-June  11.  1903.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
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Odontoglossum  crispum  Grairianum. 
When  exliibited  at  tlie  Temple  Flower  Show  by  Norman  C. 
Cookson,  Esq.  (gardener,  Mr.  H.  J.  Chapman),  this  beautiful  little 
Orchid  received  a  First-class  Certifioate.  It  is  quite  a  dLstinct 
and  very  beautiful  flower,  faintly  edged  with  a  wavy  line  of  pure 
white,  the  rest  of  the  petals  and  sepals  being  amber  or  bronzy- 
russet.  The  form  is  good,  as  Mr.  Shayler’s  drawing  shows. 
Tlie  Week’s  Cultural  Notes. 
Miltonia  vexillaria,  taken  as  a  show  species,  is  the  most 
important  plant  now  in  flower  in  the  Orchid  houses.  Its  flowers 
are  very  large  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  plants,  and  there 
are  many  fine  varieties.  The  flowering,  of  course,  takes  a  lot 
out  of  the  plants,  and  it  is  necessary  to  see  that  they  are  well 
treated  now  to  ensure  a  free  growth,  and  the  swelling  up  of  fine 
healthy  pseudo-bulbs.  The  majority  of  growers  repot  M.  vexil¬ 
laria  when  the  growths  are  well  on  the  move  and  before  the 
flower  spikes  show,  and  plants  so  treated  will  by  now  be  rooting 
freely  in  the  new  compost. 
A  thorough  cleansing  now  if  time  can  be  found  for  the  work 
will  be  well  repaid,  and,  in  any  case,  the  plants  must  be  lightly 
fumigated  to  destroy  any  chance  thrips  or  aphides  that  may  have 
attacked  them  during  the  flowering  season.  Afterwards  keep 
them  growing  freely  in  an  intermediate  temperature,  and  water 
the  roots  rather  plentifully.  Very  light  spraying  or  dewing  with 
soft  water  from  the  syringe  is  helpful,  but  heavy  douches  must 
be  avoided.  In  some  collections,  weak  manure  water  made  from 
soot  and  cow  manure  is  used  on  strong  well-rooted  specimens,  but 
I  do  not  advise  it  as  a  rule.  By  all  means  damp'  the  house  down 
with  it,  and  allow  the  atmosphere  to  become  impregnated  with 
the  ammonia,  but  to  use  it  on  the  roots  is,  to  say  the  least, 
risky. 
There  are  some  strong  growing  species  of  Orchids  that,  if  well 
established,  api)ear  to  relish  almost  aquatic  treatment  now.  I 
have  in  mind  especially  the  tall  growing  Sobralias,  that  seem 
always  searching  for  moisture  with  their  great  fleshy  roots,  while 
C’ymbidiums,  some  of  the  larger  growing  Cypripediums, 
Angrmeum,  and  even  Vandas,  can  hardly  be  overwatered  during 
hot  weather  when  growing  freely.  The  ventilators  can  be  freely 
opened,  and  as  much  sun  as  possible  admitted  without  scorching 
the  leaves,  this  tending  to  a  quick  buoyant  atmosphere  with  the 
ample  moisture. 
The  house  devoted  to  Masdevallias,  Odontoglossums,  and  the 
cool  section  of  Oncidiums,  on  the  other  hand,  can  hardly  be  kept 
too  cool  and  shady.  The  roof  ventilators  should  be  partly 
opened  quite  early  in  the  morning  before  the  sun  reaches  the 
house,  and  all  parts  of  the  stages,  floors,  and  wall  well  damped. 
As  the  sun  gets  more  power  lower  the  blinds,  and  give  still  more 
air  on  top,  the  lower  ventilator  being  also  opened  to  the  full 
extent.  A  house  so  treated  will  always  be  pleasant  and  cool  on 
entering  from  outside,  a  condition  these  alpine  species  delight 
in.  At  night  a  little  air  must  always  be  left  on  below,  and  the 
last  damping  should  take  place  quite  late  in  the  evening. — 
II.  R.  R. 
Gardening  as  Affected  by  Climates. 
All  gardening  is  relative  to  climate  and  purpose.  It  is 
obvious  that  gardening,  in  so  far  as  respects  the  culture  of 
plants,  must  differ  in  different  climates,  some  of  which  will  be 
found  favourable  for  fruits,  others  for  flowers,  for  culinary 
vegetables,  and  for  timber  trees.  Considered  as  an  art  of 
design,  and  as  furnishing  agreeable  views  and  scenes  for  exercise 
or  recreation,  it  will  be  found  to  vary,  not  only  with  the 
climate,  but  with  the  surface  of  the  country,  and  the  habits 
and  manners  of  society. 
Influence  of  Climate,  in  respect  to  Fruits,  Culinary  Plants,  Flowers, 
Timber  Trees,  and  Horticultural  Skill. 
The  gardening  of  every  country  must  vary  according  to  the 
climate,  and  the  practice  of  the  art  in  one  country  cannot  be 
applied  to  any  other,  unless  that  other  greatly  resembles  the 
former  in  climate.  “Useful  hints,”  Neill  observes,  “may  no 
doubt  be  occasionally  drawn  from  observing  the  modes  in  other 
countries.  But  it  is  scarcely  necessai-y  to  remark  that  in  warm 
climates  the  practice  must  differ  very  widely  from  that  w-hich 
obtains  in  the  temperate  or  the  cold.  In  the  former,  the  plants 
which  require  to  be  fostered  in  our  stoves,  either  grow  spon¬ 
taneously,  or  are  cultivated  in  the  open  fields,  while  the  greater 
part  of  our  common  pot-herbs  refuse  to  flourish  in  sultry  regions. 
Again,  the  far  northern  countries  of  Europe,  Sweden,  Norway, 
and  Russia  possess  peculiarities  of  climate :  snow'  covers  the 
soil  throughout  the  winter,  and  the  summers  are  uninter¬ 
ruptedly  bright  and  warm.  Even  in  Britain,  such  is  the  differ¬ 
ence  of  climate  between  the  favoured  countries  of  the  south-west 
of  England,  and  that  part  of  the  island  which  lies  to  the  north 
of  the  Cheviot  Hills,  that  the  same  rules  cannot  be 
applied  to  both,  without  very  considerable  modification.  The 
horticulture  of  the  north  of  France,  of  Belgium,  Holland,  and 
Denmark,  may,  in  general,  be  considered  as  approaching  to  that 
of  South  Britain;  and  these  countries  inay  frequently  afford 
mutual  lessons  to  each  other,  each  availing  itself  of  the  other’s 
discoveries,  and  adopting  its  improvements.” 
The  most  suitable  climate  for  culinary  or  herbaceous  vege¬ 
tables  is  one  temperate  and  moist;  and  in  this  respect  Holland, 
England,  and  the  more  temperate  parts  of  France  and  Flanders 
are  before  the  rest  of  Europe.  Sir  William  Temple,  who  lived 
much  in  Holland  and  the  adjoining  countries,  says  gardening,  in 
his  time,  w’as  there  in  the  greatest  perfection.  The  second 
country  in  Europe  for  culinary  gardening  and  flowers,  appears  to 
us  to  be  Lombardy ;  and  considering  that  it  is  highly  favourable 
for  fruits,  it  inay,  as  already  observed,  be  considered  the  most 
propitious  country  in  Europe  for  horticulture  and  ornamental 
Odontoglossum  crispum  Grairianum. 
gardening.  W^herever  the  fruit  of  the  Gooseberry  and  Straw¬ 
berry,  and  the  bulb  of  the  Turnip  and  the  head  of  the  Cabbage 
attain  a  good  size,  there  the  climate  may  be  considered  highly 
favourable  to  the  growth  of  kitchen  crops,  most  kernel  fruits 
of  Europe,  and  florists’  flowers ;  but  a  warmer  and  drier  climate 
is  required  for  the  richer  stone  fruits,  and  most  of  those  of  the 
torrid  zone.  i  r -l  i. 
The  most  suitable  climate  for  timber  trees,  when  durability 
is  an  object,  is  a  dry  and  rather  elevated  region.  The  resinous 
tribe  produces  the  best  timber  in  cold,  mountainous  regions  in 
6V6ry  part  of  tliG  globe.  Tb©  Oak,  the  Cliestimt,  and  the  Maho¬ 
gany  delight  in  strong  soils  and  moderate  iemperaturej  such  as 
skirt  the  bottoms  of  mountains.  In  general,  no  species  of  timber 
is  found  to  be  durable  which  has  been  produced  in  low,  moist, 
warm  situations.  ,  ,  i  • 
Climates  highly  favourable  for  the  productiohs  of  gardening 
are  often  unfavourable  to  the  progress  of  the  art.  In  general, 
in  the  hot  countries,  where  Melons,  Gourds,  and  other  rapid- 
growing  annuals  so  readily  produce  their  fruit,  the  culture  of 
culinary  leaves  and  legumes  is  neglected.  In  the  \v  est  India 
islands  and  great  part  of  America,  the  Gourd  serves  the  purposes 
of  the  Cabbage,  Turnip,  Lettuce,  and  Spinach,  and  with  Garlic, 
Onions,  and  Yams,  constitutes  their  principal  culinary  cx’ops. 
Climates  and  soils  comparatively  unfavourable  for  fruits  and 
plants  are  naturally  conducive  to  skill  in  gardening.  A  very 
variable  and  unsettled  climate,  Neill  observes  (  Geii.  Report  of 
Scotland,”  ch.  ix.),  tends  to  call  into  action  all  the  powers  or 
the  mind,  and  to  produce  habits  of  increasing  attention ;  and 
where  a  gardener  is  able  to  raise  tolerable  crops,  both  of  tlie 
more  tender  fruits  and  vegetables,  in  climates  and  siHiations 
adverse  to  the  production  of  either,  he  has  doubtless  more  real 
merit  in  accomplishing  his  object,  even  though  the  articles  should 
be  somewhat  inferior  in  quality,  than  ho  who,  in  a  propitious 
soil  and  climate,  raises  them  to  the  utmost  perfection,  let  tne 
