  meetings  of  the  K.H.S., 
these  white  forms  are  frequently  seen,  it  is  surprising  what  a  number 
of  plants  may  be  handled  before  an  aloino  turns  up.  Many  of  a 
washed-out  looking,  pinky  white  tint  flower  out  of  almost  every  impor¬ 
tation,  but  these  are  far  inferior  to  good  coloured  varieties,  and  do  not 
merit  the  attention  given  them. 
One  of  the  most  chaste,  rarest,  .and  unfortunately  most  difficult 
to  grow,  is  flowering  just  now — viz,  C.  intermedia  alba.  The  blossoms 
are  absolutely  white,  and  the  habit  is  shorter  than  that  of  the  tyfie. 
Among  the  labiata  kinds  are  many  of  these  white  forms,  most  of  the 
best-known  species  having  their  albino.  The  white  C.  Mossiae,  for 
instance,  is  a  lovely  plant,  while  C.  Trianae  alba  is  not  less  so.  This 
latter  is  one  of  the  best  known  of  the  white  forms,  having  appeared 
as  often  as  any.  The  old  C.  labiata  autumnalis  has  produced  its  white 
form,  and,  like  others,  there  are  varieties  with  white  sepals  and  petals, 
and  various  markings  on  the  lip. 
Dendrobium  subclausum. 
This  will  probably  never  become  a  very  popular  plant,  as  the 
genus  contains  too  many  good  things  for  a  newcomer  of  this  class  to 
make  much  headway.  Yet  it  is  not  without  beauty,  and  it  is  distinct 
enough  from  all  other  Dendrobiums  to  suit  the  most  exacting  in  this 
respect.  It  is  being  tried  as  a  pollen  parent  with  some  of  the  showier 
sections,  and  it  is  quite  probable  that  some  distinct  hybrid  forms  may 
be  raised  by  its  aid  ;  the  colour,  a  bright  orange  red,  being  very 
unusual  in  the  genus,  and  bavins:  been  found  very  potent  in  other 
genera,  as  witness  Lmlia  harpophylla,  and  L.  cinnabariua. 
Dendrobium  Brymerianum. 
In  the  rush  for  novelties  among  Dendrobiums  this  beautiful  species 
seems  likely  to  be  forgotten,  as  those  who  have  it  do  not  seem  to  think 
it  worth  showing.  As  a  matter  of  fact  few  are  more  worthy  of  care, 
the  finely  fringed  lip  and  its  bright  golden  yellow  colour  being  quite 
distinct  from  every  other.  The  plant  is  an  evergreen,  but  of  different 
habit  to  most  other  evergreen  species,  the  nearest  to  it  being  D.  fim- 
briatum.  The  roots  are  very  strong  and  vigorous,  and  young  plants 
are  freely  produced  on  the  tops  of  the  older  stems,  thus  forming  a 
ready  means  of  propagation.  Taken  off  and  placed  about  half  a  dozen 
in  a  pot  or  basket,  thev  make  nice  plants  much  quicker  than  oM 
divided  up  specimens.  The  plant  should  be  purchased  in  flower  when 
possible  to  secure  a  good  form.  . 
Phal.enopsis  Lowi. 
I  recently  noted  a  number  of  plants  of  this  pretty  species,  and  sn 
finely  were  they  pushing  up  that  I  asked  for  pardculars  as  to  tlici<- 
culture.  As  I  anticipated,  they  were  only  in  their  third  year,  and 
therefore  had  been  growing  in  this  country  just  long  enough  to  get 
thoroughly  established  while  yet  retaining  much  of  their  innate  vigour. 
Beyond  this  the  culture  was  similar  to  that  advised  in  the  Journal  cf 
Horticulture  on  several  occasions.  Personally  I  have  always  found 
that  plants  which  seem  to  take  naturally  under  cultivation  to  the 
deciduous  habit  noticed  in  their  native  country  are  the  longest  lived 
and  most  satisfactory. 
But  it  will  not  do  to  force  this  rest  upon  plants  that  do  not  take  it 
naturally.  If  sufficiently  dried  to  lose  their  foliage  the  probability  is 
that  the  last  has  been  seen  of  it,  or  at  all  events  the  ensuing  season's 
growth  will  be  such  that  the  experiment  will  not  be  tried  again.  As 
to  compost,  the  less  the  better.  A  little  clean  sphagnum  moss  about 
rough  blocks  of  apple  or  teak  wood  is  ample  for  the  strou  jest  plaet^ 
Fig.  73. — Cypripedium  Venubel.  (Six  flower.'^  on  one  b]>ike.) 
By  all  means  sink  these  blocks  into  pots  of  moss  and  charcoal  if 
convenient,  as  a  lew  adventurous  roots  may  find  thtdr  way  to  it,  and  it 
so  they  will  strengthen  the  plants  materially.  If  they  do  not,  the  mo-^^ 
being  about  the  bb  eks  will  keep  the  latter  moister,  and  this  of  itself 
is  an  advantage. — II.  E.  R. 
SPRAYING  FRUIT  TREES. 
REFEPtRiNG  to  Mr.  Jno.  Miles’  article  on  page  272,  April  6th,  in 
Nova  Scotia  to  1  lb.  rock  or  crude  caustic  poiash  is  commonly  used, 
both  for  spraying  Apple  trees  before  leafing  and  painting  tree  trunks 
for  scale,  &c.,  any  time  during  the  year.  I  have  myself  used  jxita^ii 
up  to  1  lb.  per  gallon  on  tree  trunks,  but  I  think  this  is  unnecessarily 
strong. 
In  one  of  the  best  young  orchards  I  saw  in  Nova  Scotia  the  stems 
of  the  Apple  trees  had  been  yearly  washed  with  ^  lb.  potash  to 
1  gallon  of  water.  I  do  not  think  this  is  too  strong  for  last  year’s 
growth,  though  for  economy  a  weaker  solution, might  be  use'. 
This  spring  on  the  farm  I  have  sprayed  Apple  and  Plum  tiees  of 
all  ages  with  ^  lb.  potash  to  1  gallon  of  water.  I  bouuht  1  cwt.  of 
crushed  caustic  potash,  highest  strength  96  to  98  per  cent,  of  potash, 
at  5id.  per  lb.  I  would,  however,  have  preferred  American  rock 
potash  as  being  less  expensive,  but  the  package  was  too  larje  for  my 
requirements,  and  I  do  not  think  so  pure  a  potash  is  necessary  as  the 
one  I  used. 
Wide-brimmed  straw  or  rush  hats  are  used  in  Canada  for  spraying, 
costing  about  5d.  I  did  not  see  or  hear  of  any  other  i)rotecti<in  for  the 
face  employed.  In  case  of  a  dose  in  the  face  1  should  advise  bathing 
it  at  once  in  water  and  applying  olive  oil  or  grease  ivitbout  salt,  ihe 
veil  seems  a  good  idea.  I  know  the  strong  solution  is  rough  on  the 
hands  unless  protected  by  indiarubber  or  thick  leather  gloves. 
C.  II.  Hoofer. 
