Septeu.ber  17,  1903.  JOURNAL  CF  EOBTIGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
259 
Cypripedium  x  Constance. 
This  is  one  of  a  trio  of  hybrids  raised  by  Mr.  Drewett,  Riding 
Mill-on-Tyne,  in  1890,  and  comes  from  C'.  Stonei  x  C.  Curtisi. 
The  dorsal  sepal  is  white  with  pui’plish  streaks,  the  petals  are 
Sjin  long,  pale  yellow,  Mith  brownish  purple  dots,  and  a  few 
marginal  hairs.  The  lip  resembles  C.  Stonei  in  shape  and  colour. 
The  hybrid  is  possessed  of  free  flowei’ing  qualities.  The  illustra¬ 
tion  is  interesting  as  showing  what  may  be  expected  from  the 
hybridising  of  these  two  well-known  species. 
Tne  Week's  Cultural  Noter. 
In  autumn  there  would  appear  to  the  uninitiated  very  little 
to  do  in  the  Orchid  houses,  and  although  this  is  to  a  certain  extent 
true,  it  is  an  anxious  time  to  the  careful  cultivator,  who  likes  to 
get  the  best  possible  results.  There  are  so  many  species  under 
his  eye,  and  they  need  such  varying  treatment.  He  will  be 
noting  the  backward  state,  say,  of  Cattleya  Mossise,  and  know 
that  It  wants  rushing  on  to  a  finish  as  soon  as  possible;  or, 
C.  Bowringiana,  repotted  recently  and  throwing  out  its  roots,  will 
bo  in  need  of  extra  warmth.  Yet,  in  the  same  house  are  others 
of  the  spring  flowering  type  that  must  be  kept  dormant. 
The  best  positions  where  light  and  heat  are  most  plentiful  will, 
of  course,  be  set  apart  for  the  former  class  of  plant,  and  in  some 
cases  a  little  extra  fire  heat  will  be  turned  on;  but  with  this,  as 
with  other  details,  much  circumspection  is  needed.  The  same 
with  watering.  No  overhead  moistening  can  be  permitted  from 
now  onwards,  and  even  at  the  root  of  most  species  the  supply  will 
be  considerably  curtailed.  Damping  the  floors  and  stages  must 
go  on,  but  it  will  not  be  so  frequently  nece.s:sary,  as  the  external 
conditions  are  not  so  dry,  and  the  atmospheric  moisture  leaves 
the  house  more  slowly.  But  Orchids  ai’e  more  easily  overwatered 
at  the  root  than  in  the  atmosphere. 
E.specially  is  this  the  case  now  with  Phalaenopsis,  root  action 
being  often  checked  instead  of  facilitated  by  pouring  water  about 
the  compost.  Among  Vandas,  V.  caerulea  and  V.  Sanderiana  are 
producing  flower  spikes,  and  both  should  be  kept  moist  as  yet. 
But  the  temperature  required  is  quite  different,  the  former  liking 
ample  heat,  while  the  blue  flowered  species  does  better  in  a  cool 
intermediate  house.  Saccolabiums  of  the  Blumei  and  retusum 
section  need  a  drier  atmosphere  now,  as  do  also  .brides, 
Angrsecums,  and  the  taller  growing  Vandas. 
Light,  in  its  effect  upon  Orchids,  is  not  always  .sufficiently 
thought  of  by  amateur  growers,  or  the  glass  would  be  kept  cleaner. 
Now  that  the  days  are  shortening,  the  clean.sing  becomes  doubly 
important,  and  a  lull  in  the  routine  work  allows  of  a  thorough 
job  being  made  of  it.  Only  a  small  portion  of  a  house  can  be  taken 
in  hand  at  a  time,  as  it  is  not  well  to  crowd  up  the  plants  at  one 
end  while  the  cleaning  is  in  progress.  Having  removed  the  plant, 
thoroughly  moisten  the  roof,  glass  and  woodwork,  with  warm 
water ;  then  .scrub  all  the  paint  work  thoroughly  with  softsoaiiy 
water  and  paraffin,  sponge  the  glass  inside  and  mop  the  outside. 
A  coating  of  limewash  to  the  inside  walls  is  of  benefit,  and  the 
material  msed  on  the  stages  should  be  turned  and  sifted. 
— H.  R.  R. 
- - 
Lifting  Plants  from  the  Open  Gronod. 
The  plan  of  planting  out  subjects  for  the  summer  season  to  be 
lifted  and  potted  for  the  greenhouse  has  many  points  to  recom¬ 
mend  it.  The  work  entails  some  labour  at  this  season  because 
the  plants,  to  succeed,  must  be  established  before  frost  comes, 
and  placed  safely  under  glass. 
To  achieve  the  best  results,  the  planting-out  should  be  done  in 
the  first  instance  with  a  view  to  lifting  and  potting  in  the  autumn, 
hence  the  situation  selected  will  be  open  and  exposed  to  sun  and 
air.  This  will  induce  a  stocky  growth.  Plants  which  readily  lift 
are  Chry.santhemums,  Salvia  splendens,  Richardias,  Eupatoriums, 
Solanums.  Bouvardias,  Heliotropes,  and  Lobelias. 
The  best  Chrysanthemums  for  lifting  and  potting  are  the  dwarf 
habited  early  Japanese,  pompons,  and  late  varieties.  If  grown 
two  feet  apart  on  good  soil  they  have  plenty  of  room.  About  a 
fortnight  before  lifting  (w  hich  may  be  done  when  the  buds  show) 
run  a  spade  all  round  each  plant  at  half  a  foot  from  the  stem,  and 
follow  with  a  Avatering.  Prepare  a  number  of  7,  8,  and  9  inch 
pots  Avith  proper  drainage,  and  have  them  in  readiness. 
When  lifting,  reduce  the  ball  of  soil  and  roots,  giving  as  small  a 
pot  as  possible.  Drop  the  ball  in  about  half-Avay ;  then,  Avith  a 
little  dexterous  jarring  of  the  bottom  edge  of  the  pot  on  a  firm 
base  of  soil  or  Avood,  the  ball  of  roots  may  be  Avorked  down  in 
position. 
Give  a  thorough  AA  atering  to  moisten  the  Avhole  ma.ss,  and  stand 
the  pots  in  the  shade  until  established.  Lightly  syringing  every 
day  will  materially  help  in  this.  Bring  the  plants  to  a  sunny 
position  as  soori  as  possible.  With  judicious  Avatering  and  treat¬ 
ment,  little  foliage  Avill  be  lost,  and  the  buds  Avill  swell  and 
develop.  As  they  do  so  a.ssist  them  Avith  some  weak  manure  AA  ater, 
I  and  stand  the  plants  in  cool,  aii'y  house. 
Precisely  similar  treatment  should  be  accorded  to  Salvias. 
Salvia  splendens  is  u.sually  in  bloom  Avhen  so  lifted  and  potted. 
As  soon  as  the  plants  show  signs  of  having  taken  roothold  transfer 
under  glass  and  see  that  they  do  not  suffer  from  lack  of  Avater  at 
the  root.  A  position  under  glass,  Avhere  a  little  heat  and  plenty 
of  light  is  available,  aaIII  ensure  these  plants  remaining  attractive 
for  a  considerable  time.  By  affording  a  stove  temperature  after 
the  first  blooming  is  past  more  groAvth  and  floAAers  Avill  folloAv. 
Richardias  planted  out  in  summer  die  doAvn  eventually,  but 
spring  up  Avith  fresh  growth  from  the  croAvns,  and  produce  vigor¬ 
ous  stems  and  large  leaves.  Some  of  the  strongest  Avill  throAV  up 
spathes  Avhile  still  in  the  open  ground,  but  those  Avhich  do  not,  the 
lifting  and  potting  .serve  to  check  them,  and  induce  them  to  do  so 
later. 
After  potting,  place  the  pots  on  a  hard  base,  in  this  case  in  the 
full  sun,  and  give  a  copious  soaking  of  Avater.  Let  them  remain 
out  until  the  approach  of  frost,  but  house  them  in  time,  as  they 
are  very  su.sceptible  to  light  frosts,  and  are  much  injured  if 
caught. 
Eupatoriums,  Solanums,  Bouvardias,  and  Heliotropes  may  be 
lifted  Avithout  preliminary  treatment  in  the  matter  of  cutting  the 
roots.  They  are  usually  Avell  furnished  Avith  fibrous  roots,  as 
many  as  possible  of  Avhich  .should  be  retained,  and  long,  bare  roots 
shortened  back,  placing  all  in  as  small  pots  as  can  consistently  be^ 
done.  Give  cool  frame  treatment  at  first,  and  eventually  house 
treatment. 
Lobelias  really  come  under  the  category  of  bedding  plants, 
jnany  of  Avhich  are  lifted  and  potted  to  provide  stock.  Lobelias 
should  be  cut  down  :  that  is,  the  floAvering  stems  ought  to  be 
removed,  and  Avhen  short,  young  groAvths  have  been  produced  the 
clumps  may  be  lifted  and  potted,  Avintering  on  a  shelf  in  green¬ 
house. — E.  D.  S. 
