290 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Apiil  7,  1904. 
is  now  takinsj;  place,  tor  in  many  country  schools  gardens  are 
iieing  established,  and  there  is  every  prospect  that  in  time  such 
gardens  will  he  attached  to  all  rural  schools.  With  admirable 
iorethoiight  the  Koval  Horticidtnral  Society  has  arranged  to 
hold  a  special  examination  for  teachers,  and  it  is  hoiDed  that  many 
will  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  obtain  proof  of  their 
competency  to  teach  the  subject.  The  syllabus  on  which  the 
examination  is  based  is  of  such  a  character  as  to  ensure  that 
those  who  jjass  have  a  good  knowledge  of  the  pi’actical  manage¬ 
ment  of  such  plots  as  Avill  be  attached  to  schools.  It  is  essen¬ 
tially  “cottage  gardening,”  and  theie  is  therefore  no  necessity 
to  cumber  the  syllabus  with  extraneous  matter.  It  is  far  better 
to  have  practical  gardening  well  taught,  so  as  to  enable  the 
pupils  to  obtain  good  results,  than  to  make  practice  subservient 
to  theory.  On  the  other  hand,  the  theory  which  is  taught  in 
school  may  be  demonstrated  on  the  garden  plots,  and,  by  thus 
connecting  the  two,  the  pupils  will  gradually  obtain  both  a  wider 
interest  and  knowledge  in  their  lessons,  because  their  perceptive 
and  reasoning  faculties,  as  well  as  their  manual  dexterity,  will 
be  developed.  That  the  boys  like  tins  new  addition  to  their 
school  curriculum  is  manifested  by  the  eagerness  they  display 
throughout  their  gardening  lesson.  To  see  them  digging,  sow¬ 
ing,  planting,  hoeing,  raking,  or  making  things  generally  tidy 
must  be  a  pleasure  to  anyone,  and  a  revelation  to  those  w'ho 
have  not  felt  the  promptings  of  the  gai'dening  instinct.  It 
is,  indeed,  an  apt  illustration  of  overflowing  vitality  directed 
into  natuial  channels. 
The  teaching  in  theory  as  far  as  possible  by  natural  illustra¬ 
tions  is  also  to  be  commended.  Take,  for  instance,  the  ger¬ 
mination  of  seeds  ;  even  when  taught  from  illustrations  in  books 
it  is  decidedly  interesting,  but  infinitely  more  so  when  real  .seeds 
are  used  to  illustrate  the  various  points.  It  is  an  easy  matter 
to  soak  some  in  water  for  a  few  hours,  for  the  purpose  of  easy 
dissection,  and  to  sow  others  in  boxes  of  soil  to  show  the  various 
stages  of  germination.  Point  out  to  the  boys  the  hilum,  the 
testa,  the  micropyle,  the  cotyledons,  the  radicle,  and  plumule. 
Show  how  diverse  are  the  ways  of  different  types  of  seeds  in  the 
various  stages  of  development,  and  the  characteristics  of  Mono¬ 
cotyledons  and  Dicotyledons. 
Do  all  these  things,  and  you  will  soon  find  the  youngsters 
in  their  spare  moments  practising  the  art  of  dissection  and 
classification  on  whatever  seeds  come  within  their  reach.  And 
by  thus  arousing  their  interest,  and  .stimulating  their  powers  of 
ob-servation,  a  sure  foundation  Avill  be  laid,  upon  which  some  at 
least  will  7-ear  achieve7nents  in  the  future,  and  all  w’ill  be  bene¬ 
fited  in  whatever  sphei-e  of  life  their  lot  may  be  cast.  In  other 
directions,  too,  a  .similar  system  of  natui-al  deiiioiisti-ation 
can  be  followed  with  advantage,  instead  of  adheriirg  to  the  too 
often  “  dry  as  dust  ”  methods  which  have  .so  long  pi’evailed. — 
H.  D. 
Novel  Dinner  Decorations. 
A  contributor  in  the  “  Amei-ica7i  Floi-ist  ”  ob.serves  that  there 
.seei7is  to  be  a  general  tendency  for  cusfomei’s  to  use  their  own 
va.ses  and  silverwai'e  for  dinner  decorations.  At  a  dinner  dance  for 
a  lai-ge  pai'ty  a  plateau  oft  aci’o.ss  was  u.sed.  This  was  filled  with 
Adiantuni  I  a7-leyense  in  pots  with  a  superb  silver  plate  in  the 
ceiiti'e,  with  one  large  plant  of  A.  Farleyense.  The  flowe7-s  used 
were  Cattieyas  and  Lfelia  anceps.  This  combinatioii  was  also 
used  on  the  tablecloth.  Small  tables  were  fui’nished  for  the 
7efreshme7its  after  the  dance,  each  one  being  decorated  with 
Liberty  Ro.ses  and  Cypi’ipedium  insigne,  arranged  in  silver  cups 
won  by  famous  hoises  on  the  race  track  or  at  the  hoi'se  show*. 
On  another  similai-  occasion  a  ceiitrepiece  of  white  Lilac  aiid 
giaiit  Mignonette  was  >ised,  a  lai'ge  fei-n  dish  being  7itiii.sed  in¬ 
stead  of  the  usual  basket,  the  handsome  silver  receptacle  showing 
out  hei-e  and  there  through  the  flowei-s.  Aspai'agus  Spi-engeri 
a7id  white  Sweet  Peas  made  the  finishing  touches,  giving  a  white 
aiid  gi-een  effect  of  simple  elega7ice.  At  another  dinner  loving- 
cups  abounded.  These  wei’e  surrounded  by  12i7i  w-i'eaths  of  pink 
Cai'nations  and  Adiaiitum  cuneatum,  the  cups  being  left  emptv. 
The  following  ai’i'angement  was  also  very  effective.  In  this 
case  va.ses  of  hammei-ed  copper  were  used.  These  wei’e  filled  n  ith 
Naixissus  Golden  Spur,  laige  bows  of  yellow*  ribbon  being  used. 
Spring  flowers  are  now*  here  in  great  abundance,  and  are 
being  called  for  extensively  for  table  work.  English  Wallflo  vers 
and  the  orange-coloured  Tulips  make  a  beautiful  combination 
for  a  luncheon.  Gold  cords  and  tassels  are  something  new  for 
\  lolets,  and  are  especially  good  tied  in  with  violet  ribbon. 
Our  contemporary  also  figures  a  “  Confederate  Flag  on  an 
Easel  done  in  flowers.  It  stood  8ft  high,  made  of  red 
Carnations  and  Violets  and  the  stars  of  white  Carnations.  The 
9,  pole  was  a  half-blown  Ea.ster  Lily  tied  with 
chenille  tassels.  Bronze  Galax  leaves  filled  the  space  between 
Die  flag  and  the  border,  which  was  made  of  Bride  Roses,  white 
Hyacinths,  Smilax,  and  ilaidenhair  Ferns.  The  lettering  was 
done  with  pink  felt  letters  on  the  w’hite  satin  ribbon.  The 
drapery  at  the  bottom  of  the  design  was  of  white  tulle  and 
black  crepe. 
Lselio-cattleya  x  Dig-fayana  Tpianae. 
The  two  orchids,  Lselia  (Brassavola)  Digbyana  and  Catti'eya 
Triante  have  been  often  cro.ssed,  but  the  issue  has  appeared  in  a 
number  of  forms  of  different  .sizes  and  character.  A  number 
of  recent  hybrids  from  these  parents,  or  at  least  having  L.  Dig¬ 
byana  as  one  parent,  have  been  seen  within  the  last  few*  years. 
Messrs.  Veitch  were,  we  believe,  first  in  the  field,  and  the  hybrid 
which  we  figure  this  week  was  raised  by  them,  and  received  a 
first  class  certificate  in  1897.  The  form  and  size  of  the  indi¬ 
vidual  flowers  are  well  shown  in  our  engraving.  The  fringe  of 
the  lip  is  coloured  rose-purple,  and  within  the  frilling  the  shade 
is  yellow*,  extending  to  the  throat,  at  the  base  of  w*bich  there  are 
some  chocolate  veins.  Both  the  sepals  and  petals  are  delicate 
blu.sh-rose. 
Cyppipediums  at  Hentaupy. 
I  recently  had  the  pleasure  of  a  look  through  the  very  choice 
collection  of  Cypripediums  formed  and  grown  by  Mr.  W.  E.  Bud- 
gett,  of  Henbury,  near  Bristol.  This  gentleman  makes  a  special 
study  of  Cypripediums,  principally  the  best  and  rarest  forms 
of  C.  imsigne,  and  his  collection  is  certainly  unrivalled  in  the 
district.  Prominent  at  the  time  of  my  visit,  w'hich  w*as,  unfor¬ 
tunately,  after  many  of  the  flowers  had  pas.sed  their  best,  was 
the  splendid  Harefiekl  Hall  variety  of  C.  insigne,  this  large  and 
finely  spotted  form  being  repre.sented  by  several  fine  specimens, 
profu.sely  flowered. 
C.  insigne  Sanderae,  a  fine  seedling  plant,  with  .several  strong 
growths,  and  carrying  tw*o  flow*ers,  looked  remarkably  healthy, 
as,  indeed,  do  all  the  plants.  Hundreds  of  flowers  in  great 
variety  w*ere  open,  and  there  is  not  a  poor  form  amongst  them 
all.  C.  Leeanum  was  w*ell  represented,  the  noble  variety 
Clinkaberryanum  calling  for  especial  comment.  It  is  extremely 
doubtful  if  there  ai-e  many  plants  or  varieties  in  existence  as  fine 
as  Mr.  Budgett’s,  the  dorsal  sepal  being  .simply  immense,  the 
w’hole  flow*er  of  very  massive  build,  and  extremely  fine  in  colour. 
It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  Mr.  Budgett  has  achieved  this 
success  in  one  or  two  small  and  inconvenient  houses,  not  by  any 
means  specially  suited  for  orchid  growing.  Hybridising  is  going 
on,  and  there  are  several  intere.sting  crosses  already  in  flower, 
including  one  of  which  the  parentage  is  lost,  but  which  looks  a 
good  deal  like  a  hybrid  between  C.  Leeanum  and  C.  Arthurianum 
and  a  lovely  little  cross  from  C.  niveum. 
Scores  of  seedlings  in  all  stages  of  development,  from  the 
tiniest  single  leaf  infants  in  the  compost  of  their  parents,  to- 
healthy  youngsters  showing  flower,  are  grown  in  a  small  lean-to 
structure,  and  as  these  are  all  correctly  labelled  w*ith  their 
parentage,  they  will  be  extremely  interesting  as  they  come  into 
line.  Mr.  Budgett  is  to  be  heartily  congratulated  upon  the  suc¬ 
cess  he  has  achieved  in  a  very  few*  years  ;  but  his  motto  is,  Buy 
of  the  best,  and  treat  them  well  ;  and  that  it  is  a  correct  one  his 
collection  ainjily  proves.  —  H.  R.  R. 
Cultural  Notes. 
The  later  plants  of  Odontoglossum  citrosmum  should  be 
frequently  examined  now*,  and  as  soon  as  the  very  first  sign  of 
the  spikes  is  seen  the  plants  must  at  once  be  thoroughly  soaked 
in  a  pail  or  tub  of  tepid  w*ater.  It  is  more  necessary  now*  to  take 
them  at  once  than  earlier  in  the  season,  as  some  amount  of 
exhaustion  usually  occurs  after  the  long  drying  they  have  been 
subjected  to.  By  the  middle  of  the  present  month  all  will  pro¬ 
bably  be  showing  that  are  going  to  flower,  and  the  w*hole  of  the 
plants  may  then  be  watered. 
Miltonia  vexillaria  is  rapidly  advancing  for  flow*er,  and  the 
plants  need  evei-y  encouragement.  Some  grow*ers  use  liquid 
manure  with  excellent  results,  that  made  from  •clarified  soot 
w*ater  and  cow*  manure  lightly  diluted  being  best  for  them.  I  do 
not  advise  beginners  to  use  this  on  their  plants,  as  it  is  dan¬ 
gerous  unless  very  judiciously  applied  ;  but  for  damping  between 
the  plants  and  under  the  stages  it  may  be  used  with  perfect 
safety,  causing  an  ammoniated  atmosphere  very  congenial  to- 
this  siiecies.  Insects  are  always  most  busy  ju.st  at  the  flowering 
.stage,  and  a  couple  of  light  vaporisings  just  when  the  spikes 
are  forming  will  be  excellent  iiractice. 
AVhen  the  amateur  may  u.se  stimulants  safely  is  upon  large, 
heavy  specimens  of  Cymbidium  Lowianum,  C.  giganteum,  and 
C.  Tracyanum,  Zygopetalum  Mackayi,  Angraecum  eburneum, 
and  such  like  plants.  These  when  thoroughly  rooted  and  grow¬ 
ing  freely  can  hardly  be  over-watered,  and  the  stimulants  act 
beneficially  to  the  forming  spikes.  It  is  a  lot  of  trouble  to  be 
annually  repotting  these  large  plants;  besides  w*hich,  the  pots 
would  in  a  few*  years  be  very  unwieldy,  but  by  the  use  of  a_ 
stimulant  they  may  be  kept  healthy,  yet  within  bounds. 
The  weather  during  the  past  w*eek  has  been  very  trying  to 
