4b 
July  16,  190. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
their  parents.  In  the  first  edition  not  a  single  Odontoglossum 
hybrid  is  mentioned;  in  this  a  list  of  fifty  is  given,  with  their 
parents,  recorded  or  supposed,  together  with  about  twenty 
synonyms.  The  records  of  hybrid  Dendrobiums,  Cattleya.s, 
L^li^s,  and  of  all  others  whose  hybrids  are  known,  have  been 
laboriously  disinterred  from  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society’s 
Journal,  the  horticultural  magazines,  and  wherever  they  were 
buried,  and  carefully  catalogued  for  the  benefit  of  the  reader. 
For  this  alone  the  editor  deserves  well  of  all  Orchid  growers. 
The  illustrations  of  flowers  are  numerous,  and  most  of  them 
excellent.  Many  which  were  used  in  the  first  edition  have  dis¬ 
appeared.  The'  greater  number  of  those  to  be  found  in  the 
pages  of  the  new  edition  are  from  photographs  by  the  editor, 
and  amongst  them  are  some  which  will  be  accepted'  as  things  of 
^y  ^iiy  reader,  and  which  the  practical  photographer 
who  knows  the  flowers  will  recognise  as  good  examples  of  the 
photography  of  coloured  objects.  It  is  not  alone  that  the  light 
and  shade  have  been  well  managed,  producing  finely  graduated 
pictures  with  full  range's  of  tones,  but  there  is  clear  evidence 
of  the  use  of  colour  sensitive  plates  and  light  filters  to  suit  the 
flowers  to  be  photographed.  A  glance  through  the  sections 
devoted  to  Cattleyas,  Odontoglossums,  and  Cypripediums  will 
furnish  good  examples.  The  book  contains  also  twenty  coloured 
plates.  Where  illustrations  of  flowers  are  not  given  the  reader 
IS  referred  to  some  other  publication  where  an  illustration  is  to 
be  found. 
The  earlier  chapters  deal  with  Orcliid  houses,  shading, 
watering,  damping,  ventilation,  and  all  tJie  mysteries  of  man¬ 
agement.  A  description  of  the  treatment  of  imported  Orchids, 
a  recommendation  of  many  Orchids  as  town  plants,  and  a 
chapter  on  insect  pests  follow'.  Then  comes  a  very  interesting 
botanical  description  of  Orchids,  and  this  is  succeeded  by  a  very 
full  account  of  Orchid  hybridisation.  A  great  deal  of  this  por¬ 
tion  is  new';  not  only  new  to  the  book,  but  new  to  publication. 
Ihe  writer  has  been  so  successful  as  a  hybridiser  that  a  great 
many  people  will  be  glad  to  know  his  methods  of  pollinating  the 
flowers,  germinating  the  seeds,  and  growing-on  the  plants.  A 
short  chapter  on  the  question  of  the  applicability  of  Mendel’s 
Raw  to  Orchids  closes  this  section  of  the  book.  This  is  largely 
+  the^  writer  has  fallen  into  a  curious  error  as 
to  ib^s  law’.  But  much  wise  advice  is  given  to  the  beginner 
^  last  chapter  of  the  book  as  to  the  plants  he  should  begin 
AV’ith,  and  how  he  should  begin  with  them.  And  many  Avho  are 
not  beginners,  in  point  of  time,  w'ill  gain  much  from  this 
chapter,  whose  only  defect  is  that  it  is  not  long  enough. 
The  taste  for  the  cultivation  of  Orchids  is  still  grow’ing,  and 
it  IS  safe  to  say  that  many  more  will  be  gathered  into  the  ranks 
of  Orchid  enthusiaMs  by  reading  such  books  as  this,  for  Mr. 
Lhapinan.  snows  that  simplicity  is  the  key  to  the  cultivation  of 
these  plants.  A  clever  Orchid  grower  once  said  to  the  re- 
yiew  OT,  Givei  Orchids  just  what^  they  want,  and  they  will  grow’ 
like  Cabbages.  Nowq  they  do  not  w’ant  many  things,  but  they 
must  have  what  they  w’ant  if  they  are  to  thrive,  and  some  of 
the  things  they  ivant  are  not  quite  what  most  other  plants 
want.  Mr.  Chapman  tells  what  these  things  are,  and  like 
John  Parkinson  of  old,  apothecary  of  London,  he  leacls  his 
reader  through  ^  his  garden  of  pleasure  and  show's  him  the 
divers  outlandish  flowers,  that  for  their  pride  and  beauty  are 
to  be  planted  in  gardens  of  pleasure  for  delight,”  and  recounts 
to  lum  their  “  nature,  names,  and  vertues,”  as  well  as  their 
native  homes. 
- - 
Early  Potatoes  from  Ireland. 
Ireland  is  following  in  the  wake  of  England  in  an  attempt 
to  raise  new  Potatoes  early,  and  in  quantity,  for  sale  tO'  English 
dealers.  At  Clonakilty,  in  the  South,  several  growers  laid  down 
land  for  this  purpose,  and  as  the  result  they  have  done  remark¬ 
ably  well.  The  crops  have  turned  out  successful.  A  fortnight 
ago  the  dealers  w'ent  into  the  district  from  England,  and  bought 
up  the  growing  crops  as  they  stciod,  paying  at  the  rate  of  £40 
an  acre  for  tnem,  and  undertaking  all  the  expenses  of  lifting 
and  marketing  the  tubers.  At  this  price  whole  fields  have 
been  purchased,  and  the  Irish  farmers  are  jubilant  at  their 
succe^.  A  crop  that  will  secure  £40  per  acre  net,  from  buyers 
must  be  a  paying  one  for  cultivators.  Further,  as  the  result  of  the 
Hsts,  the  Irish  Potato  growers  say  they  can  market  their  early 
Potatoes  a  w'eek  or  a  fortnight  earlier  than  the  English  growers 
ri  ^  ^  intend  in  future  years  to-  extend  operations  consider- 
T '  distributive  circles  the  success  of  these  South 
of  Ireland  Potato  producers  has  caused  seme  excitement,  for  tho 
areas  suitable  for  the  business  in  County  Cork,  and  elsewhere 
are  more  extensive.  Dealers  see  that  early  Potatoes  from  this 
new’  centre  will  certainly  affect  nroduction.  The  handsome 
margins  left  over  after  allowing  for  all  expense  in  culture  has 
somew’hat  surprised  even  the  Irish  Potato^  raisers  themselves 
Next  season  the  output  will  be  trebled  at  least,  and  within  a 
year  im  tw’O'  probably  thousands  of  acres  w'ill  be  devoted  to  the 
crop  by  local  growers.  When  the  usual  expense  of  railway 
carnage,  salesman’s  commission,  and  market  tolls  ’  are  con¬ 
sidered,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  price  paid  is  really  equal  to  £50 
per  acre. 
ANL  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Strawberries  in  Pots. 
For  securing  sturdy  runners,  early  planted  ones  of  last  year 
afford  them  soonest  and  best,  especially  when  not  overcropped 
and  not  neglected  for  watering.  The  plants  should  have  shown 
blossoms,  because  runners  from  fruitful  plants  always  turn  out 
better  than  those  from  fruitless  strong-grow'ing  parents.  The 
runners  may  be  (1)  layered  in  the  fruiting  pots,  (2)  on  turves,  and 
(3)  in  small  pots.  All  three  plans  are  good.  In  any  case  it  is 
essential  that  the  first  runners,  which  give  the  finest  plantlets, 
should  be  selected,  and  that  they  should  be  induced  by  watering 
to  emit  roots  freely  at  once,  so  that  they  may,  by  judicious  atten¬ 
tion,  develop  into  sturdy  plants  and  form  good  crowns.  If  layered 
into  the  largest  pots  they  need  not  be  detached  until  thoroughly 
established.  Those  layered  in  turves  or  3in  pots  should  as  soon 
as  rooted  properly  be  detached  and  stood  in  a  shady  place  for  a 
few  days,  preparatory  to  shifting  them  into  the  fruiting  pots. 
These  may  be  Sin  for  early  work,  and  6in  for  succession  or  late 
forcing,  for  nothing  is  gained  by  using  large  pots. 
For  very  early  forcing  Black  Prince  still  holds  pre-eminence 
as  the  earliest,  but  is  very  prone  to  mildew ;  otherwise,  though 
small,  is  of  high  colour  and  excellent  quality,  forcing  well.  La 
Grosse  Sucree,  however,  is  unrivalled  for  very  early  forcing,  as  it 
both  sets  and  swells  the  fruit  w'ell,  this  being  of  good  size,  colour, 
and  quality.  Vicomtesse  Hericart  de  Thury  also  sets  well,  swells 
to  a  good  size  when  the  fruits  are  well  thinned,  and  furnishes 
fine  glossy  fruits  of  excellent  quality.  Royal  Sovereign  may  be 
regarded  as  an  earlier  and  improved  Sir  Joseph  Paxton,  and 
everything  that  can  well  be  desired  in  “  cropping,”  colour,  and 
quality.  Where  few  Strawberries  in  'pots  are  grown  it  may  be 
given  place  for  those  previously  mentioned.  For  home  use,  and 
when  true.  Keen’s  Seedling  is  yet  far  from  superseded,  its  crop¬ 
ping,  deep  colour,  and  fine  quality  always  pleasing.  Sir  Harry 
is  of  similar  ilk,  cropping  W'ell,  large,  and  well  flavoured.  Presi¬ 
dent  has  plenty  of  size  and  good  looks,  and  the  quality  first-rate, 
but  has  a  bad  habit  of  “  spotting.”  Auguste  Nicaise  is  perfect 
as  a  plant,  the  fruit  large  and  of  good  colour,  bears  well,  and  the 
quality  not  indifferent,  yet  is  excellent  for  supply  and  appear¬ 
ance.  Sir  Joseph  Paxton  affords  full  crops  of  large  and  first 
quality  fruit,  as  a  midseason  or  rather  late  forcer,  being  particu¬ 
larly  fine  grown  on  shelves  in  unheated  fruit  houses.  For  bright¬ 
ness  of  colour  Sir  Charles  Napier  stands  supreme,  not  any  having 
so  bright  scarlet  face,  and  though  a  heavy  cropper,  and  large, 
handsome  appearance,  has  only  a  brisk  flavour.  Empress  of 
India  is  also  bright  scarlet,  with  a  flavour  approaching  British 
Queen,  and  ripens  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks  earlier,  a  great 
point  in  forcing.  James  Veitch,  very  large  and  handsome,  has 
only  moderate  flavour,  but  forces  w’ell,  especially  midseason, 
dishes  of  noble  appearance  counting  at  parties. 
For  late  forcing  British  Queen  is  supreme.  Dr.  Hogg  being  a 
''«tter  plant,  with  large  fruit  of  the  exquisite  “Queen”  flavour. 
Veitch’s  Perfection  combines  deep  colour  with  the  quality  of 
ffritish  Queen.  The  foregoing  are  the  cream  of  Strawberries  for 
forcing,  though  good  accounts  are  given  of  Souvenir  de  Bosuet, 
with  medium-sized  fruit,  globose  conical,  red  skin,  and  luscious 
juicy  fle.sh,  plant  a  vigorous  grow'er.  For  cool  houses  mention 
may  be  made  of  President  Delacour,  large,  heart-shaped,  bright 
orange  scarlet  fruit  and  excellent  flavour,  also  of  Auguste  Boisselot 
very  large  oval,  deep  red,  and  richly  flavoured.  Enough,  and 
possibly  more  than  many  will  require,  has  been  given,  but  selec¬ 
tion  can  be  made,  and  if  not  in  stock,  most  can  be  secured  by 
early  orders  to  nurserymen,  in  small  pots,  and  shifted  into  the 
fruiting  ones  as  soon  as  they  can  be  had  well  rooted  will  give 
good  results  under  proper  management  the  following  season. 
The  pots  must  be  clean  inside  and  outside,  have  a  large  crock 
over  the  opening,  preferably  a  w’orm  excluder,  three  or  four  of 
lesser  size,  and  some  smaller  still,  so  as  to  form  about  an  inch  of 
drainage.  This  should  bo  secured  w'ith  the  rougher  parts  of  the 
compost  rammed  tightly  down.  Turfy  loam,  strong  rather  than 
light,  must  form  the  staple  of  the  compost.  Break  it  up  roughly, 
adding  half  a  pint  of  bonemeal  (steamed),  a  pint  of  soot,  and  a 
quart  of  w'ood  ashes  to  each  bushel  of  chopped  up  loam.  If  these 
ingredients  are  not  to  be  had,  the  advertised  fertilisers  answer 
equally  w’ell,  following  in  each  case  the  instructions  given  with 
them.  Let  the  compost  be  moderately  dry  when  used,  for  if 
wet  it  will  shrink  after  potting,  leaving  the  sides  of  the  pot. 
Bring  the  soil  up  to  the  required  height  in  the  pot,  ram  it  firmly, 
and  finish,  so  that  the  base  of  the  crown  will  be  about  half  an  inch 
below  the  rim,  which  must  be  left  clear  for  watering,  allowing  a 
little  more  for  the  6in  than  for  the  Sin  pot.  Stand  the  pots  on  a 
hard  base  in  an  open  situation,  but  .sheltered  from  strong  winds, 
with  sufficient  space  between  them  to  allow  the  full  exposure  of 
the  foliage.  Give  water  as  required,  and  sprinkle  the  foliage  for 
a  few  days  after  potting.  If  this  be  followed  each  evening,  it 
greatly  assists  the  plants.  When  the  roots  are  working  freely 
in  the  fresh  soil  copious  supplies  of  water  will  be  needed,  always 
giving  sufficient  to  moisten  the  soil  through  to  the  drainage. 
Tlie  plants  must  not  be  allowed  to  flag,  and  the  soil  ought  not  to 
be  soddened  by  needless  waterings.  Remove  all  runners  and 
weeds  as  they  appear. — G.  Abbey.  • 
