)
1
5700. Orchideow epiphytes. Tlse cuUure of these plants
was long very imperfectly understood. It was found that heat
and moisture made tliem grow, and it was sujiposed tliat these
stimulants might be freely administered to them all tbe year.
It is now found, however, that a dry season of rest is absolutely
essential to keep them in health and vigour for any
considerable length of time. In fact, the only timo when excessive
heat and moisture is not injurious. Is when the plants
aro growing rapidly and forming their flower buds. Even at
this season, moisture is more important to them than lieat, and
Mr. Gordon, superintendent of tbe ornamental department of
the garden of tlie London Horticultural Society, in a very able
paper in the Journal oi the Society, on the management of
orchids, assures us that orchids grow much better in a comparatively
cool and dry atmosphere, than they do when
treated as they usually are. Mr. Gordon divides his subject
into six heads : —
1. The most suitable kind of house, with the mode of heating
and ventilating; day sliading, and nigiit covering.
2. Atmosphere, temperature, and effects of climate.
5. Soil, timcof shifting, situation in the house,watering, and
propagation,
4. Treatment wlien out of health, or when fresh imported.
6. How to destroy insects injurious to them.
6. A selection of kinds, uith their time of flowering and
proper treatment.
The following is a very short abridgement of this paper.
1. The orchid-house, Mr. Gordon tells us, should be of medium
size, and divided into two compartments, one for orchids
from tho western hemisphere, which grow naturally in a lower
temperature and drier atmosphere; and the other for the
eastern species, which require more heat and moisture, particularly
when thoy are In a growing state. “ Tlie house may
be placed to face any direction between south-east and southwest,
i t should be span-roofed, 14 ft. h i ^ in the centro, and
forming an angle not exceeding 30°. There should be no
upright sashes on either side, but it should have glazed ends.
The interior should he fltted up with slate stages and shelves,
those in the centre having a heated cliamber underneath,
closed in, but with ventilators to allow tiie heat to escape Into
the liouse when required.” (Journ. U.S., vol. iv. ji. I I .) In
heating nothing is better than liot water in 4-inch pipes. Open
gutters are objectionable. “ AU orchid-houses should have
two boilers fitted to the pipes, in order that, if any accident
happens to the one, tho other may be in readiness.^’ (Ibid.)
The supply of fresh air should bo “ admitted by small aper.
tures (furnished with ventilators) in tlie front and back walls,
as near the ground as possible, and below the hot-water pipes,
so that the fresh air may be warmed in passing among and over
tlie hot-air pipes. Moisture must be obtained by occasionally
pouring water over the shelves and hot-water pipes ; and from
small earthen evaporating pans placed over the pipes at their
hottest ends.” (Ibid.) Shading is indisjiensablc in bright
sunshine, particularly when the external atmosjiliere is very
hot and dry ; as if orchids are too much in tho sunshine, they
become hrown. The shade, however, “ should be removed
every afternoon, to allow tlie plants the uninterrupted light of
the evenings apd mornings wlien tlie sun Is not too powerful.
The best shading is strong canvas on rollers, which should be
made to unroll from the bottom of tlie roof upwards, for
frequently tlie lower portion of the house ouly requires to be
shaded.” (/itd. p. 12.) “ Nightcoveringon tiie outside of the
house is very deslrablo in winter, and may be easily effected
by placing a waterproof kind of canvas on the rollers wliich
a r e u s e d f o r t h c '
plants trained
jcctionable.
2. Thealmosph6re,lemperaiurc,Sic. In all places where epiphytal
orchids are found there arc two seasons, one damp and
tlie other dry, with short transitions between. Some can even
endure a considerable degree of cold. “ Lcc'lio majàlis grows
upon oaks in the mountains of Mexico, where the ground in
the cool season is sometimes covered with hoar frost.” (Ibid.
p. 13.) Sucli low temperature, however, is not desirable.
“ Tiio temjierature of the liouse can only with certainty bo kept
regular by night, particularly in summer; thertfforc, the
firo slioulci never raise tlie heat higher tlian 60°, and about flve
degrees less should be maintained when the plants are iu a less
excitable state; but as the days lengthen, so the tomjierature
may rise ; yet it should if pos.nihle never range higher tlian 75°
by night In summer.” (Ibid. ji. 14.) “ Moisture is by no moans
injurious to orchids, provided they can part with it freely, but
they arc impatient of stagnant dainji. Wlien in a dormant
state, they should receive no more moisture than is sufficient
moisture freely, than i.. ,...... , -
orchids may be divided into tlirce classes, as far as situation is
concerned, viz. tliose which grow on tlie bare branches of trees,
and tliat require a very warm moist atmosjiliere ; those whicii
sliould havo a light fibry material to cover their roots, and a
cooler and drlei' atmosphere; and those that like a coo! atmo-
Bjilicre, and requiro a rlcli vegetable mould, retentive of
moisture, to grow in.” (/frid.)
3. Soil, ^c. Mr. Gordon recommends very fibrous peat, from
which the loose peaty matter lias been beaten when it is quite
dry; the fibre when used being “ mixed with a few half-
decaycd leaves, which must be quito dry, and free from any
small pieces of stick tliat rot and breed fungi in the soil.’’
(Ibid. p. 16.) In potting, a small inverted pot should be
placed lu the outer pot, which should then havo jiotsherds jiut
in to within 3 in. of tho rim, the remaining space being filled
in with a sufficient portion of the roughest fibre, to slightly
elevate the plant above the rim. “ In shifting, remove all the
old soil from the roots, when it can be done witliout injury,
and in all cases allow tho jilants to become rather dry for a few
days prior to tlie operation, and for a like time afterwards before
moisture is applied ; wliich should be, first to the atmosphere
^aringly, and afterwards to the roots or the soil.” (Ibid.)
The timo for shifting shouldbe just when the plants have begun
to form young roots ; and they should bo shifted once in iivo
years. Tliose kinds which aro grown on blocks of wood, or in
baskets, should have spliagnum or rough fibry peat about the
roots, to prevent them from becoming too dry. The blocks
should have a smooth surface and be of fresh wood ; and tlie
fastenings should be copper wire and nails. “ In suspending the
blocks ^ways place them perpendicularly, and the baskets
quite horizontally ; and invariably have them taken down and
examined every third day in summer, and once a week in
winter, to see it they want watering. This must be done in.
dejiondently of syringing, for some parts of the blocks may be
found quite moist enough, while other parts are dry.” (Ibid.,
p. 17.) All kinds of orchids do not require rest at the samo
time, as “ some plants bloom during the winter months, nnd
consequently require rest at another season.” Watering
“ should be done with much caution, particularly with respect
to tliose which have large leathery permanent leaves and less
succulent stems, like the Cattlèya.” When the plants arc
young, they are easily increased by division.
4. Treatmentoffreshlyimpoi-tedplants. Ifthcyappeardead,
they should be laid on some <lry moss in a shady part of the
stove, or in some close pit where tliere is little moisture in the
atmosphere, till they show signs of growth. “ The atmosjihcre
surrounding them andthc moss shouldbe gradually moistened,
first their leaves, and the stems afterwards, for nothingis more
fatal to fresh-imported plants than mucli moisture ; hut when
they begin to emit new roots, treat them in tlie same way as
plants recovering from a state of rest.”
5. Insects. The cockroach is tho worst of these, as it gets
into the interior of the pots among the broken crocks, and
eats the points of the roots. The best way of destroying them
■ • look for them every evening after dark, especially in f -
er, and to kill them by crushing t WllibVl,tlllU bO B.m LllVIU L/J \.l UrttlAllg .1h em. “ T* ,h.ee wwooooddllooiuise
is another pest to orchids; ” but it may be caught by placing
slices of r_—„ the surface of the earth in the pots. ^ -
SmaU brown ants are also very troublesome, but they may be
destroyed by jfiacing sugar and arsenic, ground to nn imjial-
pable jwwder, on bits ot card, near the jilaces they frequent.
Tlio slug may be trapjied with lettuce leaves placed among the
pots; and the red spider, thrips, and different kinds of scale,
may bu destroyed by syringing the loaves first with warm
water, and afterwards with a weak solution of tohacco-water
and sulphur.
tlie most free-growing kinds, having an eye to jircserving as
much variation as possible both in appearance and time of
floweriug.”
Phaloenépsis amàbiiis
Odontoglóssum grande
cUrósmum
Cattlèya Skínncrí
Môssioe
crispa
Oncidium Lanceânitwî
ephacelàtum màjus
;uttàtuni
Rcnanthèra coeeinea
Phàjus WaUíciiíí
Dendròbiura WalHcludnuni
formòsum
pulchéllum
chrysànthiim
Dalhousiednum
cucullàtum
Milti
càndi
Lycàstc Sklnnert
cruenta
Barkèria spectábiiis
Saccoiòbium guttàtum
Loe'lia supérbiens
Pernnü
ànccjis
Ocelógyne cristàta
Wallichia«a
Bràss
r. grandiflòra Chysis bractésccus
Zygo
Ansé
Acini
létalum Mackàyi
Ita africàna
età Humbóldtii
Aérides odoràtum
crispum
Cymbidium Mastérsii
Peristèria elàta
Mormòdes luxàtum
Lcptòtes bicolor
Cycnòches Loddigèsii
Ejñdetidrum maeroohìlum
Vàlida tères
Maxitlària (Scuticària) Steèlu StamfordiùwjtTO
.......... ...........
Stanhòpea tigritia Sophronìtis grandiflòra
grandiflòra Trichopiiia tórtilis
For a more detailed account, see the Journal of the London
Horticultural Society, vol. iv. p. 9—51.
5701. The liajflèsia AriuSldi is tho most extraordinary parasite
known to botanists. It was discovered by the late Dr.
Arnold, in Sumatra, ia 1818, in a jungle or thicket, growing
close to the ground, under the bushes, and attached to tho
roots o fa sjiocies of ¿’issus. The plant consists of the flower
only, having neither leaves, branches, nor roots ; the flower is
a yard across ; the petals, which arc subrotund, being 12 in.
from tlie base to the apex, and it being about 1 ft. from the
insertion of the ono petal to that of the opposite onc ; the petals
are from a fourth to three-fourths of an inch thick, and the
nectarium, it is sujiposed, wouid hold twelve pints. It appears
to take its origin in some crack or hollow of the stem, aud
soon shows itself iu tlic form of a round knob, which, when cut
through, exliibits the Infant flower envelojicd in numerous
bracteal slieaths, whicli successively ojieii ami wither away as
tlie flower enlarges. A singular cliauge lakes placo In the
vessels of the root or stem on which it grows; thoir ramifications
are multijilied, and they take a direction so as to unite
with and accommodate themselves to the base of the parasite
to which they convey nourishment. Tlie generai appearance
of the flower is that of Stapèlia, and its smell is also fétid. It
is dicecious, and sujiposcd by Brown to belong to the natural
order of Asarineic. There are other species, the R. Fàtnia
Jilume, which much resembles R. Ainókli Br., andthc R. Uors-
flèldii with the flowers not above 3 in. iu diameter. (See Lin.
Trans., vol. xiii. p. 201.)
5702. Exotic ferns. The tree-ferns, Humboldt informs us,
are of singular beauty in thcir native sites. Only a few species
of these, as Dicksònia arboréscens, Davàllia pyxidàta, Ptéris
aculeàta, &c., have been introduced ; but the number of herbaceous
ferns whicli ore stove plants is considerable. They
are jiropagaicd from seeds which generally ripen freely in tins
country, and such as arc received from abroad generally grow,
however long kept; they are also multiplied by dividing the
roots. The best collection of exotic foms is considered to be
in the Liverpool garden ; many of these have been raised from
seed by Shejiherd, the present curator; aud the following are
his directions for this purjiose: — Haviog providcd a common
garden-jiot, 31 in. in depth, and 5 | in. wide, let tlie bottom
part, to the height of 1 in., be filled with fragments of broken
jiots by way of drainage. Over tliese should be spread astratuni
of sucli soil as is commonly used for potting greenhouse plants,
of tlie depth of 2 in. ; the remaining half inch should be fllled
- ... this the st _ .. ,OT
- .......... - — evenly as possible. Cure must be taken that the
wind be uot suffered to blow tiie seeds away, leaving notiiingbut
emjjty cajisules. Tho seeds being sown, oo other covering is
requisite tlian a bell-glass, which shouldjust fit within tlio rim
of the jiot, 80 as to exclude all air. Tlie j)ot is then to be kept
in a j)aii always half full of water, and set tn a shady part of
tlie stove or Cothouse, being always regularly watereii as it
shows dryiie.ss. When the young plant» have acquired thcir
second leaf, it Is proper to give them a little air by jilacing a
small jiicce of wood under tlio edge of the glass, at one si<le. In
a short time afterwards tlie glass may be entirely removed.
(Hort. Trans., vol. iii. p. 358.) There was also a most excellent
collection in the Birmingham Botanic Garden, whilst
it was under the care of the late Mr. David Cameron.
5703. I'he seeds come up in two or three months, and tlic
plants flower the following year. It is not known how long
these seeds retain their vegetative quality, but two jilants of
Gymnogrimma calom61aiios were raised from seeds brusiied
from a sjiecimcn of that fern in the lierbariuui of Foster, supposed
to be nearly fifty years old. But the same success did
not attend similar attempts with any other specimens from lliis
herbarium. Tlie soil for ferns should bo of a soft fine texture,
to suit the very small fibres of tlieir roots; it requires also to
he kept eonstantly moist, in imitation of the native habitation
of these jilants, which is gencraUy under the shade of trees or
rocks. Hence also they may ho set iu dark parts of the stoves
where nothing else will thrive.
S e c t . IX. Selection o f D ry and Bark-stove Plants, fo r such as have only one Hothouse
to contain them.
6704. Woody plants. Ardisia panicu-
làta, Astrapee'a Wallichn, Averrhòa
Bilimbi, Bambìisa arundinàcea, Bar-
ringtònta speciósa, Bréxia niadagasca-
riénsie, Brugmánsía suavèoiens, Càrica
Pa2>d.ya, Catcsbai'a spinósa ; Clerodén-
druni fràgrans, jianiculàtum ; Coccóloba
uvifera, Cbcos nucífera, Coffla
aràbica, Córypha umbraculifera; Cycas
circinàlis, rcvolùta ; Dìllènia speciósa,
Dracæ'na Dràco, Franciscea
uniflòra, ¿/ibiscus Bòsa-sinénsis, Ixòra
clfera, Murràyo exótica,
Pandànus candclàbrum, odoratissi-
mua; Fhoe'nìx dactylifera, Piménia
vulgàris, Fortlàndia grandiflòra, Solàndra
grandiflòra, Thoopliràsta Jus-
sieùi, ìVciona gràndis, Finca ròsea.
Climbing. Argyreia spléndens, nervósa ;
Poivrea Afzèlii, coccinea, comòsa, barb
à ta ; IpomcB'ain8ÌgDÌ8,/a/àpa/ Passiflòra
alata, phoenicea, coccínea, racemósa,
kermesina.
xcculents. A
commùnis,C........................ ... —
flòrus, sjieciosissimus, phyllaiithòìdcs ;
iìupliórbia clàva, anti<juorum ; Fìper
nìgrum, Stapèlia grandillùra.
Bulbs. Amarÿllii regln*, Johnsòtn',
vittàta, aulica ; Crìnum amàbile, erubéscens,
latifòlium ; Ismène Ajn<ijica«.s/
Pancràtium amoe'num, speciòsuin,
Herbaceous. Aérides, odoràtum, Biétta
TankervUlite; Ca/ùt/tMin bicolor ; Ca-
lasètum tridentàtum and varieties;
Cattlèyo Forbèsti, Cyjirijièdium vo-
uùstum. Gloriósa superba; Gloxinia
C h a p . X V .
cauléscens, «peciósa; Polypòdium aùreum
; Ptèris grandifòlia, Kenanthèra
coccínea.
Aquatics. Limnócharis Rlumièrt, Eu-
ryale fèrox; Nelùmbium speciòsum,
fjymphæ'a cærùlea, Lòtus, pubéscens,
rubra; Papyrus antiquòrum ; Poiitc-
dèria azùrea, cràssijies; Villàrsta indica.
Reedy.
dychium ilium, coccineum,
Gardnertûauîjt,
Bihài; Maràntc
Músa paradisìaca, sapiéntum ; Ptirv-
nium zcbrinum, lloscòca purpùrea,
Sáccharum offlcinàrum ; Strelítzio
regime, Zingiber oüiciuale.
ximum ; Helicònia
undinàcca, bicolor ;
Monthly Catalogue o f the leading Productions o f Ornamental Horticulture.
5705. Our catalogue o f monthly ornamental productions extends only to a few of the
more generally known flowering plants and trees; what respects the hothouse department
is to be understood as referring to flower-gardens which contain at least a bark-
stove, a diy-stove, one greenhouse or more, and an adequate number of reserve-pits
and frames. Those plants arc marked (*) which may be produced fr-ora a small garden,
where there is a greenhouse, flued-pit, and hotbeds; not in any quantity, but sufficiently
to keep up a hope and a fear for every month. The keeping up of this sort of
hope and fear, and the making changes in gardens, are much more conducive to the
kind of happiness or interest which those who have small places expect to derive from
them, than a grand display of two or threo species of flowers, occun-ing only oncc or
twice in the yeai-.
JANUARY.
FLOWEH-OAUrEN. SKRUBBEKV. H0TU0U8E DEPARXatENT.
Tlie crocus, tulip, and some alliums,
beginning to emerge from the ground.
If mild weather, perhaps some choice
Jilant in flower, as tho Christmas rose,
daisy, winter aconite*, but generally
no flower is to he seen at this season.
At this season it is that such species of
plants as those enumerated in § 6506.
prove of much interest, even iu their
foliage alone.
Evergreens display themselves to advantage,
especially the holly* with its
coral berries. Ohìmonàntlius fràgrans,
and fràgrans grandiflòrus, and laurus
tinus * in flower. The glossy leaves of
the Portuguese laurel glisten in alively
cheering manner in the gleams of
siinshino with which we are favoured
even in this month : iliose of the common
laurel do tlie same.
In the greenhouse, the camellias * in full
bloom, and some heaths aud Australian
plauts.
In the stove, Strelitzia * seven species,-
and some other jilants.
From the wits aud holbedsia the reserve
garden, forced roses, hyacinths and
other bulbs, mignonette, S:c., placed
iu the conservatory, plant-cabinet, or
drawing-room.
The snowdrop », Christmas rose *, and
winter aconite*. In flower ; the crocus,
crown imjicrial, and other bulbs, fast
advaucing, if the weather be favourable.
Tlie buds ofthe weeping willow
(¿"Allx babylOnicaL.) bursting or about
to burst: a proof that tills sjiecies has
not yet become acclimated to Britain.
The male flowers of the hazel*, yew
tree *, those of Erica càrnea, and
some shrubs, apjiear.
Tho lark sings about the beginning of
tlio month, and the thrush about tho
middle.
t rt, o
In tho greenhouse, camellias* nnd lieaths
in great beauty, and also somc species
of 0 xalis, Protca, &c-
In the stove, Strelitzia*, and some bulbs
and succuleute.
Forced articles from the pits as before, j
‘to!’ :. ii
l !
i f
iÛ ,
jI