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Present-Day Gardening
EDITED BY....
R. HOOPER PEARSON
MANAGING EDITOR
OF THE _GARDENERS' CHRONICLE...._
A LIST OF VOLUMES
IN THE SERIES IS
GIVEN ON THE NEXT
PAGE....
[Transcriber's Note: Words surrounded by tildes, like ~this~ signifies
words in bold. Words surrounded by underscores, like _this_, signifies
words in italics.]
_Present-Day Gardening_
List of Volumes in the Series.
1. SWEET PEAS. By HORACE J. WRIGHT, late Secretary and
Chairman of the National Sweet Pea Society. With Chapter on
"Sweet Peas for Exhibition" by THOS. STEVENSON.
2. PANSIES, VIOLAS, AND VIOLETS. By WILLIAM CUTHBERTSON,
J.P., and R. HOOPER PEARSON.
3. ROOT AND STEM VEGETABLES. By ALEXANDER DEAN, V.M.H.,
Chairman of the National Vegetable Society.
4. DAFFODILS. By the Rev. J. JACOB, Secretary of the Midland
Daffodil Society, with Preface by the Rev. W. WILKS, M.A.,
Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society.
5. ORCHIDS. By JAMES O'BRIEN, V.M.H., Secretary of the
Orchid Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society.
6. CARNATIONS AND PINKS. By T. H. COOK, Head Gardener to
Queen Alexandra at Sandringham; JAMES DOUGLAS, V.M.H.; and
J. F. M'LEOD, Head Gardener to Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan.
7. RHODODENDRONS AND AZALEAS. (_The first popular volume
published on this subject._) By WILLIAM WATSON, A.L.S.,
Curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with Preface by
Sir FRED. W. MOORE, M.A., A.L.S., V.M.H.
8. LILIES. By A. GROVE, F.L.S., with Preface by H. J. ELWES,
F.R.S.
9. APPLES AND PEARS. By GEORGE BUNYARD, V.M.H., Chairman of
Fruit and Vegetable Committee of Royal Horticultural
Society.
10. ROSES. By H. R. DARLINGTON, Vice-President of National
Rose Society. (Double volume.)
11. IRISES. By W. RICKATSON DYKES, M.A., L.-es-L. With
Preface by PROFESSOR I. BAYLEY BALFOUR, D.SC., F.R.S., &c.
12. ANNUALS, HARDY AND HALF-HARDY. By C. H. CURTIS, Hon.
Sec. of the National Sweet Pea Society.
13. CHRYSANTHEMUMS. By THOMAS STEVENSON, with chapters by C.
HARMAN PAYNE and CHARLES E. SHEA.
14. TULIPS. By the Rev. J. JACOB.
15. THE ROCK GARDEN. By REGINALD FARRER, Author of "Among
the Hills," "My Rock Garden," "In a Yorkshire Garden," &c.
These will be followed by volumes on ~Dahlias~, ~Climbers~, ~Trees and
Shrubs~, ~Paeonies~, ~Primulas~, ~Window Gardens~, ~Cucumbers~, ~Melons~,
~Bedding Plants~, ~Hardy Herbaceous Plants~, ~Ferns~, ~Tomatoes~,
~Bulbous Plants~, ~Peaches and Nectarines~, ~Vines~, ~Stove and
Greenhouse Plants~, ~&c.~
[Illustration: PLATE I (_Frontispiece_)
CYPRIPEDIUM INSIGNE SANDERAE]
Orchids
By James O'Brien
With Eight Coloured Plates
[Illustration]
London: T.C. & E.C. Jack
67 Long Acre, w.c., & Edinburgh
PREFACE
In the early days of Orchid cultivation the idea was commonly
entertained that these interesting plants could never become popular
with the general public, for the reason that their culture involves a
great initial outlay and permanent expense. That such an idea is
incompatible with the facts is now admitted by all those who are most
familiar with the subject. There is no department of "Present-Day"
gardening that exhibits such wonderful progress as is shown in the
Orchid gardens and nurseries that are to be found in every portion of
these Isles.
At the same time, the popularisation of Orchid culture is only now in
its very commencement. Amateurs are but just beginning to realise that
Orchids, like other plants, are capable of being understood by any one
who really desires to understand them; and, when once understood, the
cool species, at any rate, are not less tractable than common greenhouse
plants. So much is this the case that the author of the present volume
declares that even the house-holders in suburban districts who have but
one conservatory may, if they choose, keep that structure furnished with
Orchids at a less expenditure of time and money than is necessary for
the Palms, Ferns, and other species usually employed for the purpose.
Orchid-growing in the past has been looked upon too much as a craze.
Ruinously high prices have been asked for novelties, and "collectors"
have been ready enough to pay them in the hope of obtaining unique
varieties. This fact alone has frightened off average people.
It is hoped that the present volume will induce thousands to commence
the culture of the cooler species, as it clearly indicates the
simplicity of the cultural principles whilst explaining in full all the
principal details.
Thanks to the experiments of former workers, we are no longer dependent
entirely on the introduction of plants from other countries. Seedling
Orchids are raised as freely as seedling Fuchsias, and home-raised
seedlings, as a rule, thrive better than introduced species in the
artificial cultivation we have to offer them. Readers will find the
details of cross-breeding and seed-raising set out in the following
pages at considerable length.
The author is one of the greatest Orchid specialists the world has
known. As a practical cultivator in the old Pine Apple Nurseries of
Messrs. Henderson, he had the good fortune to flower many species for
the first time after their introduction, and ever since those early days
he has continued to specialise in these plants. He is secretary of the
Orchid Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, and in 1897 he was
included in the first sixty horticulturists who were selected to
receive the Victoria Medal of honour in commemoration of Queen
Victoria's Jubilee.
Our grateful acknowledgments are made to Lieut.-Col. Sir G. L. Holford,
K.C.V.O., for his kindness in affording us facilities for getting the
illustrations. Every plant illustrated is a first-rate specimen of its
kind, and all have been photographed in Sir George Holford's collection
at Westonbirt, which is so well cultivated by his grower, Mr. H. G.
Alexander.
THE EDITOR.
CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION, 1
CHAP.
I. THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF ORCHID CULTURE, 3
II. STRUCTURE OF ORCHID FLOWERS, 6
III. DIFFICULTIES TO OVERCOME, 8
IV. STRUCTURE OF THE ORCHID HOUSE, 9
V. THE POTTING AND BASKETING PROCESS, 22
VI. REMOVING USELESS LEAVES AND BULBS, 31
VII. PROPAGATION BY DIVISION, 34
VIII. WATERING EPIPHYTAL ORCHIDS, 35
IX. MANURES FOR ORCHIDS, 39
X. RESTING ORCHIDS, 44
XI. SPECIALLY RARE AND VALUABLE PLANTS, 46
XII. DISEASES AND INSECT PESTS, 47
XIII. PERIODICAL INSPECTION, 50
XIV. ORCHIDS FOR THE CONSERVATORY, 52
XV. ORCHIDS AS CUT FLOWERS, 55
XVI. IMPORTING ORCHIDS, 59
XVII. TREATMENT OF IMPORTED ORCHIDS, 63
XVIII. ODOURS OF ORCHIDS, 65
XIX. HYBRIDISING AND RAISING SEEDLING ORCHIDS, 67
XX. ENUMERATION OF THE PRINCIPAL GENERA AND
SPECIES IN CULTIVATION, 81
XXI. ORCHID HYBRIDS, 109
INDEX, 111
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATE
I. CYPRIPEDIUM INSIGNE SANDERAE, _Frontispiece_
PAGE
II. MILTONIA VEXILLARIA, 12
III. DENDROBIUM WARDIANUM, 24
IV. CATTLEYA TRIANAE VAR. HYDRA, 40
V. BRASSO-CATTLEYA DIGBYANO-MOSSIAE, 56
VI. CYMBIDIUM LOWIO-EBURNEUM, 72
VII. ONCIDIUM MARSHALLIANUM, 88
VIII. ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM, 102
ORCHIDS
INTRODUCTION
It is not necessary here to trace the history of Orchid cultivation
since its commencement a century and a half or so ago. The earlier
introductions were few and infrequent, but they probably attracted as
much attention as the subjects in our gardens obtain to-day. It may be
said of Orchids that no class of plants has so well and consistently
sustained the interest of cultivators, which is partly because few, if
any, plants have flowers that exhibit such diversity of form, size, and
colouring. But another reason for their popularity may be found in the
fact that few plants are so easy to cultivate, if placed in the care of
a careful and earnest cultivator who applies the best methods which his
own experience indicates and is willing to avail himself of the help
which the experience of others has placed within his reach.
Upwards of fifty years' continuous experience with Orchids have
necessarily presented to us much evidence as to the right or the wrong
methods of carrying out the numerous operations connected with their
culture. Nevertheless, it may be said that common sense is one of the
most important factors in cultivation, and the grower who carefully
thinks over the various problems as they arise, and, profiting by
experience, does his best to avoid former failures, will obtain a
measure of success far exceeding his expectations. To those who know
anything about the ordinary processes of growth and flower the plants
tell their own tale. They show when actively growing the period when a
reasonable amount of heat and moisture is required, and, on the
completion of growth of the deciduous species and the turning yellow of
the leaves, they tell just as plainly when the resting period has
arrived. It is so in all the important stages of their existence.
The extent of the present work having been determined by others in the
same series, the object has been to get as much useful information into
it as possible, to confine the matter to practical subjects and to avoid
repetition. It has therefore been arranged in a series of chapters, each
dealing with an important matter, and available for reference when any
question on the subject crops up in another portion of the book. Short
notes follow on the principal genera known in gardens, but the cultural
remarks may be supplemented by reference to the cultural chapters.
Anything like an enumeration of the more important species could not be
attempted. So also in the matter of hybrid Orchids, the question is
discussed in two chapters dealing with the practical question of raising
seedlings, but only slight reference could be made to the species used
in hybridising or to the numerous hybrids themselves.[1] The amateur who
engages in Orchid culture and in the raising of seedlings will find that
"practice makes master." It is in indicating the lines on which the
practice may be best pursued that, it is hoped, this book may serve a
useful purpose.
[Footnote 1: Readers may be referred to _List of Orchid Hybrids_,
published by F. Sander and Sons.]
CHAPTER I
THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF ORCHID CULTURE
The first tropical Orchid to flower in the British Isles appears to have
been _Bletia verecunda_ (_Helleborine americana_), figured in _Historia
Plantorum Rariorum, 1728-1735_. It bloomed in 1732 on a plant received
by Peter Collinson from the Bahamas in the previous year. In succession
to this appeared _Cypripedium spectabile_ and one or two other North
American Cypripediums; _Vanilla aromatica_, and a few other species,
chiefly terrestrial Orchids. In 1789 Aiton's _Hortus Kewensis_
enumerated fifteen species of exotic Orchids as being in cultivation at
Kew, the tropical species being _Bletia verecunda_, _Epidendrum
fragrans_, _Epidendrum cochleatum_, and _Phaius grandifolius_. At the
end of the eighteenth century about fifty exotic species were recorded.
At that time most of the Orchids were imported only to perish as a
consequence of the unsuitable conditions in which they were grown. The
plants were potted in the most unlikely materials, such as decayed wood,
sawdust, loam, tanner's bark, or any other material which the cultivator
thought would be useful in preventing the excessive mortality among his
plants; but in all cases the chances of success were discounted by the
plants being placed near hot flues, or plunged in tan or bark beds. It
was thought that a great success had been attained if a plant bloomed
once before it died.
The year 1800 may be said to be the real starting-point of rational
Orchid culture, although, even in the earlier part of the nineteenth
century, the old traditions still hindered progress. In 1800 _Aerides
odoratum_ was introduced, this being the first East Indian Orchid
cultivated in this country. In 1817 Sir Joseph Banks brought about the
cultivation of epiphytal Orchids in light, wicker baskets which were
suspended in the Orchid house or stove; this is one of the most
noteworthy events in the early history of Orchid cultivation.
In 1818 _Cattleya labiata_ appeared, and about the same time
_Cypripedium insigne_, which has now two or three hundred varieties that
enthusiasts consider sufficiently distinct to bear varietal names. _Disa
grandiflora_ and _Oncidium Papilio_ appeared in 1825, when about 180
species of tropical Orchids were in cultivation in the Horticultural
Society's Gardens. This Society gave a great impetus to Orchid culture
by sending out collectors into distant lands, and Dr. Lindley, whilst
Editor of the _Gardeners' Chronicle_, played a no less important part in
studying and recording the species as they were received in this
country. The interest in Orchid importing gradually spread, and from the
time when Alan Cunningham sent home Australian Orchids in 1835 the
interest has never flagged, the famous Orchid collectors, Lobb, Gardner,
Skinner, Hartweg, Gibson, and others, sending consignments from time to
time from various parts of the world.
The first attempts to grow Orchids in a reasonably low temperature were
made in the first half of the nineteenth century, one of the first to
grasp the truth in this direction being Joseph Cooper, who was gardener
to Earl Fitzwilliam at Wentworth. But a considerable time elapsed before
the more rational treatment, which meant less artificial heat and more
ventilation, became general. The culture was further improved by the
introduction of the hot-water system of heating Orchid houses, a method
which is now almost perfect and has done more to further Orchid-growing
than anything else.
The spread of information respecting the climatic conditions of the
countries in which the plants were collected also helped cultivators in
this country, and the articles published in the _Gardeners' Chronicle_
in 1851 by the late B. S. Williams, and subsequent articles by other
experts, were of great service.
The latter half of the nineteenth century was the most important era in
the development of Orchid cultivation. A remarkable feature was the
beginning of that industry which has now attained such widespread
popularity, namely, the raising of hybrid Orchids from seed. The first
hybrid Orchid, Calanthe x Dominyi (obtained from a cross between _C.
furcata_ and _C. Masuca_), flowered with Messrs. James Veitch & Sons in
October 1856. The same firm subsequently produced many fine hybrid
Calanthes, Phalanopsis, Cattleyas, Laelias, and Laeliocattleyas. Many of
these are now standard garden plants, whilst the work of hybridising and
raising hybrid Orchids has become general.
Another notable event in Orchid culture during the period mentioned was
the commencement of the Cool-house or Odontoglossum Section of Orchid
Culture. In 1863, Weir, Blunt, and Schlim went to New Granada in search
of Odontoglossums, and they were successful in introducing plants of
_Odontoglossum crispum_ (Alexandrae), collected above Bogota. These
collectors also contributed to our knowledge of the proper methods of
cultivating cool Orchids.
So things have gone on until our own days. Orchids hold one of the most
important places in gardens, and such genera as Odontoglossums and
Cypripediums are so popular that they are cultivated on an extensive
scale even by many who do not care to grow a general collection of
Orchids.