96 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
July  30,  1903. 
Cattleya  x  Oweniana. 
It  -tvas  in  1892  that  this  very  beautiful  flower  received  a  first- 
class  certificate,  and  like  so  many  other  of  the  choicer  hybrids, 
the  stock  of  plants  has  increased  verA"  slowly.  The  lip  has  a  rich 
velvety  crimson  apex,  and  in  form  it  narrows  at  the  throat,  which 
is  deeply  veined  with  gold,  as  are  the  side  lobes.  The  sepals  and 
petals  are  white.  Though  the  parentage  was  not  recorded  at 
the  time  when  the  award  was  made,  it  was  suggested  that  C.  gigas 
and  C.  aurea  were  the  progenitors. 
The  Week’s  Cultural  Notes. 
We  have  few'  more  thirsty  subjects  than  Odontoglossum 
citrosmum  when  growing  freely  and  well  established.  The  roots 
appear  able  to  deal  with  very  large  supplies  of  water,  and  unless 
they  get  it  the  pseudo-bulbs  will  not  swell  up  to  their  full  size, 
consequently  the  flower  spikes  will  be  weak.  O.  grande,  too,  and 
its  allies  O.  Insleayi  and  Schlieperianum  can  do  with  full  supplies 
now,  as  both  growth  and  flower  spikes  are  forming.  Just  now 
there  is  something  exceptionally  attractive  to  insects  about  these 
last  named  species,  and  unless  the  greatest  care  is  exercised,  both 
flowers  and  growth  will  be  ruined.  Standing  the  f)lants  in 
saucers  of  water  on  other  pots  inverted  is  a  good  protection  in 
the  case  of  slugs. 
In  the  cool  Orchid  frame  a  little  soot  and  lime  should  be 
sprinkled  over  the  ashes,  or  shingle  that  is  used  for  standing  the 
plants  upon,  the  ammonia  rising  from  this  being  of  great  benefit 
to  the  plants,  and  distasteful  to  slugs  and  other  insects.  A  little 
air  must  be  left  on  top  of  the  frame  all  night,  the  only  time  for 
entirely  closing  it  being  late  in  the  afternoon.  Even  then  air 
will  be  admitted  below  if  the  frame  is,  as  it  should  be,  propped 
up  by  bricks  at  each  corner. 
In  some  cases  Oncidium  macranthum  and  other  of  this  set 
will  be  producing  roots  from  the  base  of  the  growths,  high  up  out 
of  the  compost,  and  in  order  to  save  these  from  insect  attacks, 
and  allow'  them  the  benefit  of  the  compo'st,  a  little  moss  and  peat- 
should  be  placed  near  them,  to  conduct  the  roots,  so  to  .speak,  to 
their  proper  place  in  the  pots.  These,  too,  require  abundance 
of  moisture  now  after  the  strain  of  flowering,  liking  it  both  on 
the  leaves  and  roots. 
Cattleya  citrina  is  now  at  its  ciuietest  period,  and  should  be 
suspended  near  the  roof  glass  in  the  coolest  house.  I  am  not  an 
advocate  for  overdrying  this  species  at  any  time,  but  its  ver^' 
habit  of  growth  shows  that  it  dislikes  much  water,  e.specially  over 
the  foliage,  and  now  that  it  is  practically  at  rest  rjuite  sufficient 
for  its  needs  will  be  drawn  from  a  laroperly  moistened  house.  The 
use  of  the  sj'ringe  is  to  be  avoided,  and  only  occasional  moistening 
of  the  roots  allowed.  Cork  blocks  lightly  dressed  with  moss  are 
best  for  growing  this  species  upon  ;  it  never  see-mst  liappy  in  pots. 
— H.  R.  R. 
Propagating  Pansies  and  Violas. 
Pansies  and  Violas  are  interesting  flowers  because  of  the  wide 
range  of  diversified  colours  they  present,  and  the  length  of  time, 
Violas  especially,  continue  in  bloom.  In  many  bedding  arrange¬ 
ments  Violas  form  an  excellent  groundwork  and  also  pleasing 
edgings  to  beds.  Pansies  should  be  grown  in  beds  to  themselves 
or  be  associated  A^  ith  spring  floAvering  plants.  They  floAver  the 
best  in  the  months  of  April  and  May,  after  AA'hich  time  the  plants 
may^be  removed  for  summer  bedding. 
Violas  continue  to  floAver  longer  and  are  more  or  less  attrac¬ 
tive  throughout  the  summer,  if  the  soil  can  be  kept  moist  and 
cool,  and  due  attention  is  giA'en  to  remoA'ing  spent  blooms.  A 
mulch  of  rotted  maiiAire  is  beneficial,  as  it  prevents  moisture  from 
the  soil  evaporating,  and  Avill  supply  some  sustenance  to  the 
roots  when  it  is  occasionally  copiously  Avatered. 
The  present  is  a  suitable  time  to  consider  the  best  means  of 
rai.sing  a  fresh  stock  of  plants  to  insert  in  autumn  for  spring 
flowering.  It  is  possible  to  do  this  bv  both  seed  and  cuttings. 
The  former  plan  must  be  resorted  to  AA'here  no-  jAlants  are  aA'ail- 
able  to  obtain  cuttings.  Fortunately  it  is  a  most  interesting 
method,  and  the  plants  obtained  groAA’  away  freely,  a  large 
majority  of  them  proving  of  good  quality  and  free  floAvering. 
The  .seed,  Avhicli  should  be  obtained  from  a  reliable  source,  may 
be  soAvn  in  a  cold  frame,  or  even  outdoors  in  a  shady  border.  DraAv 
shalloAv  clrills  Sin  apart,  making  the' soil  moderately  rich  and 
fine  preA'ioiisly.  Scatter  the  seed  think'  and  coA'er  sparingly 
Avith  A'ery  fin e_  soil.  Shade  to  prevent  er'aporation,  but  if  the 
surface  soil  dries,  .sprinkle  on  water  AA'ith  a  fine-rose  can.  No 
thinning  out  should  be  necessarA'  until  the  seedlings  are  large  | 
enough  to  prick  out  singly.  This  may  be  done  on  a  finely  pre-  1 
pared  border  of  soil  composed  of  loam,  leaf  soil  and  decomposed 
manure,  not  using  too  much  of  the  latter  ingredients. 
Lift  the  seedlings  Avith  as  much  root  as  possible,  and  prick 
out  2in  apart.  Having  received  hardy  treatment  the  little 
plants  are  short  and  sturdy.  Give  them  a  gentle  Avatering,  and 
continue  to  do  so  Avhen  neces.sary.  This  AA’ill  be  all  that  is  re¬ 
quired  until  the  autumn,  Avhen  they  are  ready  for  lifting  and 
planting. 
In  raising  plants  by  cuttings  it  is  impoi'tant  to  note  that 
the  best  shoots  for  the  purpose  are  secured  from  the  base  of  the 
plants.  They  are  usually  produced  freely  onAvards  from  the 
present  time.  To  facilitate  their  production  in  the  case  of 
Pansies  it  is  best  to  cut  aAA’ay  the  old  groAvth  as  soon  as  signs 
are  given  of  diminished  A'igour  in  the  floAvering.  The  same  may 
apply  to  Violas,  but  under  moist  treatment  the  shoots  will  be 
produced  along  Avith  the  flowering.  Those  not  shoAA’ing  flowers 
are  the  be.st.  Frequently  they  may  be  secured  AA'ith  some  small 
AA’hite  roots  attached. 
Thick  stemmed  groAvths  Avith  large  leaves  do  not  make  good 
cuttings,  being  holloAv  in  the  centre,  and  though  they  may  look 
so  promising  theA'  eventually  die  off,  AA'hile  those  of  slender 
appearance  keep  fresh  and  soon  root.  The  preparation  of  the 
cuttings  is  simple.  Some  AA'ill  need  none,  AA'hile  others  only 
require  the  small  leaflets  at  the  base  nipping  off,  and  the  stems 
cutting  to  a  joint. 
Those  haA'ing  short,  Avhite  rootlets  or  a  portion  of  blanched 
stem  may  be  dibbled  in  as  they  are.  Use  a  small,  blunt  ended 
stick,  making  the  hole  no  larger  than  necessary.  The  surface 
inch  of  soil  should  be  made  light,  fine  and  sandy.  Prick  the 
cuttings  out  1-^in  apart,  in  roAvs  2in  asunder.  See  that  the  base 
of  each  cutting  touches  the  bottom  of  the  hole.  Press  the  soil 
closely  round.  Carefully  label  the  colour  or  name  of  variety,  and 
Avhen  all  are  inserted  give  a  copious  Avatering  Avith  a  fine-rosed 
can. 
The  best  position  for  the  cutting  bed  is  on  the  shady  side  of 
a  Avail  or  in  a  frame  which  can  be  readily  shaded.  The  cuttings 
must  be  kept  moist  by  occasional  sprinkling.  All  being  well 
they  Avill  be  sufficiently  rooted  for  planting  in  beds  or  borders  in 
autumn. — E.  D.  S. 
Certificated  Plants. 
Continued  from  faeje  t.60,  vol.  xlvi.J 
Passion  Flowebs. — The  only  seedlings  from  the  hardy  P- 
cserulea  to  receive  an  award  from  the  R.H.S.  is  Constance  Elliott, 
a  pale,  almost  white  A'ariety,  certificated  in  1884.  At  one  time 
there  were  to  be  seen  in  many  of  the  suburbs  of  London  fine 
examples  of  the  common  hardy  species  groAA'ing  again.st  the  walls 
of  villa  residences,  but  the  severe  winters  during  the  past  tAA^enty 
years  destroyed  most  of  them.  Some  species  have  received 
awards,  but  they  are  rarely  met  Avith  in  gardens.  The  most 
numerously  cultivated  in  greenhouses  and  stoves  are  P.  edulis, 
which  produces  large  purple  fruit,  and  P.  quadrangularis. 
Pentstemons. — I  can  Avell  remember  some  of  the  earliest  im¬ 
provements  made  with  P.  HartAA'-egi  (gentianoides)  in  the  early 
forties,  and  it  had  much  to  do  with  the  development  of  the  flower ; 
so  probably  had  P.  coboea  and  P.  glaber.  It  was  not  until  1861 
that  the  Pentstemon  received  recognition  by  the  R.H.S. ,  when 
Lobbianus,  not,  it  is  presumed  a  species,  received  a  certificate  of 
merit,  folloAved  by  Blue  Beauty,  Compactus,  Mrs.  Steans,  and 
Princeps  in  the  folloAving  year.  Thenceforth,  the  progress  of  the 
flower  Avas  rapid,  and  the  energies  expended  by  Scotch  and  Con¬ 
tinental  florists  in  its  improvement  have  culminated  in  the 
deA'elopment  of  large  Gloxinia-like  blossoms  of  great  beauty ;  and 
though  the  fine  modern  improvements  are  of  such  vigorous  growth, 
yet  difficulty  is  experienced  in  keeping  the  plants  through  the 
winter  after  flowering  Avhen  in  the  open  ground ;  hence  it  is 
necessary  as  a  precaution  to  perpetuate  fine  seedling  varieties  by 
means  of  cuttings.  Awards  of  merit  are  noAV  made  to  strains 
rather  than  to  individuals,  as  the  aggregate  of  quality  is  so  high. 
Peknettyas. — Mr.  Davis,  of  Hillsborough,  Co.  Down,  did 
'  great  service  to  horticulture  when  in  the  seventies  he  produced 
his  seedling  Pernettyas.  He  crossed  P.  mucronata  and  P.  angusti- 
folia,  and  obtained  robust  growing  varieties  producing  large 
clusters  of  varied  coloured  berries  according  to  the  variety,  and 
betAveen  1878  and  1882  he  received  as  many  as  seven  certificates 
of  merit  for  varieties  either  with  Avhite,  flesh-coloured,  lilac,  black, 
or  crimson,  &c.,  berries.  They  are  of  great  A'alue  as  decorative 
subjects  in  AA'inter. 
Petunias. — Fifty  years  ago  the  Petunia  Avas  rapidly  becoming 
popular  as  a  florists’  floAver.  It  Avas  not  till  1823,  when 
P.  nyctaginiflora  AA  as  introduced,  folloAA  ed  by  P.  violacea  in  1831, 
that  florists  had  material  to  work  upon.  The  t-Avo  readily  lent 
themselves  to  crossing,  and  yielded  in  their  progeny  much  A'aria- 
tion.  I  have  a  lively  recollection  of  the  interest  created  by  such 
varieties  as  Lady  Cullum,  Novelty,  Major  Domo,  and  Hermione, 
certificated  by  the  National  Floricultural  Society  preA'ious  to 
1858;  and  also  of  Shrubland  Rose  and  Countess  of  Ellesmere, 
popular  rose-tinted  bedding  varieties.  It  Avas  not  till  1861  that  a 
Petunia  receiA'ed  an  award  from  the  Royal  Horticultural  vSociety, 
