92 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  4,  19C4. 
made  in  P.  Kewensis.  obtained  from  a  crovss  made  at  Kew 
between  P.  floribnnda  and  P.  verticillata ;  the  result,  a  large 
flowered  form  of  great  beauty,  nhich  obtained  a  certificate  of 
merit  two  years  ago.  P.  japonica,  introduced  by  the  late 
Mr.  W.  Bull  and  certificated  in  1871  with  its  variety,  lilacina,  is 
a  hand.so'ine  spt’cies ;  its  true  liome  is  at  the  base  of  rockwork 
where^there  is  some  moisture.  The  dwarf  P.  rosea,  certificated 
in  1879,  has  produced  a  large  flowered  variety,  and,  like 
P.  japonica,  it  is  a  moisture  loving  plant. 
P.  Sikkimensis,  a  pleasing  subject  for  pot  culture,  obtained 
a  certificate  in  1879,  and  in  1884  an  American  species, 
P.  Rusbyi,  but  it  was  found  difficult  to  cultivate  in  this  country ; 
of  the  P.  denticulata  type.  Capitata  in  two  or  three  forms 
obtained  certificates,  also  purpurea,  and,  I  think,  Clashmoriana. 
The  pretty  white  P.  nivalis  has  given  no  progeny  that  is  wdiite 
flowered;  P.  ciliata  has  produced  five  intermediate  forms,  as  also 
has  P.  vi.scosa.  P.  Trailli,  which  obtained  an  award  of  merit 
when  shown  by  Mr.  G.  F.  Wilson  in  1897,  is  a  synonym  of 
P.  involucrata,  and  the  former  specific  name  of  Traiii  should  he 
abandoned. — R.  Dean,  V.M.H. 
(To  be  continued.) 
Gardeners  and  the  Study  of  Botany. 
We  long  for  the  time  when  all  gardeners  shall  have  some 
knowledge  of  botany,  but  how  many  are  there  who  regard 
])otany  tor  young  gardeners  as  all  nonsen.se?  In  Boston  (Mass.) 
recently  a  florist  said  “that  gardeners  did  not  need  botany  and 
could  not  afford  to  waste  time  on  it,  his  experience  being  that 
a  good  gardener  and  a  good  botanist  were  rarely  found  in  one 
individual.  The  man  who  ran  too  much  to  botany  was  generally 
a  mighty  poor  gardener.”  No  sane  person,  howevej-,  desires  a 
working  gardener  to  carry  his  botanical  .studies  up  to  Stage  II. 
of  Honours  unless  the  many  other  kindred  sciences  have  been 
studied  at  least  in  their  elementary  stages ;  but  the  man  who 
said  that  botany  was  not  helpful  simply  spoke  out  of  ignorance, 
and  we  make  ])old  to  suggest  that  he  had  never  seen  within  the 
covers  of  Profes.sor  L.  H.  llailey’s  “  Elementary  Botany,”  which 
is  a  practical  guide  for  the  horticulturi.st  from  end  to  end. 
The  slothful  in  the  ranks  of  under-gardeners  can  unfortu¬ 
nately  sometimes  point  to  certain  .so-called  scientific  gardeners 
wdiose  efforts,  looked  at  in  the  proper  light,  show'  all  too  clearly 
that  wdth  them  “  a  little  knowledge  is  a  dangerous  thing.” 
But  the  untrained  mind  is  unable  to  comprehend  out  of  w'hat 
the  failures  arose,  for  one  may  see  the  results  but  miss  the 
cause.  The  indolent  and  the  pe.ssimistic  will  always  abide,  but 
perhaps  their  numbers  are  growing  less. 
Do  the  critics  ever  consider  whether  botany  has  not  come 
to  their  assi.stance,  even  though  they  knew'  it  not?  Are  the 
benefits  and  necessities  of  the  double-graft  in  certain  varieties 
of  Pear  trees  not  explainable  from  the  physiological  laws  of 
botany?  Would  the  plant  propagator  not  derive  benefit  from 
a  study  of  such  a  work  as  Professor  Lucien  Daniel’s  newly  pub¬ 
lished  book  entitled  “  The  Theory  of  Functional  Capacity  and 
its  Results  in  Agriculture”?  Have  not  experimentalists  Avho 
combine  a  knowledge  of  botany  w  ith  that  of  horticultui-e  .shown 
that  fruit  planters  have  sometimes  themselves  to  blame  for 
partial  or  total  failures  of  their  crops,  by  their  neglect  to 
intermix  different  varieties,  or,  say,  a  line  of  one  variety  (noted 
for  its  pollen-producing  properties)  betwixt  the  lines  of  others 
(all  of  one  kind)  flanking  it  on  either  side,  and  Avhose  pollen¬ 
bearing  property  is  weak?  Is  it  not  the  case  that  botany  has 
strengthened  the  horticulturist  in  this  case? 
And  nowadays,  wdien  the  hybridising  and  cro.ssing  of  plants 
are  such  important  national  factors  (not  merely  sectional,  but 
vational),  how'  can  any  gardener  stand  up  before  his  fellow's 
and  .say  botany  is  useless?  We  could  go  on  choosing  in.stances 
to  shoAV  the  especial  advantages  derivable  from  an  under- 
st.anding  of  the  elementary  features  of  the  .science  of  botany, 
but  these  few  random  references  may  .suffice.  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  say  that  with  increasing  competition  in  all  ranks 
the  best  equipped  men  are  surely  the  most  likely  to  succeed, 
and  botany  is  certainly  an  adjunct  to  the  gardening  practi¬ 
tioner,  who.se  aim  oiight  not  only  to  be  successful  culture,  but 
the  advancement  of  his  profession  and  his  country’s  interests.  ■ 
- - 
Turning  Gravel  Walks. — Garden  walks  or  paths  pre¬ 
viously  w'ell  made  w-itli  a  good  thickness  of  fine  gravel  may 
readily  be  made  fresh  and  new'  by  the  proce,ss  of  turning. 
Weeds  and  mossy  growths  are  thus  easily  disposed  of,  and  an 
opportunity  is  afforded  of  regulating  hollows  and  giving  a  proper 
fall  to  the  path.  Drains  must  be  examined,  clearing  away 
deposits  of  sand  or  stones.  Pa.ss  a  heai'y  roller  over  the  work 
immediately  the  gravel  is  .so  dry  that  the  surface  does  not  stick 
to  the  roller.  Should  the  gravel  be  scanty,  the  fine  matei’ial 
ai'nilable  net  covering  the  rough,  a  thin  layer  of  fresh  may  be 
introduced. 
Cypripedium  tessellatum  porphyreum. 
This  hybrid  from  t‘.  concolor  and  C.  barbatum  is  scai’ce,  but 
it  is  both  an  interesting  and  beautiful  flower.  The  ground  colour 
of  the  flower  is  pale  yelloiv  suffused  with  bright  rosy-purple,  and 
in  shape  the  floivers  are  intermediate  between  the  parents,  as 
our  illustration  shows.  Plants  are  obtainable,  wo  believe, 
through  certain  trade  sources. 
Cultural  Notes:  Odontoglossum  citrosmum— Sophronitis 
grandiflora. 
A  little  sunshine  would  be  of  very  great  value  to  our  orchids 
now,  for  they  have  had  little  enough  of  it  during  the  last  twelve 
months.  It  w'ould  be  of  immense  benefit  even  to  the  cool  section, 
such  as  Odontoglossums  and  similar  plants,  while  all  the  tropical 
species  are  simply  pining  for  it.  Still,  it  is  necessary  that  sun¬ 
light  after  a  dull  time,  like  food  to  a  starving  man,  .should  only 
be  allowed  in  small  quantities  at  first;  and  although  at  present 
there  is  no  sign  of  any  too  much,  it  is  w'ell  to  be  prepared  in  the 
beginning  of  February  with  the  blinds. 
When  these  have  been  stored  away  during  winter  they  must 
be  got  out  and  repaired,  if  necessary,  all  requisite  cords  renewed, 
and  the  pulleys  and  fastenings  seen  to.  When  fixed  one  feels 
more  comfortable,  for  a  sudden  bright  bur.st  of  sun  in  early 
spring  has  before  now  played  havoc  with  young  tender  growths 
of  .such  species  as  Dendrobiums.  But  they  must  not,  of  course, 
be  run  down  as  a  safeguard  against  this  and  kept  down  ;  only 
for  a  very  few'  minutes  is  it  necessary  in  mo.st  cases,  while  on 
bright  days  the  iilants  will  only  need  screening  for  an  hour  or 
two  in  the  middle  of  the  day. 
The  young  shoots  on  Odontoglossum  citrosmum  are  getting 
W'ell  advanced,  but  no  water  must  be  given  as  yet.  As  soon  as 
the  tip  of  the  flower  spike  can  be  di.stinctly  .seen,  then  let  the 
roots  have  a  thorough  soaking,  but  not  before,  or  the  chances 
are  that  many  of  the  bulbs  will  fail  to  flower.  The  shrivelling  of 
the  bulbs  that  takes  place  need  not  be  taken  any  notice  of,  for 
as  soon  as  w'ater  is  applied  they  plump  up  again.  The  first 
w'atering  .should  be  a  thorough  one.  Take  the  plants  dow'n  one 
by  one  and  dip  them  in  a  pail  or  tank,  keeping  them  submerged 
until  every  particle  of  the  compost  is  moistened.  After  this 
soaking  the  flow'er  spikes  lengthen  w'ith  great  rapidity. 
The  flowers  of  Sophronitis  grandiflora  are  I'ery  large  in  com¬ 
parison  w  ith  the  bulbs  that  produce  them,  and  it  is  a  mistake  to 
keep  them  on  the  plants  until  they  fade  unless  they  are  in  the 
very  best  of  health.  When  the  blossoms  are  removed  the  speci¬ 
mens  should  be  thoroughly  cleansed  and  placed,  if  possible,  in 
a  house  slightly  Avarmer  than  that  in  Avhich  they  have  been. 
This  Avill  be  of  benefit  to  them  in  regaining  their  strength. 
Should  there  be  any  loosene.'^s  about  the  base  of  the  bulbs  a  little 
ueAv  compost  may  be  added  AA'hen  required. — H.  R.  R. 
Orchids  at  Cheltenham. 
Mr.  James  Cypher’s  orchids  are  ahvays  well  Avorth  going  a 
long  Avay  to  .see,  so  Avith  the  time  at  my  disposal  the  short  run 
from  Gloucester  to  Cheltenham  was  a  mere  detail,  the  Midland 
Railway  landing  almost  at  Mr.  Cypher’s  door.  Such  a  floral 
feast  as  aAvaited  me  can  scarcely  be  done  justice  to  in  a  fcAV 
hurried  notes.  The  first  house  Ave  came  to  Avas  occupied  chiefly 
Avith  Odontoglossums  and  Masdevallias.  Of  the  former  there 
Avere  .some  fine  examples  of  O.  crispum,  O.  Andensonianum,  O. 
polyxanthum,  O.  Pescatorei  (almo.st  a  pure  Avhite),  O.  Madrense. 
In  contrast  to  the  paler  shacles  of  the  Odontoglo.ssums  Avere  the 
Avarmer  coloured  MasdeA^allias,  including  M.  Veitchiana  grandi¬ 
flora,  scarlet;  Heathi,  crimson;  Hinkseana,  yelloAv;  and  Schro- 
deriana,  purple  and  yclloAv.  The  Cypripediums  in  full  floAver 
Avere  a  sight  to  be  remembered.  Very  striking  Avas  C.  insigne 
Harefield  Hall  variety,  C.  i.  Sanderae,  and  C.  i.  Sanderianum 
(pale  green).  C.  Leeanum  aureum,  C.  L.  Cypher’s  variety,  C.  L. 
Bourtoni,  C.  L.  Burfordense,  and  C.  L.  giganteum  Avere  all  in 
fine  form  ;  as  Avere  x  Mons.  le  Curie,  C.  x  Pitcherianum, 
C.  X  T.  B.  HayAA'ood  (a  large,  light  coloured  variety),  C.  Roezli, 
C.  Sallieri  Hyeanum,  and  C.  Spieerianum. 
Laelia  anceps  in  several  varieties  looked  most  promising,  but 
Avere  not  yet  in  full  bloom.  Lfclio-cattleya  x  Myra  Charles- 
Avorthi,  Avith  crimson  lip  and  Indian-red  sepals,  is  rather  a  strik¬ 
ing  variety.  Of  Oncidiums,  Krameri  at  once  caught  the  eye, 
AA'hile  O.  Cavendishianum,  Avith  its  large  pale  yellow'  blossoms, 
Avas  also  beautiful,  and  O.  tigrinum  stood  out  well. 
A  large  house  full  of  Cattleyas  resting,  but  looking  the  Aery 
picture  of  health,  garm  promise  of  a  grand  di.splay  in  due  season. 
Vanda  cserulea,  Avith  its  pale  blue  floAvers,  looked  very  dainty 
and  .SAA  cet ;  and,  by  Avay  of  contrast,  there  Avere  Epidendrum  x 
James  O’Brien  (dark  crimson),  Zygopetalum  Mackayi,  and  Z. 
crinitum,  each  in  full  bloom.  Amongst  a  set  of  seedlings  in 
