•liinuary  8,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
25 
Saccolabium  coeleste. 
Our  figure  of  S.  coeleste  illustrates  the  typical  inflorescence  of 
the  plants  of  this  genus,  the  stalks  being  produced  in  the  axils 
of  the  leaves.  The  individual  flowers,  of  course,  are  not  very 
large.  In  their  native  countries  it  has  been  suggested  that 
Saccolabiums,  Rhyncostylis,  Vandas,  Aerides,  no  doubt  attain  a 
greater  height  than  honie^-grown  plants.  S.  coeleste  is  a  veiy 
beautiful  species  with  flowers  which  are  white  with  the  tips  of  the 
,sei>als  and  petals  and  the  greater  portion  of  the  lip  sky-blue — 
hence  the  name,  from  the  Latin  coelum,  meaning  sky.  The  plant 
requires  moist,  tropical  treatment  all  the  year  round,  with 
plenty  of  sunlight  and  air  whilst  growing.  It  is  a  native  of 
Siam,  and  flowers  during  July  and  August. 
The  Week’s  Cultural  Notes. 
One  of  the  first  Orchids  to  need  attention  in  respect  of  re¬ 
potting  is  the  Mexican  Laelia  anceps,  and  nothing  is  gained  by 
leaving  it  when  once  signs  of  new  roots  are  seen.  In  fact,  these 
should  be  anticipated  if  possible,  as  if  they  are  the  least  pro¬ 
minent  when  repotting  takes  place  they  are  bound  to  be  more  or 
less  injured.  Lselia  anceps,  in  common  with  its  fellow  species 
such  as  L.  autumnalis  albida  and  others,  do’  not  take  kindly  to 
root  disturbance,  and  when  the  receptacles  in  which  the  plants 
are  growing  are  sufficiently  large  there  will  be  no  need  of  turning 
them  quite  out. 
A  little  of  the  old  compost  may  be  removed  from  the  surface 
with  a  pointed  stick  and  an  examination  of  the  roots  made.  If 
these  are  in  good  condition  a  few  new  pieces  of  crocks  and  char- 
ccal  should  be  placed  around  them,  filling  up  with  clean 
sphagnum  moss  and  peat  fibre.  But  when  the  roots  and  com¬ 
post  are  decayed  and  close,  and  it  is  plain  that  surface  dressing 
is  not  sufficient,  then  let  them  be  taken  right  out  of  the  pots 
and  thoroughly  washed,  root,  bulbs,  and  all,  removing  all  dead 
roots,  bark,  and  useless  pseudo-bulbs.  Lay  them  in  a  dry,  warm 
position  until  quite  di’ied,  then  repot  or  rebasket  in  the  usual 
way. 
None  of  this  section  like  much  compost  about  them,  the 
healthiest  plants  being  u.sually  those  grown  on  rafts  or  in  very 
shallow  baskets.  Rafts  are  preferable,  as  with  these  it  is  easy 
to  remove  all  or  nearly  all  the  old  compost  without  in  any  way 
disturbing  the  roots  that  are  entwined  about  the  teak  rods.  And 
the  amount  of  fresh  air  that  reaches  them,  as  well  as  the  impo.s- 
sibility  of  anything  like  closeness  is  of  great  advantage.  When 
pots  must  perforce  be  used,  let  them  be  shallow  rather  than  deep, 
and  no  larger  than  is  necessary  to  take  the  plants  comfortably. 
At  almost  all  times  of  the  year  these  Lselias  like  a  very  airy, 
mild,  and  comparatively  dry  atmosphere  about  them,  but  just 
after  repotting  and  until  the  roots  are  again  working  freely  in 
the  new*compost  the.  house  may  be  kept  rather  more  moist  and 
slightly  warmer,  the  heat  being  maintained  by  olo.sing  the  venti¬ 
lators  rather  than  by  brisk  firing.  But  such  treatment  should 
only  continue  until  the  bulk  of  the  plants  are.  established,  as  it  is 
enervating  and  weakening  to  them,  leading  to  weak,  soft  growth 
and  few  flowers.  As  soon,  then,  as  new  roots  form  and  re-establish 
the  plants  open  the  house  freely  on  all  possible  occasions,  and 
maintain  a  buoyant  atmosphere. — H.  R.  R. 
- • 
Thinking, 
The  new  year  ushers  in  for  the  gardener  a  season  of 
stirring  activity  ;  on  all  sides  work  seems  waiting  to  be 
done,  work  which  should  be  performed  by  a  certain  time, 
so  that  the  special  work  of  succeeding  seasons  may  have 
due  attention.  The  work  of  the  first  few  months  of  the 
year  may  be  called  preparatory,  for  the  foundations  are 
then  laid  upon  which  the  successes  or  failures  of  the  year 
will  be  gradually  developed,  and  the  man  who  by  scheming, 
tact,  *  and  management  contrives  to  keep  pace  with  the 
season  does  much  to  avoid  worry  and  disappointment  as  the 
year  wears  on.  Half  an  hour  spent  at  the  close  of  each 
day  in  mentally  reviewing  the  work  done,  and  in  arranging 
a  rough  plan  of  operations  for  the  succeeding  day,  will 
generally  work  wonders  in  the  direction  of  steady  progi-ess, 
and  in  the  avoidance  of  those  sudden  rushes  which  come  to 
the  unprepared  manager. 
It  is  surprising  how  smoothly  everything  seems  to  pro- 
gi’ess  when  some  men  are  at  the  helm,  and  how  much  rush 
others  manap  to  crowd  into  a  single  year’s  work.  On  the 
.nnace  the  rushing  man  appears  to  accomplish  much  ; 
but  wfien  weighed  in  the  balance  it  is  often  found  that  a 
good  deal  of  it  consists  of  wasted  energy. 
Each  year  life  is  becoming  more  and  more  a  battle  of 
brains,  and  at  the  daybreak  of  the  year  (if  I  may  coin  the 
expression)  it  is  well  for  us  all  to  remember  that  sound 
progress  is  usually  the  result  of  a  plan  carefully  thought 
out  in  all  its  details,  and  when  the  time  has  arrived, 
carried  out  with  quick  dispatch.  A  good  motto  to  re¬ 
member  throughout  the  year  is  to  “think,  think,  think,’ 
Saccolabium  coeleste. 
and  if  with  all  our  thinking  we  are  unable  to  see  our  way 
clearly,  well,  then  let  us  “think  again,”  for  there  are  very 
few  difficulties  which  cannot  be  broken  down  if  continually 
bombarded  with  brains. — Onward. 
- ► - - 
A  Young  Stork. 
As  gardeners,  most  of  us  look  with  a  jaundiced  eye  on  the 
whole  tribe  of  fowls  and  their  antics  in  the  garden.  The  British 
public,  it  is  true,  takes  a  keen  (it  seems  to  us  a  morbid)  intei-est 
in  the  fowls  at  Kew,  and  the  pelicans  are  clo.se  nvals  in  popularity 
to  the  Victoria.  However  harrowing  it  may  be  to  the  feelings 
of  the  herbaceous  and  flower-garden  departments,  there  is  a  large 
section  of  the  public  who  see  something  extremely  mirthful  in 
the  four  pelicans  performing  a  pas  de  quatre  on  a  bed  of  Crocuses. 
The  storks,  however,  are  quite  inoffensive.  In  fact,  their  quaint 
appearance  and  philosophical  habits  make  them  rather  in  keeping 
with  a  botanic  garden.  It  is  without  regret,  therefore,  that  wo 
announce  the  birth  of  one  in  Kew,  especially  as  it  is^according 
to  the  “Standard” — the  first  that  has  ever  been  hatched  and 
reared  in  England. — Journal  of  Kew  Guild. 
