July  9,  1903. 
2G  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Cypripedium  spectabile. 
This  western  United  States  hardy  Cypripedium  might  be 
named  the  finest  bog  plant  of  its  own  season,  which  is  the  present 
time.  Tlie  Moccassin  Flower,  as  it  is  also  called,  flourishes  in  cool, 
moist,  half-shaded  spots  among  peat  and  fibrous  loam.  No  finer 
bed  can  be  seen  than  the  one  in  the  rock  garden  at  Kew,  and 
here  it  is  at  home.  Should  increase  be  desired,  the  crowns  can 
be  divided  in  autumn,  but  only  strong  plants  should  be  so 
treated.  The  flowers  are  exquisitely  beautiful,  having  a  rosy 
carmine  lip,  and  white  sepals  and  petals,  delicately  shaded  with 
rose  or  blush.  It  deserves  much  wider  culture. 
The  Week’s  Cultural  Notes. 
Lselia  purpurata  is  one  of  the  grandest  Orchids  now  in  flower, 
and  to  ensure  a  fine  display  next  season  the  plants  should  be 
kept  as  quiet  as  possible  after  flowering.  I  never  like  to  see 
them  growing  away  in  late  autumn,  for  the  pseudo-bulbs  are 
never  so  strong  or  the  flowers  so  freely  produced  as  on  stems 
that  come  right  away  in  spring  after  the  plants  have  had  a  good 
rest  during  winter.  It  may  be  asked,  How  can  the  plants  be 
prevented  from  growing?  This  is  rather  difficult  at  times,  but 
the  recognised  method  is  to  thoroughly  ripen  or  consolidate  the 
present  growth  and  lower  the  temperature  somewhat  afterwards. 
It  is  not  so  easy  to  do  in  the  case  of  this  beautiful  Lselia 
as  in  that  of  a  Dendrobium,  as  those  who  have  tried  have  found. 
The  foliage  is  more  easily  injured  by  exposure  to  sun  and  air, 
while  at  times  no  amount  of  care  will  prevent  growths  starting. 
In  such  cases  grow  them  on  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  endeavour 
to  finish  the  stems  by  the  early  winter.  It  is  not  too  late  to 
top-dress  the  plants  should  roots  appear  to  be  starting,  but 
the  best  time  for  repotting  is  past,  this  being  in  spring,  Avhen 
the  yoiing  shoots  are  just  beginning  to  push  roots  on  their  own 
account. 
Another  species  now  in  bloom  is  Lfelia  Boothiana,  or  lobata, 
as  it  used  to  be  called.  This  Orchid  is  singular  in  thriving 
upon  apparent  neglect,  and  if  kept  well  potted  on  in  new  compost 
every  few  years  will  never  flower,  though  it  will  increase  and 
multiply  very  rapidly.  On  the  other  hand,  leave  it  alone  to 
starve,  as  it  seems,  in  its  pot,  leave  it  until  the  new  growths 
hang  all  about  over  the  edges,  and  do  not  treat  it  any  too  well 
with  regard  to  watering,  and  the  probability  is  you  will  be 
rewarded  by  an  ample  display  of  its  charming  blossoms.  Lselia 
Boothiana  is  found  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  growing  fully  exposed  to 
the  hot  sun  upon  bare  rocks,  and  this  treatment  is  necessary 
to  flower  it  satisfactorily. 
Lfelia  majalis,  or  the  Mayflower,  should  by  now  have  almQ.st 
finished  its  growth,  and  Avhen  complete  the  plants  should  be 
placed  outside  right  in  the  eye  of  the  sun  and  watered  as  often 
as  necessary.  This,  too,  will  not  flower  if  kept  growing  under 
the  usual  conditions  all  the  year  round.  It  must  be  thoroughly 
ripened  by  exposure;  but,  given  this  little  attention,  it  is  a 
most  lovely  plant,  its  blossoms  very  large  in  comparison  with 
the  size  of  the  growth,  the  colour  a  pretty  soft  pink  or  rose, 
with  purple  markings  on  the  lip. — H.  R.  R. 
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[i- 
Calceolarias  at  Bolehall  Manor  House. 
Tamworth  has  during  recent  years  become^  w’ell  knowm  to 
horticulturists  on  account  of  the  widespread  popularity  of  Mr. 
W.  Sydenham’s  Violas  and  Pansies.  To  visit  the  neighbourhood 
without  seeing  them  is  almost  an  unpardonable  omission.  I  do 
not,  however,  plead  quite  guilty,  as  I  passed  the  entrance  gate 
and  saw  the  brilliant  glow  of  colour  in  the  distance.  My  time 
was  extremely  limited,  or  I  should  certainly  have  endeavoured 
to  find  out  the  latest  varieties  in  Violas ;  but  I  had  to  be 
content  with  inspecting,  and  thoroughly  enjoying,  a  feature  in 
the  delightful  garden  of  the  Rev,  W.  MacGregor,  on  the  oppo¬ 
site  side  of  the  road. 
I  had  previously  heard  of  the  fine  display  of  Calceolarias 
w’hich  Mr.  G.  Higginson  each  year  provides  for  his  employer, 
and  was  therefore  determined  not  to  miss  the  opportunity  of 
seeing  them,  and  I  was  fortunate  in  catching  them  in  almost 
the  full  tide’  of  beauty.  The  plants  were  arrayed  in  the  well- 
kept  conservatory,  and  my  impression  on  seeing  them  was  that 
there  is  nothing  to  equal  these  favourites  of  the  older  florists 
for  providing  a  beautiful  and  varied  display  during  May  and 
early  June.  Many  of  the  specimens  were  of  a  stamp  which 
prominent  exhibitors  might  well  enVy,  and  such  as  only 
masters  in  the  art  of  growing  can  produce.  No  matter  whether 
they  were  groAving  in  6in.  7in,  or  Sin  pots,  the  same  sturdy 
vigour  was  noticeable  throughout,  the  amount  of  growth  being 
in  proportion  to  the  size  of  pot. 
The  individual  flowers  were  as  remarkable  for  their  size  and 
substance  as  for  their  delightful  and  varied  markings.  It  would 
require  a  bold  man  to  attempt  to  accui-ately  describe  the 
colours  and  markings  of  this  fine  strain  of  Calceolarias.  I 
certainly  will  not  court  failure  by  trying  to  do  so,  but  instead 
w'ill  urge  all  gardeners  who  have  the  opportunity  to  grow  plants 
for  another  year.  In  this  case  the  seed  Avas  obtained  from  the 
w’ell-knoAvn  firm  of  Dicksons,  of  Chester. 
Mr.  Higgin.son  soavs  his  seed  sometimes  during  June,  in  pans 
placed  in  frames  or  handlights  in  a  cool  position  in  the  open 
air.  Strict  attention  is  paid  to  pricking  out  and  potting  on 
the  young  seedlings  and  plants  before  they  become  crowded 
or  root -bound.  Light  .sandy  soil  freely  intermixed  AA’ith  leaf  soil 
is  used  in  the  ea,rly  stages,  and  at  each  successiAm  potting  the 
compost  is  made  slightly  heavier,  a  little  Avell  decayed  manure 
being  employed  at  the  final  potting.  That  arch  enemy,  green 
fly,  is  kept  at  bay  by  repeated  fumigatings  before  they  have 
time  to  establish  tliemselves,  and  by  careful  attention  to  the 
numerous  other  details  of  culture.  FeAV  plants  Avill  show  the 
result  of  neglect  more  quickly  than  this  type  of  Calceolaria, 
and  neglect  of  any  description  means  trouble  Avith  insect  pests ; 
but  when  skill  and  comstant  attention  are  bestoAved  upon  them, 
then  the  “  harvest  ”  is  a  brilliant  and  fascinating  one.  All 
should  bear  in  mind  that  noAv  is  the  time  to  make  preparation.s 
for  next  year’s  display. — H. 
TaptoD  Grow,  Chesterfield, 
About  two  miles  from  Chesterfield  lies  Tapton  Court,  and  at 
a  recent  visit  Ave  found  Mr.  Bloxham,  the  courteous  head 
gardener,  A\ho  readily  placed  his  time  at  our  disposal,  and  con¬ 
ducted  us  over  the  beautiful  grounds.  Entering  a  picturesque 
dell  by  crossing  a  stream,  Ave  found  ourselves  in  a  lovely  spot  by 
the  lake,  Avhereon  di.sported  Avaterfowls  and  majestic  swans.  The 
lake  is  AA'ell  stocked  Avith  fishes,  and  one  can  fancy  how  pleasant 
it  must  be  in  summertime  to  board  the  boat,  and  to  .spend  some 
time  amongst  the  birds  and  these  dAvellers  in  the  A\aters.  Rising 
almost  from  the  lake  .side  is  a  stupendous  bank,  but  along  the 
foot  Ave  notice  Lilies  and  Primroses  and  clumps  of  Narcissus  (the 
month  Avas  May),  AA'hile  Pampas  Grass  is  groAving  by  the  lake  side, 
and  an  effort  is  being  made  to  naturalise  the  bank  with  well- 
knoAvn  floAvers.  Mounting  by  a  winding  Avalk,  we  come  uj.cn 
pieces  of  rockery,  in  Avhich  numbers  of  rock  plants  are  growing. 
Primula  japonica  and  P.  rosea  do  Avell  here,  and  are  covered 
Avith  bloom.  American  CoAA'slips,  Ericas,  &c.,  are  dotted  about, 
and  one  sees  the  Fritillai'ia  also.  Clumps  of  Ivy  groAving  in,  and 
covering  tree  trunks,  are  conspicuous. 
The  alpine  garden  is  a  pretty  feature,  and  Grape  Hyacintlis, 
Saxifrages,  Aubrietias,  Azaleas,  Ac.,  luxuriate  therein.  Here 
one  sees  a  Amry  fine,  .soft  Shield  Fern  fully  18in.  acros.s  the  crown. 
Thoughout  this  garden  Avater  is  laid  from  a  spring  some  distance 
aAvay,  in  such  a  manner  that  there  is  a  constant  trickling.  Pa.ssing 
on,  Ave  notice  Alpine  Phloxes  doing  Avell,  and  there'  is  a  choice 
collection  of  Tulipas  (species),  including  retroflexa  and  fulgens. 
Arabis  has  a  pretty  effect;  St.  John’s  Wort  and  Berberis  are  at 
home  here;  Rock  Cistus  and  A’eronicas  all  do  Avell,  and  there  is 
a  fine  collection  of  Daffodils.  All  the  leading  A'arieties  of  the 
latter  are  here,  and  some  blooms  secured  honours  at  the  Bir¬ 
mingham  ShoAV.  AVe  also  noticed  a  very  fine  lot  of  Chrysanthe¬ 
mums.  about  300  being  groAvn,  and  Mr.  Bloxham  is  a  noted 
groAver.  Hybrid  Primroses  make  a  fine  shoAV,  and  evidently 
SAveet  Peas  are  a  faA'ourite  item. 
Coming  to  the  glass  houses  Ave  find  in  the  early  vinery  Muscat 
Hamburgh  looking  remarkably  well,  Avith  fine  vroAvth,  a  good 
crop,  and  good  bunches.  In  another  hou.so  Hamburghs  and 
Alicantes  look  very  promising.  Tomatoes  are  doing  Avell,  and 
show  some  fine  fruit.  The  Tomato  house  Avas  erected  specially 
for  these  plants,  and  they  are  Amry  flourishing.  Peaches  and 
Nectarines  both  shoAv  a  good  crop.  In  the  stoA’e  there  were  a 
fine  lot  of  Calanthe  A'eitchi  coming  aAvay  Avonderfully  strong ; 
and  of  Pandanus  A'eitchi  there  are  some  grand  table  plants. 
Abutilon  Sanderianum.  Crotons,  Acalyphas,  Anthuriums,  and  a 
fine  lot  of  Gloxinias  (Peed’s  strain)  are  all  good.  A  Begonia, 
President  Carnot,  in  floAver  almost  occupies  one  end  of  the  house. 
There  is  a  nice  collection  of  Caladiums,  including  Madame  Groult. 
Jonville,  Madame  Fitz  Kochlin,  Raymond  Lemoine,  and  Raoul 
Pugno  with  its  transparent  leaves.  On  the  roof  are  Cleroden- 
drons.  Bougainvillea  glabra.  Plumbago  rosea,  and  Allamandas. 
