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diff --git a/old/55145-0.txt b/old/55145-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 09abfed..0000000 --- a/old/55145-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5675 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Orchid Album, Volume 1, by -Robert Warner and Benjamin Samuel Williams and Thomas Moore - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Orchid Album, Volume 1 - Comprising coloured figures and descriptions of new, rare, - and beautiful Orchidaceous Plants - -Author: Robert Warner - Benjamin Samuel Williams - Thomas Moore - -Illustrator: John Nugent Fitch - -Release Date: July 18, 2017 [EBook #55145] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ORCHID ALBUM, VOLUME 1 *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Carol Spears and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - THE - ORCHID ALBUM, - - - COMPRISING - COLOURED FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS - OF - NEW, RARE, AND BEAUTIFUL - ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS. - - - CONDUCTED BY - ROBERT WARNER, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., - Author of SELECT ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS, - AND - BENJAMIN SAMUEL WILLIAMS, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., - Author of the ORCHID-GROWERS’ MANUAL, etc. - - The Botanical Descriptions by THOMAS MOORE, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., - CURATOR of the CHELSEA BOTANIC GARDENS. - - _THE COLOURED FIGURES BY JOHN NUGENT FITCH, F.L.S._ - - - VOLUME I. - - - LONDON: - Published by B. S. Williams, - AT THE - VICTORIA AND PARADISE NURSERIES, UPPER HOLLOWAY, N. - MDCCCLXXXII. - - DEDICATED - BY SPECIAL PERMISSION - TO - _H.R.H. The Princess of Wales,_ - BY - HER ROYAL HIGHNESS’ - Very obedient and humble Servants, - ROBERT WARNER, - BENJAMIN S. WILLIAMS. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -The great advances which have been made within the last few years in the -introduction and the cultivation of Exotic Orchids, have suggested the -desirability of devoting a monthly publication to the illustration of -the best forms of these singular and captivating aristocratic plants, -and also to the explanation of the most successful methods of growing -them, its object being to supply such information concerning them as the -Orchid Grower may be likely to find useful in directing his purchases, -and in suggesting the various points of discreet and masterly -management. Moreover, we have found that figures of the better varieties -of Orchids are much in request. - -These considerations have induced us to commence the publication of the -Orchid Album, in the confident expectation that we shall meet with -sufficient support and encouragement to enable us to continue it, and, -so far as our experience goes, we have no reason to feel disappointed, -for we find that Orchid growers, both amateur and professional, are -taking a marked interest not only in the plates but also in the cultural -notes. - -In regard to the subjects for illustration, we hope in due course to -figure not only the typical form of all the more popular and interesting -species, but also the leading varieties, when they prove sufficiently -distinct and meritorious. It is for these that we anticipate our -subscribers and readers will most anxiously look. - -Being of Royal Quarto size, the pages of the Album are sufficiently -large to enable the artist to produce ample and intelligible portraits -of the plants without their becoming cumbersome; and, as they will be -drawn and coloured in the best style, we confidently hope they will -prove to be acceptable to the lovers and growers of Orchids generally. -Thus we trust we may be permitted to lay before our patrons an -acceptable Annual Album of Floral Pictures, which will be, at once, -welcomed both to the Drawing-room and the Library. - -The work has been commenced in deference to the urgent representations -of many of the leading cultivators of these remarkable and fascinating -plants, who have pointed out to us the want which we are now -endeavouring to meet. The great advantage and pleasure which Orchid -Growers have derived from the publication of such illustrated works as -the _Select Orchidaceous Plants_, and such practical instructions as are -given in the _Orchid Grower’s Manual_, lead us to believe that there -exists a desire and a taste for further Orchidic literature, which we -trust the Orchid Album may in some considerable degree supply. Our chief -aim will be to give authentic information as to the nomenclature of the -plants, and to disseminate correct instructions in regard to their -cultural requirements. The finer new Orchids, as well as the older -meritorious species and varieties, will be figured with equal fidelity, -and described with equal accuracy. We shall at all times feel grateful -to those Amateurs or Trade growers who may give us information as to the -flowering either of novelties or of remarkably fine forms of the older -kinds, especially if they are such as will be suitable for figuring. - -The Annual Volumes will consist of the twelve Monthly Parts issued up to -June in each year, when the volume will be completed by the publication -of a Title Page and Index. - - B. S. WILLIAMS. - - Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, - Upper Holloway, London, N., - _June 1st, 1882_. - - - - - INDEX TO PLATES. - - - PLATE - AËRIDES LOBBII, _Hort. Veitch_ 21 - ANGRÆCUM EBURNEUM, _Du Pet.-Th._ 41 - ANGULOA RUCKERII SANGUINEA, _Lindl._ 19 - BURLINGTONIA CANDIDA, _Lindl._ 18 - CALANTHE VEITCHII, _Lindl._ 31 - CATTLEYA GUTTATA LEOPOLDII, _Lind. et Rchb. f._ 16 - CATTLEYA MENDELII GRANDIFLORA, _Williams et Moore_ 3 - CATTLEYA MORGANÆ, _Williams et Moore_ 6 - CATTLEYA SUPERBA SPLENDENS, _Lem._ 33 - CATTLEYA TRIANÆ, _Lind. et Rchb. f._ 45 - CATTLEYA VELUTINA, _Rchb. f._ 26 - CŒLOGYNE MASSANGEANA, _Rchb. f._ 29 - CYMBIDIUM PARISHII, _Rchb. f._ 25 - CYPRIPEDIUM CHLORONEURUM, _Rchb. f._ 37 - CYPRIPEDIUM LAWRENCEANUM, _Rchb. f._ 22 - CYPRIPEDIUM POLITUM, _Rchb. f._ 36 - CYPRIPEDIUM STONEI, _Low_ 8 - DENDROBIUM AINSWORTHII ROSEUM, _Moore_ 20 - DENDROBIUM BIGIBBUM, _Lindl._ 38 - DENDROBIUM SUAVISSIMUM, _Rchb. f._ 13 - DENDROBIUM SUPERBUM, _Rchb. f._ 42 - EPIDENDRUM VITELLINUM MAJUS, _Hort._ 4 - LÆLIA ANCEPS DAWSONI, _Anders._ 44 - LÆLIA ELEGANS ALBA, _Williams et Moore_ 30 - LÆLIA PURPURATA WILLIAMSII, _Hort._ 9-10 - LÆLIA SCHRÖDERII, _Williams et Moore_ 2 - LÆLIA XANTHINA, _Lindl._ 23 - MASDEVALLIA HARRYANA CŒRULESCENS, _Hort._ 24 - MASDEVALLIA SHUTTLEWORTHII, _Rchb. f._ 5 - MILTONIA CUNEATA, _Lindl._ 46 - ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ, _Batem._ 47 - ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ FLAVEOLUM, _Williams et Moore_ 43 - ODONTOGLOSSUM ANDERSONIANUM, _Rchb. f._ 35 - ODONTOGLOSSUM BREVIFOLIUM, _Lindl._ 27 - ODONTOGLOSSUM KRAMERI, _Rchb. f._ 40 - ONCIDIUM CONCOLOR, _Hook._ 1 - ONCIDIUM GARDNERI, _Lindl._ 12 - ONCIDIUM HÆMATOCHILUM, _Lindl._ 32 - PAPHINIA CRISTATA, _Lindl._ 34 - PESCATOREA KLABOCHORUM, _Rchb. f._ 17 - PHALÆNOPSIS AMABILIS DAYANA, _Hort._ 11 - PHALÆNOPSIS STUARTIANA NOBILIS, _Rchb. f._ 39 - PROMENÆA CITRINA, _Don._ 7 - TRICHOPILIA SUAVIS ALBA, _Hort._ 14 - VANDA CŒRULESCENS, _Griff._ 48 - VANDA PARISHII, _Rchb. f._ 15 - ZYGOPETALUM GAUTIERI, _Lem._ 28 - - - - - INDEX TO NOTES AND SYNONYMS. - - - UNDER PLATE - Aërides Fieldingii, Dr. Ainsworth’s 4 - Aërides Leeanum, Mr. Law-Schofield’s 37 - Aërides odoratum majus, Mrs. Arbuthnot’s 14 - Aërides Schröderii, Dr. Ainsworth’s 4 - Aërides suavissimum, Mr. Coates’ 18 - Angræcum eburneum virens 41 - Angræcum sesquipedale, Mr. Coates’ 18 - Angræcum superbum, _Du Pet.-Th._ 41 - Bletia xanthina, _Rchb. f._ 23 - Bollea cœlestis, as a block plant 40 - Bolleas, Mr. Gair’s 17 - Cattleya Dowiana, Mr. Dodgson’s 19 - Cattleya Dowiana, Mr. Lee’s 2 - Cattleya gigas, Mr. Bockett’s 6 - Cattleya gigas, Mr. Lee’s 2 - Cattleya labiata Lindigiana, _Karst._ 45 - Cattleya labiata Trianæ, _Duch._ 45 - Cattleya Leopoldii, _Hort. Versch._ 16 - Cattleya superba, Sir T. Lawrence’s 3 - Cattleya Trianæ, Mr. Wright’s 41 - Cattleya Trianæ Dodgsoni 40 - Cattleya Trianæ Osmani 40 - Cymbidium eburneum, correction 29 - Cypripedium barbatum superbum, Mr. Dodgson’s 4 - Cypripedium insigne, Mrs Haywood’s 27 - Cypripedium Spicerianum, Mr. Bockett’s 19 - Cypripedium villosum, Mr. Wyatt’s 42 - Cyrtochilum citrinum, _Hook._ 1 - Dendrobium Ainsworthii, _Moore_ 20 - Dendrobium Falconeri, Marquis of Lothian’s 44 - Dendrobium Findleyanum, Mr. Bowring’s 32 - Dendrobium Hillii, Mr. Wyatt’s 42 - Dendrobium macranthum, _Hook._ 42 - Dendrobium macrophyllum, _Lindl._ 42 - Dendrobium nobile, a three-lipped 48 - Dendrobium superbum (macrophyllum), Prince of Wales’ 36 - Dendrobium Wardianum, Mr. Salamon’s 44 - Dendrochilum filiforme, Mr. Hill’s 15 - Epidendrum elatius, var., _Rchb. f._ 45 - Epidendrum labiatum Trianæ, _Rchb. f._ 45 - Epidendrum nemorale, Sir T. Lawrence’s 3 - Lælia anceps Dawsoni, Mr. Dodgson’s 28 - Lælia autumnalis atrorubens, Mr. Chamberlain’s 28 - Lælia Dominiana rosea, _Hort. Veitch_ 12 - Lælia elegans prasiata 40 - Lælia Philbrickiana, _Hort. Veitch_ 5 - Limodorum eburneum, _Bory._ 41 - Masdevallia chimæra, Dr. Ainsworth’s 26 - Masdevallia Harryana, _Rchb. f._ 24 - Masdevallia Lindeni, _Hook._ 24 - Masdevallia Lindeni Harryana, _André_ 24 - Maxillaria citrina, _Lyons_ 7 - Maxillaria cristata, _Lindl._ 34 - Miltonia speciosa, _Kl._ 46 - Odontoglossum Alexandræ, Dr. Ainsworth’s 26 - Odontoglossum Alexandræ flaveolum, Mr. Hardy’s 34 - Odontoglossum Alexandræ reginæ 48 - Odontoglossum Bluntii, _Rchb. f._ 47 - Odontoglossum crispum, _Lindl._ 47 - Odontoglossum crispum flaveolum, _Rchb. f._ 43 - Odontoglossum Londesboroughianum, Mr. Law-Schofield’s 27 - Odontoglossum Roezlii, Mr. Todd’s 43 - Odontoglossum vexillarium, Mr. Bull’s autumn-flowering variety 23 - Odontoglossums at Trentham 43 - Oncidium luridum purpuratum, _Lodd._ 32 - Oncidium speciosum, _Rchb. f._ 46 - Orchids, Dr. Ainsworth’s 26 - Orchids, Mr. Dodgson’s 4 - Orchids, Mr. Dorman’s 40 - Orchids, Mr. Hardy’s 4 - Orchids, Baron Schröder’s 22 - Orchids at Arnot Hill 15 - Orchids at Ferguslie 18 - Orchids at Manchester, 1881 4 - Orchids in Belgium, Dr. Boddaert’s 1 - Orchids in Belgium, M. D. Massange’s 16 - Orchids from Dr. Paterson 45 - Orchids, from Perth, N.B. 48 - Orchids, raised blinds for 35 - Orchids, shading 30, 35 - Pescatoreas, Mr. Gair’s 17 - Phalænopsids, Mr. Bockett’s 11 - Phalænopsis intermedia Portei, Baron Schröder’s 22 - Phalænopsis Stuartiana, _Rchb. f._ 39 - Restrepia antennifera, M. D. Massange’s 16 - Rodriquezia candida, _Batem._ 18 - Sphagnum, best kind for Odontoglots 43 - Trichopilia suavis, _Lindl._ 14 - Vanda Cathcartii, M. D. Massange’s 16 - Vanda cœrulea, Marquis of Lothian’s 17 - Vanda Lowii, Sir T. Lawrence’s 3 - Vanda suavis, Dr. Ainsworth’s 4 - Vanda suavis, Mr. Dodgson’s 4 - Vanda tricolor, Mr. Broome’s 25 - Vanda tricolor planilabris, M. Massange’s 16 - Zygopetalum Klabochorum, _Rchb. f._ 17 - - [Illustration: PL. 1. - ONCIDIUM CONCOLOR.] - - - - - ONCIDIUM CONCOLOR. - [Plate 1.] - Native of the Organ Mountains of Brazil. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ small, tufted, ovate or ovate-oblong, - compressed, somewhat furrowed, two-leaved. _Leaves_ subcoriaceous, - oblong-linear or ligulate, acute, bright green. _Scape_ radical, - springing from the base of the young pseudobulbs, drooping, furnished - with small bracts. _Flowers_ yellow, racemose; _sepals_ (dorsal) - ovate-lanceolate or obovate, acute, the lateral ones smaller, - lance-shaped, and united behind the lip for about half their length; - _petals_ obovate, acute, somewhat undulated, about as long as the - sepals; _lip_ (labellum) large and prominent, roundish subpanduriform, - emarginate, somewhat clawed, furnished with a pair of plates or - lamellæ (bilamellate) at the base, of a clear yellow colour, as are - the sepals and petals. _Column_ about half as long as the petals, with - a projecting tooth on each side. - - Oncidium concolor, _Hooker_, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 3752; _Lindley_, - _Folia Orchidacea_, Art. _Oncidium_, No. 65 (excl. syn. Klotzsch); - _Reichenbach fil._ in _Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi. - 731.; _Carrière_, in _Revue Horticole_, 1881, 30, with tab. - - Cyrtochilum citrinum, _Hooker_, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 4454. - - -The brilliant little plant here figured—a representation in the tribe -_Vandeæ_, of the great genus _Oncidium_—belongs to the group of Oncids -which Lindley named _Tetrapetala micropetala_, in which two of the -sepals are united so that the petaloid organs, as distinguished from the -lip, are reduced to four in number (_tetrapetala_), and at the same time -the petals, which are about equal in size to the sepals, are -comparatively small by comparison with the remaining organ. - -This species, although not new, was until recently extremely rare, and -was, indeed, seldom met with in collections; now, however, the little -gem is very plentiful, thanks to the indefatigable zeal of our -collectors, so that growers who do not possess it may obtain it at a -very small cost. The species is one of the most compact-growing and -beautiful of the _Oncidiums_, producing, as it does, from the base of -the new bulbs, many-flowered drooping spikes of rich yellow blossoms. It -is an excellent subject for planting in a pan or basket to be suspended -from the roof of the house, where the brightly-coloured flowers produce -a charming effect; indeed, we do not know of any Orchid which has a -better appearance when grown in this way. - -_Oncidium concolor_ succeeds best in a compost of peat with a little -sphagnum moss added, and with plenty of good drainage. We have grown it -most successfully in small pans, but it can be cultivated either in a -basket or on a block. It would succeed equally well in a pot, but the -drooping character of the flower-spikes renders it a most fitting -subject for growing in either of the above-named receptacles, and for -suspension from the roof. As to temperature, we find it succeeds best in -the Odontoglossum-house during the summer months. After it has flowered, -and while it is making its growth, a copious supply of water should be -given to it, always keeping the soil moist until the growth of the bulbs -is completed. When it has finished its growth, it should be removed to -the Cattleya-house, where it should be kept moderately dry until it -produces its spikes about March or April. - -For exhibition purposes this is a most valuable little plant, being easy -of cultivation, distinct in colour, and flowering during the principal -exhibition months, May and June; its long lasting quality is also a -great point in its favour. In order to preserve the flowers for a -considerable time, they should be kept free from damp, for if allowed to -get wet they soon become spotted, and fade, but when kept in this way, -they will last at least six or seven weeks. The plant is altogether a -most valuable Orchid, and as it takes up but little room, we recommend -growers to procure a good stock of it, as its effect when suspended -among other flowering Orchids is charming. - - -Orchids in Belgium.—When in Ghent a few days ago, I had the good fortune -to receive an invitation to view the celebrated collection of Dr. -Boddaert of that city. The collection is a very extensive one, and the -plants are exceedingly well grown and healthy. There was a good show of -flowering Orchids, among which may be mentioned:—_Trichopilia crispa -marginata_ with forty-two expanded flowers, a marvel of cultivation; -_Odontoglossum Phalænopsis_ with twenty-six flowers, a fine well-grown -plant; _Cypripedium Argus_ with six flower spikes; the new _Trichopilia -suavis alba_, of which we hope to give a plate later on; _Anguloa -Ruckerii sanguinea_ with several flowers; also the rare _Nanodes -Medusæ_, with _Odontoglossums_, _Vandas_, _Masdevallias_, &c., in great -variety. - - H. Williams. - - [Illustration: PL. 2. - LÆLIA SCHRÖDERII.] - - - - - LÆLIA SCHRÖDERII. - [Plate 2.] - Native of Bahia. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ (or pseudobulbs) club-shaped, about a foot and a - half high, monophyllous, furrowed when mature. _Leaves_ coriaceous, - oblong, acute, broad to the base, light green. _Scape_ three to - four-flowered, issuing from a terminal oblong compressed bract, an - inch wide and five inches long. _Flowers_ large, subhorizontal, about - seven inches across, delicately coloured, with a prettily veined lip; - _sepals_ lanceolate, reflexed, three-fourths of an inch wide, white; - _petals_ convex, ovate, narrowed to the base, somewhat crispy at the - edge, pure white, scarcely as long as the lip; _lip_ (labellum) - membranaceous, three-lobed, the lateral lobes convolute around the - column, yellow outside, striped with deeper yellow veins, the middle - lobe ovate, obtuse, undulated, the anterior portion and margin white, - the mouth veined with magenta-rose, the disk naked, and the tubulose - basal portion deep yellow, veined with magenta. _Column_ much shorter - than the lateral lobes of the lip. - - Lælia Schröderii, _supra_. - - -This plant belongs to that tribe of the Orchid family which is called -_Epidendreæ_, and of which the genus _Epidendrum_ is regarded as the -type. This group is known by its waxy pollen-masses, which are attached -to a distinct caudicle, but bear no separable stigmatic gland as occurs -in the tribe _Vandeæ_. The genus is closely related to _Cattleya_, and -contains some of the finest ornaments of our Orchid-houses. - -The subject of our present illustration is a new and most beautiful -Orchid, now figured and described for the first time. It is closely -allied to _Lælia grandis_, but is distinct from that species, inasmuch -as the sepals and petals are white, whereas those of _L. grandis_ are of -a nankeen yellow. It is named in honour of Baron Henry Schröder, an -enthusiastic admirer of this handsome class of plants. The species -flowered for the first time this year, in the Victoria and Paradise -Nurseries. - -The flowers are produced in May and June, three or four together, on -spikes which are produced from the apex of the new bulbs; they have a -delicate and pleasing appearance, the sepals and petals being pure -white, while the lip is white, striped with rose, throat deep yellow, -veined with magenta. It should be kept free from damp when in flower, as -the blossoms being of a delicate nature, soon spot and go off; but kept -in this way free from moisture they will last about four weeks in a -fresh and perfect state. - -In growth the plant somewhat resembles _L. purpurata_, the bulbs and -foliage being about eighteen inches in height, and of a light green -colour. It succeeds well grown in the Cattleya-house in pots filled with -peat and a little sphagnum moss, over plenty of drainage. It should -receive a moderate supply of water at the root during the growing -season, and should never be allowed to get thoroughly dry. When it has -made its growth it should be allowed to rest, and at that time should be -kept rather dry, only giving it sufficient water to prevent it from -shrivelling. - -_Lælias_ are subject to the attacks of white scale, but this can easily -be got rid of by sponging with clean water. Thrips sometimes attack the -young growths, and if allowed to increase, soon disfigure the leaves. - - -Cattleya gigas and C. Dowiana.—These _Cattleyas_ have been considered to -be shy-flowering species, and we have sometimes found them to be so in -our own experience, but we are beginning to change our opinion on this -subject. No doubt there are some plants that grow and flower more freely -than others, but a great deal depends on the conditions in which they -are placed and the treatment they receive. I recently had the pleasure -of visiting the collection of W. Lee, Esq., of Leatherhead, which in -time will be one of the finest to be seen in this country. The Estate is -situated in an open part of the country, and the Orchid-houses are built -on the side of a hill where they get the full light and sun, while they -are sheltered from the driving winds; these houses are, indeed, all that -can be desired, the requisitions of the various classes of plants having -been well studied. Every accommodation is provided for those kinds, such -as _Cattleya gigas_ and _C. Dowiana_, that are difficult to bloom. These -two were splendidly in flower, and are most lovely and distinct kinds; -the flowers of _C. gigas_ were nearly nine inches in diameter, the -sepals and petals of the purest dark rosy colour, and the lip a fine -rich dark crimson magenta. _C. Dowiana_ was also very fine and -attractive in colour, the sepals and petals being of a nankeen yellow, -and the lip of a rich dark purple, elegantly pencilled and striped with -lines of gold. We hope at some future time to give our readers a plate -of the fine variety of _C. gigas_ above referred to. Both these species -are here grown as near the light as possible, and the treatment they -receive is, first to induce a vigorous growth, and then to give them a -good rest after the growth is completed, at the same time keeping them -well exposed to the light, and giving them merely sufficient water to -prevent them from shrivelling, a more ample supply of water being given -as soon as they show signs of flowering. There was also in this -collection another species that is generally considered difficult to -grow, namely, _Vanda teres_, of which there were three plants which had -been blooming very finely. When cultivated as these are, they well repay -all the trouble taken with them. These are grown at one end of the -house, without any shade.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 3. - CATTLEYA MENDELII GRANDIFLORA.] - - - - - CATTLEYA MENDELII GRANDIFLORA. - [Plate 3.] - Native of the United States of Columbia. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ oblong, club-shaped, furrowed when mature, twelve - to eighteen inches high. _Leaves_ solitary coriaceous, - ligulate-oblong, acute, dark green above, paler beneath. _Scape_ three - to four-flowered, issuing from a terminal oblong compressed bract, - which is three to four inches long, and an inch broad. _Flowers_ very - large and exceedingly handsome, measuring eight inches across; - _sepals_ an inch wide, lanceolate, recurved, white; _petals_ - spreading, clawed, broadly ovate, measuring nearly three inches - across, plane towards the base prettily frilled in the anterior - portion, the apex recurved, white, with a scarcely perceptible tint of - blush near the edge; _lip_ obovate emarginate, three and a quarter - inches long, the basal half entire, rolled over the column, the - anterior portion expanded and beautifully fringed, about two inches in - breadth and rather more in depth, the apical half occupied with a - solid blotch of rich magenta rose, passing to white at the frilled - edge, the side portions white, the disk and throat of a delicate tint - of nankeen yellow, the extreme base white, with numerous divergent - lines of magenta rose, a few of which (about two) run out to join the - blotch at the tip of the anterior lobe. _Column_ about half as long as - the convolute base of the lip, club-shaped, decurved, semiterete, with - a rounded keel at the back. - - Cattleya Mendelii grandiflora, _supra._ - - -When _Cattleya Mendelii_ was first flowered by S. Mendel, Esq., some few -years ago, many botanists were of opinion that it was not sufficiently -dissimilar from, but only a variety of, _C. Trianæ_. Since that time it -has been flowered in many different collections with but little -variation of character, and, as we think, has fully vindicated its -right, whether as a species or race, to be regarded as a distinct Orchid -of first-rate merit. - -The subject of our plate is a gigantic variety of the _Cattleya -Mendelii_, which has just flowered in our own collection. It proves to -be in every way larger, and altogether superior, to the old type, the -flowers having much more substance, and being of better form, which -results from the greater width of the lip and petals. The sepals and -petals are white, the latter being very broad and of good substance, -while the lip is broad and well fringed, pure white in its upper part, -with a large bright magenta patch at the front part, and the throat is -orange, with reddish crimson veins, which stand out in fine contrast -against the pure white of the remaining portions of the flower. It -produces as many as four flowers on a spike, each flower measuring over -eight inches across, and the flowers are thrown well up above the -foliage, and thus produce the grandest appearance we have as yet seen in -any _Cattleya_. - -_Cattleya Mendelii_ succeeds well in a compost of peat, with the -addition of a little sphagnum moss, and requires good drainage. We have -found it to do best in pots, with the plant well elevated above the rim, -but it can be grown with success either on a block or in a basket -suspended from the roof of the house. The temperature of the -Cattleya-house suits it best. - -This is a grand plant for exhibition or decorative purposes, as the pure -white and magenta of its flowers are exceedingly effective amongst the -other species of _Cattleya_ which flower at the same time of year. The -flowering season is May and June, after which time _C. Mendelii_ begins -to make its growth. It should then receive a moderate supply of -water—not too much, as an over bountiful supply is apt to cause the -young growths to rot. After the annual growths are completed the plants -should be gradually dried off, only giving them sufficient water to keep -them from shrivelling. - -The species of _Cattleya_ are all subject to white scale and thrips. -These insect pests may, however, be easily removed by careful sponging, -either with water or a little insecticide; they should be cleaned off as -soon as discovered, as if allowed to establish themselves they disfigure -the leaves and bulbs, and so spoil the appearance of the plants. -Cleanliness and good cultivation are the chief points to be considered -in the successful keeping of _Cattleyas_. - - -Vanda Lowii, &c.—One often hears that _Vanda Lowii_ does not bloom until -it attains a large size. This, however, is erroneous, for we have -flowered it when not more than two feet high; and we have also seen a -plant of about the same size in the collection of Sir Trevor Lawrence, -Bart., with a flower spike some four or five feet long, in full beauty, -with its two bright orange-yellow flowers at the base, the rest of the -blossoms being of a bright brownish-crimson colour. This was a most -extraordinary spike for so small a plant. When the specimens attain a -larger size they often produce six of these long spikes, which extend to -seven feet in length. We have one now showing this number of spikes, but -the plant is fully five feet high. We were glad to see in this -collection a grand mass of _Epidendrum nemorale majus_, which is figured -in the first series of Warner’s _Select Orchidaceous Plants_, but we -never expected to see such a specimen as that in the collection of Sir -Trevor Lawrence, which must have been three or four feet across, and had -eighteen spikes of its beautiful rosy and mauve-coloured flowers. This -plant was well worth going to see, as were many others: indeed, the fame -of this collection is so widely spread that it is almost needless to -comment upon it; suffice it to say, that it is the finest and best kept -collection we know of. At the time of our visit we were pleased to see -some fine plants of _Cattleya superba_ with their splendid deep rose and -crimson flowers; this is one of the most distinct and beautiful of all -_Cattleyas_, and had been grown in the East India House, suspended from -the roof.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 4. - EPIDENDRUM VITELLINUM MAJUS.] - - - - - EPIDENDRUM VITELLINUM MAJUS. - [Plate 4.] - Native of Mexico. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ ovate, clustered, two-leaved. _Leaves_ - oblong-ligulate, acute, sheathing at the base. _Scape_ erect, six to - nine inches high, racemose, many-flowered, longer than the leaves. - _Flowers_ brilliant orange-scarlet, nearly two inches across, much - larger than the typical form; _sepals_ spreading; _petals_ flat, - elliptic, somewhat broader than the sepals, spreading, lanceolate, - acute; _lip_ clawed, linear, abruptly acute, with a bifoveate - (two-holed) callosity below the middle, deep yellow passing to - orange-scarlet at the tip. _Column_ parallel with and nearly half the - length of the lip, to which it is adnate towards the base, the - anther-bed marginate in front. - - Epidendrum vitellinum majus, _of gardens_. - - -The original form of _Epidendrum vitellinum_, of which a good though -pale-coloured figure will be found in the _Botanical Register_ for 1840 -(t. 35), is one of the most brilliant of the _Epidendreæ_, on account of -its remarkable fiery colour, which makes it invaluable for contrasting -with other subjects, both in the Orchid-house, in the jardinière, or in -the bouquet. The same colour, or something near it, occurs in a few -other Orchids, which are equally valuable from a decorative point of -view, as for example in _Lælia cinnabarina_, _Lælia harpophylla_, and -_Ada aurantiaca_, all of them being plants, which, under favourable -conditions, yield a brilliant effect. The subject of our plate has the -advantage of producing larger and more showy flowers than its type, and -to this extent is the more desirable of the two for the house-stage, or -exhibition table. - -Until within the last few years this plant was very rare, but having -been imported in large quantities it is now to be found in every -collection, however limited its pretensions. The bright colour of its -orange-scarlet flowers, produced in considerable numbers on upright -spikes, renders it a most striking and distinct species. We have known -the flowers to last as long as twelve weeks in perfection; in fact, we -have on several occasions exhibited a plant of it at as many as six -different successive exhibitions. Mixed with other Orchids it has a most -telling effect; and a well-flowered specimen once seen by a novice is -likely to produce a lasting impression. In the Broomfield collection it -is used very largely in association with Odontoglossums, and the effect -of the orange-scarlet flowers amongst the numerous spikes of -_Odontoglossum Alexandræ_, and other species, is charming. - -We have found this _Epidendrum_ to do well in the Odontoglossum-house in -a compost of peat and sphagnum moss. It does equally well in a pot or in -a basket, and should receive a fair supply of water while growing. The -plant seems to revel in a good amount of sunlight, but it must be kept -from the burning rays of the sun by a slight shading, too much sunshine -being apt to make the foliage become blotched and sickly-looking. - -The variety _majus_ blooms at a different time of the year from the -original species, which has the flowers much smaller, and which blooms -in August and September from the young growths; whereas the variety -_majus_ flowers from the tips of the bulbs of the previous year’s -growth. There are several forms of the plant, some with flowers much -larger and brighter than others; indeed, the one here figured is not so -large as some that were flowered years ago, which may be due to the fact -that they were old-established plants. We remember the late Mrs. -Lawrence, of Ealing Park, exhibiting a remarkably strong specimen at one -of the Chiswick shows, thirty-five years since, a perfect blaze of -flower. S. Brunton, Esq., also exhibited a grand plant of a good variety -a few years back; and C. W. Lea, Esq., Parkfield, Worcester, had a -wonderful example in bloom, last year. These several plants were all -part of the early importations. - - -The Manchester Show of Orchids, June, 1881.—The display of Orchids at -the Manchester Exhibition was a very fine one, and no Orchid grower -should have missed the sight. The specimens were truly marvellous, -especially the sixteen plants shown by R. Dodgson, Esq., of Blackburn, -amongst which were a _Vanda suavis_ with about a dozen flower-spikes; -_Lælia purpurata_ and _Cattleya Warneri_, both wonderful specimens, as -also was _Masdevallia Harryana_; _Cypripedium barbatum superbum_ which -had a hundred blooms upon it, and was not made up for the occasion, but -had been grown on from a single plant; and _Dendrobium Wardianum_ which -was a magnificent plant. Great credit is due to Mr. Osman for his -talent, in successfully cultivating so fine a collection. G. Hardy, -Esq., of Timperley, exhibited some wonderful plants, especially of -_Cattleyas_, _Lælias_, _Dendrobium thyrsiflorum_, _Oncidium -Marshallianum_, _Odontoglossum vexillarium_, &c. R. F. Ainsworth, Esq., -M.D., also exhibited some fine specimens, especially _Vanda suavis_, -_Aërides Fieldingii_, and _A. Schröderii_; these three are most -extraordinary plants, and have been grown in the collection for eighteen -years, which is a sufficient proof of what can be done by perseverance, -and, moreover, gives one an idea how well Orchids can be grown and -exhibited for many successive years. We have known these three specimens -to be shown at the Manchester exhibitions and elsewhere for the past ten -or fifteen years, and they are now in the finest possible condition, as -they have always been, under the successful management of Mr. Mitchell. -There were besides, other exhibitors whose specimens were well worthy of -note.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 5. - MASDEVALLIA SHUTTLEWORTHII.] - - - - - MASDEVALLIA SHUTTLEWORTHII. - [Plate 5.] - Native of the United States of Colombia. - - - Epiphytal. _Rhizome_ slender, slowly creeping. _Leaves_ crowded, - petiolate, the petiole with a sheathing scale at the base, the blade - about equalling the petiole, two to three inches long, - elliptic-oblong, acute, pale green, obscurely three to five-nerved. - _Scapes_ numerous, slender, as long as or longer than the petioles, - green, with an ovate acuminate appressed bract at the top. _Flowers_ - yellowish, tinted with rose, rather large for the size of the plant; - the perianth tube very short and swollen at the base; _dorsal sepal_ - of a pale yellowish red, indistinctly dotted with pale rosy red spots, - and marked with from five to seven (or nine according to Reichenbach) - longitudinal wine-coloured nerves, fully an inch long, sub-erect, - concave or somewhat hooded, obovate, suddenly contracted into a tail - two or three times its own length, the tail green below and becoming - orange-yellow towards the tip; _lateral sepals_ obliquely ovate, - spreading, and decurved, thickly studded with deep red spots, and - tapering off into a tail similar to that of the dorsal sepal; _petals_ - small, linear-oblong or ligulate, bilobed at the apex; _lip_ very - small, broadly oblong, recurved at the tip, with two keels or ridges - running down the centre. _Column_ short, three-toothed at the apex. - - Masdevallia Shuttleworthii, _Reichenbach fil._ in _Gardeners’ - Chronicle_, N.S. iii., 170; _Hooker fil._, _Botanical Magazine_, t. - 6372. - - -Of this interesting plant, one of a popular genus inhabiting the cool -temperate humid regions of Northern and Western South America, Professor -Reichenbach, by whom it was dedicated to Mr. Shuttleworth, one of Mr. W. -Bull’s collectors, remarks that it is “rather a nice thing amongst -_Masdevallias_ of the second order of beauty.” It was first flowered in -1878 by W. H. Punchard, Esq., of Poulett Lodge, Twickenham. Our figure -was prepared from a plant which has bloomed in our own collection -recently. We find it to be a very free-blooming species. - -The _Masdevallias_ comprise many interesting species and varieties, some -of very remarkable structure, and others with colours of extraordinary -richness and brilliancy. Our present subject is not one of the most -showy, but it may be ranked with the more curious of the species, and is -certainly of a distinct and pleasing character, as is well represented -in our Plate. The plant was discovered by Mr. Shuttleworth, when -travelling for Mr. Bull, and by him it was first transmitted to Europe. -Since then we have received it from the same country through our own -collector, Mr. Carder. The _Masdevallias_ are plentiful in their native -habitats, but the difficulty of obtaining them in this country lies in -the risks attending importation, which are mainly attributable to the -fact that they have no thick fleshy bulbs to support them during their -journey. We have heard of thousands of plants of this particular species -having been sent off, but of these comparatively few have been received -alive, so that unless some more successful means of introducing them -into England can be found, it will always remain a rare plant. - -_Masdevallia Shuttleworthii_ is of free-blooming habit, and the flowers -last a long time in perfection. It generally blossoms during the spring -and summer months. The plants require but little room, as the foliage is -of neat growth, and the whole height of the plant does not exceed from -six to eight inches. The leaves are of a dark green colour and firm -texture. The flower-scapes proceed from the young growth, and attain the -height of about eight inches, the more conspicuous spreading long-tailed -sepals being of a pleasing yellowish rose colour thickly marked with -wine-red spots, while the petals and lip are small and inconspicuous. - -We find the plants grow well when potted in small pots or pans suspended -from the roof, and filled with peat and sphagnum moss; but they require -thorough drainage, since they need a liberal supply of water during -summer. In the autumn and winter months they do not require so full a -supply, but they must have sufficient to keep them moist. They thrive -best in the same house with the _Odontoglots_, where they obtain shade, -and are kept cool. None of the _Masdevallias_ like heat, and most of -them require the same kind of treatment. The house in which they are -grown should have a north aspect, so that they may not get too much -sun-heat, as this causes the leaves to become spotted, to the great -disfigurement of the plant. - -Insects become a nuisance if allowed to accumulate on the plants. The -thrips, which is one of their greatest insect enemies, constantly -attacks them, and must be subdued by cleansing them frequently and -thoroughly with a sponge and warm soft water. - -The propagation of _Masdevallias_ is effected by dividing the plants, -leaving a few old bulbs with a leading one in front. They are the -easiest of all Orchids to increase, and are best divided up -occasionally, as when the plants get too large they do not flower so -freely. The most suitable time to perform this operation is just as they -commence to make their growth. They should at first be put into small -pots, and shifted into larger ones as they increase in size, and -develope abundance of roots. - - -Lælia Philbrickiana.—This new Hybrid was exhibited at the Royal -Horticultural Society, South Kensington, by the Messrs. Veitch and Sons. -It was raised between _Cattleya Aclandiæ_ and _Lælia elegans_, partaking -of the dwarf habit of _C. Aclandiæ_. The plant grows about eight inches -high, and produces its leaves in pairs, of a dark green colour, about -four inches in length; from between these the flower-sheaths proceed. -The sepals and petals are of a glossy purplish crimson-brown, spotted -with darker spots; the lip is of a bright crimson, the basal part purple -and white. It blooms in June and July, and will be a very useful -addition to our collections.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 6. - CATTLEYA MORGANÆ] - - - - - CATTLEYA MORGANÆ. - [Plate 6.] - Native of the United States of Colombia. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ short, oblong or somewhat clavate, furrowed when - mature, attaining with the leaves about eighteen inches in height. - _Leaves_ solitary, coriaceous, ligulate-oblong, acute, of a light - green colour. _Scape_ three to four-flowered, issuing from a terminal - oblong compressed bract, which is about two and a half inches long. - _Flowers_ large and pleasing on account of their delicate colouring, - about six inches across when expanded; _sepals_ lanceolate, entire, - three-fourths of an inch broad and about three inches long, recurved - at the tip, white; _petals_ spreading, clawed, broadly ovate, fully - two inches across, the margin entire at the base and much undulated in - the anterior portion, white; _lip_ obovate, emarginate, about three - inches long, the basal portion entire and rolled over the column, the - anterior portion moderately expanded and beautifully frilled, white, - like the rest of the flower, with a small blotch of pale magenta near - the apex, but not quite extending to the margin, and stained on the - disk with an obcordate blotch of clear yellow, passing into - orange-yellow in the throat, the deeper portion being veined with - yellow lines. _Column_ concealed by the convolute base of the lip. - - Cattleya Morganæ, _supra_. - - -One of the most chaste and charming of the summer-flowering _Cattleyas_, -and quite distinct in aspect from all others in cultivation. We have -great pleasure in dedicating it to Mrs. M. Morgan, of New York, who is a -great admirer of this noble class of Orchidaceous plants, and, moreover, -has a fine and valuable collection of them. The first specimen we -bloomed produced ten flower spikes, and was exhibited at the Manchester -Botanical and Horticultural Society’s Show in June, 1879; the plant was -the admiration of all who saw it, and was on that occasion awarded a -First Class Certificate on account of its distinct and pleasing -character. - -_Cattleya Morganæ_ belongs to the same section of the genus as _C. -Mendelii_, of which section there are many races or varieties, all of -which are beautiful and rich in the colouring of the lip, some having -the sepals and petals white, while in others they are of a rosy hue, -more or less intense. The plant now before us grows about eighteen -inches in height, and has light green foliage with a somewhat drooping -habit. It produces its flowers freely, as many as four together on the -spike. The sepals and petals are pure white; and the lip is white with a -light magenta blotch near the apex, its throat orange colour, the -incurved base white, and the edge beautifully fringed. The flowers are -produced in May and June, and last from five to six weeks in perfection. -It makes a fine subject for decorative purposes, since its pure white -flowers form a charming contrast with the high-coloured varieties of -other species of _Cattleya_, of which there are many that come into -bloom at about the same time. - -_Cattleya Morganæ_ requires the same treatment as _C. Mendelii_ and _C. -Mossiæ_, and will thrive well, grown either in a pot or basket, planted -in good fibrous peat and sphagnum moss. It will also succeed on a block -suspended from the roof. As in the case of the other _Cattleyas_, it -prefers to have all the light possible, but to be just sufficiently -shaded to keep off the direct rays of the sun. It must be borne in mind -that the plants are found growing naturally on the branches and stems of -trees in the forests, where they get some shade, and a free circulation -of air, which it is of great benefit to secure, and which should be made -a point of the utmost importance in the artificial cultivation of all -Orchids, as of most other plants. It would be a great boon to -cultivators if our collectors would note down and supply fuller and more -precise information on these points, for although of course the natural -conditions could not in all cases be carried out to the full extent, yet -we should then be better able to imitate them, and thus supply the -natural wants of the plants. In giving as much air and light as -possible, however, cold draughts must be avoided, which may be effected -by fixing the ventilators near the hot-water pipes, and should a cold -wind prevail by giving air on the opposite side, always closing the -house in good time. In summer water should be freely sprinkled about the -tables and paths twice a day, namely, in the morning, and about three or -four o’clock in the afternoon. During the dull dark days of winter, very -little moisture is required, but on warm days some water may be given to -the plants, especially in springtime when the days begin to lengthen. -Syringing should be avoided during the winter, except in the case of -those on blocks, for a little dewing with the syringe during the day, -will not hurt these, as the moisture quickly dries off. The water should -always be used in a tepid state. - -One of the most important items in Orchid culture is cleanliness. Every -plant should be cleansed as soon as any indications of insect life are -perceived upon it, since there are Insecticides and other remedies sold -to destroy all such pests. Cockroaches, Snails, and Woodlice are very -troublesome, and should be well looked after at night when they come out -to feed on the young shoots and flowers. Woodlice may be caught by -laying down here and there traps, consisting of some moss, at night, or -half potatos or turnips scooped out in the centre, and placed about in -quiet nooks and corners, or on the pots; the woodlice will harbour under -them, and may be caught and destroyed in the morning. - - -Cattleya gigas.—See note under Plate 2. We have since received a -wonderfully grand flower of _Cattleya gigas_ from the fine collection of -J. S. Bockett, Esq., of Stamford Hill; it is eight and a half inches in -diameter; the sepals and petals are of a light rose colour, the lip -three inches across, and three in length, of the richest -crimson-magenta, margined with a lighter colour, and the throat partly -magenta and partly orange. The spike bore four of these flowers.—B. S. -W. - - [Illustration: PL. 7. - PROMENÆA CITRINA.] - - - - - PROMENÆA CITRINA. - [Plate 7.] - Native of Brazil. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ small, ovate, tetragonal. _Leaves_ three to - four inches in length, oblong-ligulate, acute, tapering below into a - narrow petiole, growing two together at the apex of the pseudobulb, of - a pale green colour. _Scapes_ two to three inches long, bearing - largish ovate bracts in the upper part, and smaller bracts below, and - terminated by a solitary deep yellow showy flower, measuring about an - inch and a half across; _sepals_ obovate, acute, concave or curving - forwards at the tip, bright yellow; _petals_ yellow, also converging, - similar to the sepals in size, form, and colouring; _lip_ larger and - broader than the sepals and petals, spreading, three-lobed, the two - lateral lobes erect, oblong obtuse, rising up on each side of the - column, yellow spotted with red on the inner face, the front lobe - plane, obovate, apiculate, unspotted yellow, with a prominent crest at - its base. _Column_ erect, semi-terete, incurved, stained in the front - with brownish red. - - Promenæa citrina, _Don_, _Hortus Cantabrigiensis_, ed. 13, 720 (1845); - _London_, _Hortus Britannicus Supp._ 618 (1850); _Williams_, _Orchid - Growers’ Manual_, ed. 4, 253, ed. 5, 281; _Rand_, _Orchids_, 377. - - Maxillaria citrina, _Lyons_, _Treatise on Orchidaceous Plants_, 176. - - -_Promenæa_ is a small genus of Orchids which was separated from -_Maxillaria_ about forty years ago (1843) by Lindley, who at the same -time also dissociated from it the plants respectively referred to -_Warrea_, _Paphinia_, _Lycaste_, and _Scuticaria_. Later on Reichenbach -classed _Promenæa_ as a section of _Zygopetalum_. Dr. Lindley -distinguished the group of species which he referred to _Promenæa_, and -which he regarded as fully entitled to generic rank, by the following -peculiar features, namely, their spreading sepals, their three-lobed -lip, crested or tuberculate at the base, their short semi-terete column, -and their ovate glandule with four, that is two double, sessile pollen -masses. The species then proposed were _P. stapelioides_, _P. xanthina_, -_P. lentiginosa_, _P. Rollissonii_, and _P. graminea_. To these -Reichenbach added _P. guttata_ in 1856, and _P. microptera_ in 1881. -Neither of these authorities, so far as we can trace, refer to _P. -citrina_; but, according to Don and Loudon, the plant was introduced to -our gardens in 1840, though they attribute to it the erroneous habitat -of Mexico. Our good friend, Professor Reichenbach, suggests that it is a -garden name, sometimes applied to _P. Rollissonii_ and sometimes to _P. -guttata_; but it has long been recognised as a distinct plant by English -and Continental Orchid growers, and is certainly different from the _P. -Rollissonii_ figured by Dr. Lindley; nor does it correspond with the -description of _P. guttata_, so far as the materials at hand enable us -to judge. - -This, it will be seen, is a very neat-growing plant, the small -tetragonal pseudobulbs slowly creeping over the surface of the blocks on -which the plants are grown. It is, moreover, of small stature, the -leaves, which grow in pairs from the top of the pseudobulbs, rarely -exceeding three or four inches in height, and the flower-scapes -attaining even less elevation. The flowers, which are rather large for -so small a plant, being of a rich and brilliant colour, become rather -effective; and though, of course, they do not compare at all in gorgeous -beauty with those of many of the larger-flowered Orchids, they are by no -means to be despised even from the decorative point of View; indeed, -when grown on a block, as represented in the accompanying Plate, and -suspended from the roof of the house, the plant forms a very pretty and -distinct object, occupying, as it does, but a small space in which it -displays much beauty and attractiveness. The bright orange-yellow -flowers are, moreover, very freely produced, and if kept dry, continue -for a long time in a fresh and pleasing condition. - -There is another species of the same habit, _Promenæa stapelioides_, -which comes into bloom about the same time as this, and in which the -flowers are spotted with dark purple, so that they appear to be nearly -black. The contrast of these two when grown and flowered on the same -block is very effective. In the noble collection of Sir Trevor Lawrence, -Bart., M.P., we saw a large pan-full of _P. citrina_ growing freely, -which had a very beautiful appearance, but we prefer to see the plant -grown on a block, as in this manner the flowers hang downwards, and are -shown off to much greater advantage. There are certain varieties to be -occasionally met with, in which the flowers are without spots on the -lip, but those which have this latter peculiarity are to be preferred, -as the two colours afford a pleasant relief. - -Fibrous peat and sphagnum moss seem to suit the plant well when it is -grown in either pots or pans; but when cultivated on blocks of wood, a -little sphagnum moss only about its roots will be quite sufficient, -though if grown in this latter way it requires a more liberal and more -frequent supply of water, in order to keep the roots moist. We find the -Cattleya-house to suit it best, and we grow it suspended against a wall -at the end of the house, where it gets syringed in warm weather. The -manner in which its blooms are produced may be seen from our -Illustration, which is an excellent representation of the habit of the -plant, not only as regards its general manner of growth, but also of its -mode of flowering. - - [Illustration: PL. 8. - CYPRIPEDIUM STONEI.] - - - - - CYPRIPEDIUM STONEI. - [Plate 8.] - Native of Borneo. - - - Terrestrial. _Stem_ wanting, the short erect crowns each furnished - with numerous radical evergreen leaves, and emitting stout fleshy - roots. _Leaves_ distichous (two-ranked), a foot or more in length, - leathery or somewhat fleshy, oblong, obtuse, with a short recurved - mucro, dark green above, of a paler green beneath. _Scape_ dark - purple, issuing from the centre of the leaves and furnished with a - sheathing bract at its base, about two feet in height, three to - four-flowered, the pedicels subtended by green lanceolate acuminate - bracts. _Flowers_ large, richly-coloured, measuring when spread out - four inches in the direction of the sepals, and nine to ten inches in - that of the petals; _dorsal sepal_ broadly cordate, acuminate, nearly - two inches broad, white, marked in front with a bold central, and on - each side with two or three curved lateral stripes of deep - purple-brown, keeled behind, and there stained with purple-brown; - _lateral sepals_ (united) ovate-acuminate, with a central and on each - side three lateral stripes extending nearly to the base, - greenish-white, edged with purple-brown; _petals_ set at a right angle - to the sepals, one-fourth of an inch broad, five inches long, tapering - gradually to the apex, decurved, greenish-white with dark purple-brown - veins and spots, becoming wholly purple at the tip, and having near - the base a purple margin, and a few scattered marginal purple hairs; - _lip_ large, prominent, calceoliform, the basal portion unguiculate - from the introflexion of the margin, greenish, the apex large, - pouch-shaped, like the front of a shoe or slipper, dull purplish-red - reticulately veined with darker purple. _Column_ white, with a ring of - yellow hairs at the base, two-branched, the lower branch three-lobed, - the later lobes bearing each a small orbicular sessile yellow anther, - the terminal lobe forming a large white ovate fleshy disk (abortive - third stamen) the upper or stigmatic branch cordate-obovate, convex, - whitish, tinged with purple, and fringed at the back and sides with - yellow hairs. - - Cypripedium Stonei, _Low_; _Hooker_, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 5349; - _Van Houtte_, _Flore des Serres_, xvii., t. 1792-3; _Lemaire_, - _Illustration Horticole_, ix., p. 107; x. t. 355; _Bateman_, _2nd - Century of Orchidaceous Plants_, t. 141; _Jennings_, _Orchids_, t. 12. - - -This magnificent plant is one of the most beautiful species of the genus -_Cypripedium_. Several varieties of it are known, and though they are -all good and well worth growing, that which we have selected for -illustration is the best and darkest that has come under our notice. The -plant from which our figure was taken, bloomed in the Victoria Nursery, -and had five flower-spikes, two of which have been in bloom for the past -six weeks, and are now as fresh as ever. - -_Cypripedium Stonei_ was first flowered by Mr. Stone, gardener to John -Day, Esq., of High Cross, Tottenham, after whom it has been named. It -was for a long period a very rare species, and, indeed now, though small -plants may be purchased for a moderate sum, yet large specimens are -scarce and valuable. It makes a fine show plant, its lasting qualities -being a great recommendation to it, both from an exhibition and -decorative point of view. - -The plant is a native of Borneo, and was introduced to this country by -the Messrs. Low, of Clapton. It produces dark green foliage of about -twelve or in some of the varieties we have seen as much as fifteen -inches in length. From the centre of this tuft of leaves the -flower-spikes are produced and rise to a height of about two feet, each -bearing three or four of its large slipper-shaped blossoms, which are -the most exact representations of a shoe or slipper of those of any of -the species, and most completely justify the trivial name of the genus, -Lady’s Slipper. The sepals are large, white, striped on the veins or -nerves, with dark purple, and tinged with yellow; the petals are five -inches in length, and are yellowish, streaked and blotched with purple; -and the lip is large and of a dull reddish-purple, veined with deeper -purple-red. It is of free-blooming habit, and when the growths are -strong it produces a flower-spike from each crown, but it takes some -considerable time to complete its growth before it sends forth its -spikes; indeed, it begins to grow soon after its blossoms have faded. -The plant having no thick fleshy bulbs from which to derive support, -requires a more continuous supply of moisture than many other Orchids. -The roots are coarse and fleshy, and should in consequence be supplied -with a stronger soil than is required by some of the other kinds. We -find it to thrive best in good fibrous loam, with a small quantity of -charcoal, and a little leaf-mould or peat, all being well mixed -together, giving the pots good drainage, but not so much as is required -in the case of _Cattleyas_, for example. As it is a strong rooting -plant, it is best grown in a pot, and should be a little elevated above -the rim. We have found the East India house to supply the most suitable -atmospheric conditions in which to cultivate it; here it should be -placed on the side-tables near the light, but out of the sun. The finest -specimen we have seen exhibited was staged by Mr. Child, gardener to -Mrs. Torr, Garbrand Hall, Ewell, Surrey, at the South Kensington Show, -in 1878. - -There is a very distinct variety of this plant called _Cypripedium -Stonei platytænium_, of which a figure has been lately published in Mr. -Warner’s _Select Orchidaceous Plants_, 3 ser., t. 16. Of this form, -living plants were till recently only to be found in the collection of -John Day, Esq., but they were distributed when that collection was -recently dispersed by auction sales, and were purchased at high prices -by Baron Schröder and Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., in whose -collections they may now be seen. This variety is just like _C. Stonei_ -in its growth, and the flowers are closely similar, the chief difference -being, that the petals are shorter and broader, and resemble those of -_C. superbiens_. - - [Illustration: PL. 9-10. - LÆLIA PURPURATA WILLIAMSII.] - - - - - LÆLIA PURPURATA WILLIAMSII. - [Plates 9-10.] - Native of St. Catherine’s, Brazil. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ (or pseudobulbs) clavate-oblong, monophyllous, two - feet or more in height, somewhat furrowed when mature. _Leaves_ - coriaceous, evergreen, narrowly oblong, emarginate, dark green. - _Scape_ three to four-flowered, issuing from a stout sheathing oblong - bract or spathe, four to five inches long. _Flowers_ large, and very - handsome; measuring eight inches across, of a delicate rose colour, - with a purple-crimson lip; _sepals_ linear-lanceolate, acute, of a - pale rosy tint, pencilled with simple rosy-purple longitudinal lines; - _petals_ oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, of a beautiful delicate rose - colour, pencilled with divergent forked lines of deeper purple; _lip_ - (labellum) three-lobed, the lateral lobes obsolete, convolute around - the column, the front lobe large, broad, and roundish, of a rich dark - crimson-magenta, the tip paler and reticulately veined, and the throat - yellow, beautifully veined with crimson-magenta. _Column_ scarcely - reaching to the middle of the convolute base of the lip. - - Lælia purpurata Williamsii, _Hort._; _Williams’ Orchid Grower’s - Manual_, ed. 4, 196; ed. 5, 208. - - -The species, of which this is one of the finest known varieties, and the -genus _Lælia_ to which it belongs, together with the neighbouring genus -_Cattleya_, are placed by the great Orchidist, Reichenbach, in his -amplified genus _Bletia_, so that the _Lælia purpurata_ of Lindley, in -_Paxton’s Flower Garden_, becomes the _Bletia purpurata_ of Reichenbach -in _Walpers’ Annales_, vi. 423. The name of _Lælia_ is, however, that -which is adopted amongst cultivators of Orchids. - -The _Lælia_ which we have now to describe, was named many years ago in -the _Orchid Grower’s Manual_, when it was exhibited at the Crystal -Palace and received its present appellation. The plant now represented -was flowered at the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, but has now passed -into the select collection of Baron Schröder, of The Dell, near Staines. -It was a wonderfully strong plant, and produced two spikes of its highly -coloured blossoms, which led all those who saw it in its beauty, to -pronounce it to be the finest _Lælia_ they had ever witnessed. Our -artist has given a good representation of the plant and its blossoms. -The club-shaped stems and foliage stood thirty inches in height, and -were provided with very strong sheathing bracts whence the flower-spikes -issued, each bearing four flowers, which were individually eight inches -in diameter. It has bloomed with us in the same style for two successive -years. The plant that we flowered some years ago was not so large as -that now figured, the reason being that it was not so strong a specimen, -and, therefore, not able to produce such fine flowers. This is -sufficient evidence of the advance the plants make before they get to -their full strength and vigour. In the variety before us the sepals and -petals are of a delicate rose, veined with a beautiful dark tint of the -same colour, while the lip is very broad, large, and splendidly -coloured, the prominent parts of a rich dark crimson-magenta, paler and -veiny at the tip, and beautifully veined with crimson on the yellow -ground-colour of the throat. The blooming season is in May and June, the -flowers continuing in perfection for three or four weeks, if kept free -from damp and in a dry place. We have a house set aside specially for -Orchids when in flower, and in it very little moisture is used, by which -means we seldom get the flowers spotted or prematurely decayed. - -There is another fine form of _Lælia purpurata_ with white sepals and -petals that are quite flat, not at all recurved; this variety has a rich -dark crimson-magenta lip. We exhibited this form with nine flower spikes -at the Regent’s Park Exhibition, and it produced a grand effect. There -are many other fine varieties. - -_Lælia purpurata_ when well cultivated is a good looking plant, and even -when not in bloom it is an object of attraction, on account of its -stately evergreen foliage. It is a native of Brazil, and is found -growing on the branches of trees on the outskirts of the forests where -the plants get light, and are yet shaded from the burning sun. They are -best grown in the Cattleya-house, and will thrive either in pots or -baskets, but we find the pot system the best, as they are strong growing -plants, and require ample space to bring them to perfection. They are -the better for being moved about, especially if they are required for -exhibition. There are no more showy Orchids for exhibition purposes, and -this is especially true of such varieties as that now before us. - -We find that they thrive best in good fibrous peat, and some live -sphagnum moss on a part of the surface; when in a growing state the moss -keeps them moist without too much water being given whilst they are -making their growth. In watering them be careful not to wet the young -shoots. The pots should be three parts filled with drainage, which must -be formed of broken pots and lumps of charcoal intermixed. The plants -must be elevated about two inches above the rim of the pot. The best -time to pot them is after they have done blooming just as they begin to -make new growths, and before the roots start, when they will soon -commence to work into the clean sweet peat. If the plant is in a -sufficiently large pot, and the soil about it is sweet and clean, it -will not require re-potting, but it will benefit the plants greatly to -give them some fresh fibrous peat just before they begin to root, as the -old soil is apt to become hard and inert through constant watering. They -require to be kept moist during the growing season, but must not even -then be soddened with water. In winter only just sufficient must be -given them to keep them moist, and to prevent their stems and leaves -from shriveling. - - [Illustration: PL. 11. - PHALÆNOPSIS AMABILIS DAYANA.] - - - - - PHALÆNOPSIS AMABILIS DAYANA. - [Plate 11.] - Native of the Eastern Archipelago. - - - Epiphytal. _Stem_ none, or consisting of a short crown furnished with - rigid fleshy leaves, and emitting succulent roots, which latter are - flattened, and cling to any congenial object with which they come in - contact. _Leaves_ large, thick and coriaceous, distichous, oblong, - obliquely retuse, dark green above, purple beneath. _Scape_ long, - drooping, issuing from the base of the plant, or the leaf axils, and - bearing the large moth-like flowers in a two-ranked raceme. _Flowers_ - large, pure opaque white, spreading, the lip beautifully coloured; - _sepals_ oblong-obtuse, white, the lower ones prettily dotted with - carmine; _petals_ larger and broader, sub-rhomboid, narrowed towards - the base, pure white; _lip_ furnished with a callus at the base, - smaller than the petals, three-lobed, the lateral lobes ovate obtuse, - ascending or incurved, yellowish along the antical margin and dotted - with carmine-crimson near the base, the central lobe trowel-shaped, - carmine-crimson across the base and at the edge, and marked with a - central crimson stripe; the lip is concave, bearing at the narrowed - apex two incurved twisted white cirrhi. _Column_ semi-terete, - recumbent on the ovary. - - Phalænopsis amabilis Dayana, _Hort._ - - -The genus _Phalænopsis_ belongs to the tribe _Vandeæ_, which is -distinguished amongst those with waxy pollen-masses, by having these -attached to a distinct caudicle, united to a deciduous stigmatic gland. -It no doubt comprises several of our finest Orchids, which are prized no -less on account of the graceful development of their inflorescence than -for the attractive white blossoms of the more familiar species. Our -drawing of the charming _Phalænopsis amabilis Dayana_ here figured, was -taken from a fine specimen in the collection of W. Lee, Esq., of -Downside, Leatherhead, who was kind enough to allow us to publish an -illustration of it. The variety is very rare; indeed, we believe this is -the only specimen known to be in cultivation in this country. It was -named in compliment to John Day, Esq., of Tottenham, from whose -collection it was obtained by Mr. Lee. From the markings about the base -of the lip it will be seen to be very distinct, though it is no doubt a -form of _P. amabilis_, with which it agrees in foliage and in the -general character of the flowers, but differs in the distinct markings -just referred to. The plant grows to about the same size as _P. -amabilis_. - -There is at Downside a grand collection of _Phalænopsids_, which are -especially well managed by Mr. Woolford, the gardener. They are great -favourites with Mr. Lee, and he has built a house to meet their special -wants. This is undoubtedly a good plan to adopt where there is such a -fine and comprehensive set of plants as are to be found in this -establishment, since they require different treatment to most other -Orchids. They have thick fleshy leaves, and the stems of the plant are -also fleshy, while, unlike many Orchids, they have no thick pseudobulbs -from which to derive support; hence it follows that they require more -moisture than many others. We do not, however, agree with giving them so -much as we often see supplied. One great advantage of having a separate -house for them is that their individual treatment and wants can be more -carefully studied and more exactly met. - -We have seen _Phalænopsids_ grown well amongst other East Indian -Orchids. For instance, we exhibited a plant so grown of _Phalænopsis -grandiflora_ for ten successive years at the Chiswick and Regent’s Park -Exhibitions, and at several shows during each year, and it generally -bore from sixty to seventy blossoms. This was the variety imported from -Java, which we consider the best, as it produces more flowers than the -variety from Borneo. We see that growers now-a-days are obliged to put -several plants together in order to make a specimen fit for exhibition. -There were others who about that time also exhibited these large plants, -and, amongst them Mr. Kinghorn showed at Chiswick a wonderful specimen, -bearing the best flower-spike we have ever seen. - -_Phalænopsis amabilis Dayana_ requires the same treatment as _P. -grandiflora_ and _P. amabilis_, and will do either in a pot, basket, or -pan, suspended from the roof. It will also thrive on the side stages, -but in this case requires to be elevated so that the roots can hang -free, for they are abundant rooting plants. If suspended from the roof -the plants have more room to throw out their thick fleshy roots, and in -this way they approach nearer to the manner in which they grow in their -native habitats, for they are found on the branches and stems of trees, -where they obtain a free circulation of air. When thus suspended they -get without restraint the fresh air that circulates through the house. -They can also be cultivated on blocks, but under these circumstances -they will require to be more freely supplied with moisture. These are -plants that like plenty of light, but they must be shielded from the sun -by shading. The best material to grow them in is sphagnum moss, with -good drainage, and they require to be kept moist all the year round. In -warm weather they of course require more than in winter, when just a -sufficient quantity to keep the moss in a moist condition will be all -that they will need. It is imperative never to allow water to reach the -heart of the plant, for that will sometimes induce it to rot, and will -often cause the leaves to go spotted. - -The plants must, of necessity, be kept free from insects. Sometimes the -thrips will attack them, but this should be cleaned off. To be -thoroughly successful with Orchids they require constant watching. -Cockroaches are a great pest to all those that throw out thick fleshy -roots, which they injure by gnawing them off, thereby weakening the -constitution of the plant. J. S. Bockett, Esq., of Stamford Hill, has -one of the finest grown collections of _Phalænopsis_ we have ever seen, -but this, of course, has been in process of formation for years, and the -plants have become large established specimens. - - [Illustration: PL. 12. - ONCIDIUM GARDNERI.] - - - - - ONCIDIUM GARDNERI. - [Plate 12.] - Native of the Organ Mountains of Brazil. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ oblong-ovate, furrowed, about two inches in - height, dark green, purplish beneath. _Leaves_ oblong-lanceolate, - acute, coriaceous, about six inches long, growing two together from - the apex of the pseudobulbs. _Scape_ one and a half foot high, - including the panicle of handsome flowers, lateral, that is, springing - from the base of the pseudobulbs. _Flowers_ showy, of medium size, - deliciously fragrant; _sepals_ oblong, acute, the lateral ones - semi-connate; _petals_ twice as large as the sepals, roundish in - outline, clawed at the base, the edges undulated, and as well as the - bars across the sepals of a light chestnut or bronzy brown colour with - a narrow margin of pale yellow; _lip_ large, three-lobed, the middle - lobe large, transversely emarginate, bright yellow, with a belt of - confluent parallel oblong chestnut brown blotches just within the - margin, the lateral lobes auriculæform, obsolete, yellow; the crests - of the lip consist of two pairs of tubercles with the intermediate - space warted. _Column_ furnished with dwarf roundish wings. - - Oncidium Gardneri, _Lindley_, _London Journal of Botany_, ii., 662; - _Id._ _Folia Orchidacea_, art. _Oncidium_, 19; _Reichenbach fil._, in - _Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi. 728. - - -This charming Orchid is very nearly related to _Oncidium curtum_, _O. -prætextum_, and _O. amictum_. It belongs to an extensive genus of -Vandeous Orchids, many of the species of which are exceedingly beautiful -on account of the brilliancy of their flowers, which are mostly of a -bright yellow colour, often prettily spotted, and generally produced in -graceful spikes or panicles. No collection should be without some of the -best and most ornamental of them. The figure which we now publish -represents a very charming Brazilian species, one of the best forms of -the plant we have seen. Our drawing was made from a specimen in the -select and varied collection of W. Vanner, Esq., of Chislehurst, who was -kind enough to permit our artist to avail himself of it. This collection -occupies several houses which are respectively filled with species -belonging to the different groups or classes, and among which are some -very rare specimens, all well cultivated by Mr. Milford, the gardener, -who, for many years has been a successful grower of Orchids. - -_Oncidium Gardneri_ is a compact growing plant, furnished with dark -green pseudobulbs, which are from two to three inches in height. The -foliage is also dark green in colour, and about six inches in length. -The flowers are very freely produced in branching spikes or panicles, -and are generally developed in June and July, lasting for several weeks -in perfection. The sepals and petals are brown, narrowly margined with -pale yellow. The lip is large, of a bright golden-yellow colour, -margined with bright brown oblong parallel blotches. The flowers, -moreover, are deliciously scented. There are many varieties of this -plant, all of which are worth growing, since they take up but little -space, and when grown in quantity, produce a good effect. We saw about -fifty spikes of the different varieties, some in bloom, and others -showing, in the collection of C. G. Hill, Esq., of Arnot Hill, near -Nottingham, and we shall not soon forget the effect produced, as the -group of plants appeared to be one mass of bloom. By cultivating plants -of this character space may be economised, since they grow as freely on -blocks as in baskets. We also find them to thrive well in small pans -suspended from the roof of the Cattleya-house or in any situation -affording them the same temperature, with very slight shading from the -sun. They are best grown near the glass, so that they may get all the -light possible. As a root medium, a mixture of good sphagnum moss and -fibrous peat suits them best, but the plants must have good drainage, -since they must be kept moist during the growing season, though when at -rest a more limited supply will suffice—just sufficient being given to -keep the bulbs plump, for on the other hand, it is not a plant that -likes to be dried up. The bulbs sometimes shrivel when they flower too -freely; if this is observed do not allow the blossoms to remain too long -on the plants, as they will keep a good time in water when cut from the -plant. Being of a graceful character they are well adapted for the -decoration of drawing-room stands, in which, if intermixed with foliage -and other flowers, they help to produce a very charming effect. Indeed -no flowers are so useful as Orchids for decorative purposes, as they -last so long when cut. - - -Lælia Dominiana rosea.—This is the finest hybrid _Lælia_ that has come -under our notice. It is the result of a cross between _Cattleya -Dowiana_, and _C. exoniensis_, and the parentage is very evident in the -novel form thus obtained. The lip is like that of _C. Dowiana_, of a -rich purple-crimson, crisped at the margin; the sepals and petals are of -a pale lilac colour. It is a most beautiful _Lælia_, and is named in -honour of Mr. Dominy, who has been most successful in raising seedling -Orchids. There have been many wonderful hybrids brought out by the -Messrs. Veitch and Sons, through the indefatigable exertions of Mr. -Dominy, who has long been known as one of the oldest and most successful -of Orchid growers, and whose name will be kept in remembrance as long as -Orchids are cultivated.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 13. - DENDROBIUM SUAVISSIMUM.] - - - - - DENDROBIUM SUAVISSIMUM. - [Plate 13.] - Native of Burmah. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ (or pseudobulbs) about a foot long, - cuneately-fusiform, tapering below into a longish stalk-like base, - bluntly angulate, bearing one or two pairs of leaves at the top, and - invested below with close ovate membranaceous bracts. _Leaves_ - somewhat coriaceous, oblong-ligulate, cuneate at the base and acute at - the apex. _Flower-spikes_ ten to twelve inches long, bracteate at the - base, terminal or nearly terminal, produced freely on the two-year-old - stems. _Flowers_ large, showy, numerous, of a brilliant yellow; - _sepals_ ligulate acute, bright golden yellow; _petals_ broader, - cuneately-oblong, obtusely-acute, of the same colour as the sepals; - _lip_ (labellum) deep bright yellow, marked on the disk with a broad - curved band of rich dark sanguineous purple, almost black, cucullate, - cuneate-oblong at the base, where it is folded over the column, - roundish and emarginate in front, undulate and ciliolate at the - margin, densely asperulous with erect acute papillæ forming a close - crispy covering over the surface. - - Dendrobium suavissimum, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, - N.S., i. 406; v. 756. - - -This fine Dendrobe, of which Reichenbach remarks:—“I believe it is one -of the best _Dendrobia_ ever imported,” was introduced in 1873 by Mr. -Low, of Clapton, as recorded in the _Gardeners’ Chronicle_ for 1874 -(N.S., i. 406), where it was first described. It is again referred to in -the same publication in 1876 (N.S., v. 756), where the German Professor -remarks:—“The species stands indeed, as has been stated before, close to -_Dendrobium chrysotoxum_. The flowers are smaller, the fringe is made by -much shorter papillæ, the chin is shorter, the petals are narrower, the -lip does not expand to an open mass, but its lateral parts keep bent -over the base, thus forming a cucullate body so as to allow the -beautiful dark blackish spot to be seen, and which contrasts so well -with the deep yellow of the flower. There are also a few blackish -streaks on each side of the base of the lip.” - -_Dendrobium suavissimum_ is one of the most beautiful species of the -yellow-flowered section of this vast genus, and one that is much admired -and sought after by Orchid growers. The accompanying plate is a good -representation of the plant, and from this it will be seen that it is -one of the most attractive of summer-flowering Orchids. Our sketch was -taken from a specimen exhibited by us during the present year, at the -Royal Botanic Society’s Garden in the Regent’s Park. - -Formerly this was a very rare plant, but within the last few years it -has been sent home in considerable quantities by collectors, and it has -in consequence become comparatively cheap. In growth it resembles -_Dendrobium chrysotoxum_, but the flowers are much more showy; in _D. -chrysotoxum_ they are wholly yellow, whereas in this species there is a -large sanguineous purple blotch on the lip, forming a striking contrast -to the rich golden yellow of the sepals and petals; in addition to this -they are sweet-scented. The plant is of free-flowering habit, and when -well-grown produces finely-developed flower-spikes. We have seen as many -as three spikes proceeding from a single stem. - -In habit of growth _Dendrobium suavissimum_ is very compact. The stems -or pseudobulbs are about a foot in height, and furnished with one or two -pairs of dark green leaves at the apex. The flower-spikes proceed from -the tops of the two-year-old bulbs, and average from ten to twelve -inches in length. The stems will sometimes produce spikes for several -years in succession. The flowers last from two to three weeks in -perfection if kept from damp. - -Like other Dendrobiums, this species is found growing on the trunks and -branches of trees in positions where it gets plenty of light and air. -With us it thrives well grown in a basket suspended near the roof, so as -to obtain all the light and air possible; the bulbs thus become well -matured. The best material for growing it in is sound sweet fibrous -peat, with a good supply of drainage. The plants should be watered -liberally at the roots during the period of growth, which is after they -have done blooming. The temperature that suits them best is that of the -East India-house while they are making their growth; but when the growth -is completed very little water should be given them until they begin to -show their spikes in spring, when it may be increased, as it will assist -them to produce stronger spikes. The plant is propagated by division; -two or more old bulbs should be taken off with a young growth in front. -Insects should be well looked after, and when found be speedily removed. - - [Illustration: PL. 14. - TRICHOPILIA SUAVIS ALBA.] - - - - - TRICHOPILIA SUAVIS ALBA. - [Plate 14.] - Native of Central America. - - - Epiphytal, _Pseudobulbs_ roundish-oblong or obcordate, thin, _i.e._, - very much compressed, clustered, monophyllous. _Leaves_ broadly - oblong, acute, leathery in texture, almost sessile, of a pale green - colour. _Scapes_ radical, two to four-flowered, pendent. _Flowers_ - large, showy, and fragrant, each emerging from the axil of a thin - ovate bract. _Sepals_ linear-lanceolate, acute, somewhat undulated, - spreading, and, as well as the similarly-formed _petals_, of a pure - white colour; _lip_ large, rolled up closely at the base, suddenly - expanded upwards so as to become funnel-shaped, and then spread out - into a large oblique limb, which is three-lobed, with the edges wavy - and crisped, the middle lobe larger, slightly deflexed and emarginate - or bilobed: _Column_ elongate, terete, bearing at the back of the - anther a hood of three fimbriated lobes. - - Trichopilia suavis, _Lindley_, in _Paxton’s Flower Garden_, i. 44; 53, - t. 11; _Hooker_, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 4654; _Van Houtte_, _Flore - des Serres_, viii. 761; _Lemaire_, _Jardin Fleuriste_, iii. 277; - _Reichenbach fil._, in _Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, iii. - 553, et vi. 681. - - _Var._ ALBA: flowers pure white, the lip with a yellow blotch in the - throat. - - Trichopilia suavis alba, _Hort._ - - -This plant belongs to a small genus of Vandeous Orchids, some of the -species of which are exceedingly pretty, and well worthy of a place in -every collection. Dr. Lindley calls _Trichopilia suavis_ “a delicious -Orchid,” and says that “the flowers emit the most delicate odour of -hawthorn.” The fragrant and richly spotted flowers make it a great -favourite amongst growers, and no doubt it is one of the best and most -showy of the species yet known. The variety _alba_, of which we have now -the pleasure of publishing an authentic figure, the first which has -appeared, is new to cultivation, and is also extremely rare. Our plate -was prepared from a specimen which flowered in the fine collection of -Dr. G. Boddaert, of Ghent, Belgium, who kindly allowed us to have a -drawing made from it. - -_Trichopilia suavis alba_ was imported, with the typical _T. suavis_, -and is a compact evergreen plant, with foliage attaining from six to ten -inches in height, and three inches in width, and of a light green -colour. The pendent flower-scapes are produced from the base of the -bulbs, and bear two or three, or sometimes four, flowers, which thus -hang over the sides of the pan or basket in which the plant is -cultivated. When suspended from the roof of the house they thus have a -very charming appearance. The sepals and petals are pure white; the lip -is white, with a pale yellow stain in the throat. The plant blossoms -during May and June, and lasts about two weeks in perfection. We have -flowered this variety during the present year, and it was very much -admired by every one who saw it. - -_Trichopilia suavis alba_ was exhibited by J. S. Bockett, Esq., of -Stamford Hill, at one of the meetings of the Royal Horticultural -Society, and was awarded a First Class Certificate of Merit. - -The Cattleya house is the best position for the plant, but it should be -placed at the coolest end. It will flourish either in a basket or pot, -in a compost of fibrous peat, with good drainage, but it must be well -elevated above the rim, so that the flowers may hang down according to -their natural habit. Propagation is effected by division of the plant -after blooming; two or three bulbs should be severed from the original -plant, or more if a larger specimen is desired. - - -Aërides odoratum majus.—This fine old Orchid was shown by Mrs. Arbuthnot -at the Chislehurst Exhibition, on the 16th of July, and in this case it -was a most wonderful example of good cultivation. The plant was one mass -of its beautiful racemes of flowers, about fifty in number, many of them -measuring fifteen inches in length. The flowers are white, tipped with -pink, and are produced in long graceful spikes which overhang the -foliage and produce a most charming effect. The perfume given off by -this variety is very delightful, and was in this case most refreshing to -those who passed by, many of whom wondered where the pleasant odour came -from, as it was shown among the stove and greenhouse plants. This plant -was two and a half feet in diameter, and three feet in height. Great -credit is due to Mr. Mitchell, the gardener, for his skill in -cultivating so fine a specimen. We often wonder why this plant is not -more popular at our exhibitions, especially as it is easy to grow, -taking very few years to make a good specimen, and being purchasable in -small sizes for a few shillings. When not in bloom, it is, moreover, an -attractive plant.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 15. - VANDA PARISHII.] - - - - - VANDA PARISHII. - [Plate 15.] - Native of Moulmein. - - - Epiphytal. _Plant_ evergreen, dwarf. _Stem_ a span high, - stout-growing, densely leafy. _Leaves_ distichous, broadly - ligulate-obtuse, with an unequal bilobed apex, very stout and fleshy - in texture. _Scape_ stiff, erect, bearing a spike of several showy - blossoms. _Flowers_ large, distinct in character, prettily spotted; - _sepals_ and _petals_ cuneate-oblong, acute, somewhat undulated, of a - greenish-yellow colour, decorated with numerous round reddish-brown - spots, white inside at the base; _lip_ furnished with linear-ligulate - auricles at the base, and produced into a short gibbous spur, white, - with a pair of orange-coloured stripes, the larger anterior part - violaceous, rhomboid, gibbous below the apex, with a keel along the - median line, and a violet-coloured conical callus at the base. - _Column_ white, the caudicle ligulate, the glandule triangular. - - Vanda Parishii, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, 1870, - 890. - - -This glorious thing, as Professor Reichenbach calls it, was first -discovered by the Rev. C. Parish in 1862, and then lost sight of, but -was rediscovered in 1870, from which discovery, we presume, the first -plants were obtained by Mr. S. Low, of the Clapton Nursery; since then -we have received living plants of it on several occasions, and the plant -now figured was from one of these importations. It is a small and -distinct growing _Vanda_, and is well worthy of a place in every -collection on account of its compact habit of growth, which resembles -that of a _Phalænopsis_. The Vandas are for the most part large growers, -but, as will be seen from the accompanying figure, _Vanda Parishii_ is -an exception to the general rule. Our plate was prepared from a plant -which bloomed in the collection of the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P., -of Birmingham—a gentleman who is making a grand collection of Orchids, -and is a great admirer of them. The plant above referred to was a -well-grown specimen, bearing a good spike of flowers. - -The leaves are about eight inches in length by four inches in breadth, -and of a lively green colour; and the flower-spike reaches from ten to -twelve inches in length, the flowers being as large as those of _Vanda -gigantea_ and _V. lissochiloides_. The sepals and petals are -greenish-yellow, freely spotted with reddish-brown; the base of the lip, -which is keeled, is white, the front lobe violet-mauve, faintly margined -with white. Altogether it is a very distinct species, and is very -strongly scented, with a peculiar odour; it lasts for several weeks in -bloom. - -_Vanda Parishii_ requires about the same treatment as other Vandas, and -should be grown in the East India-house, in sphagnum moss, with plenty -of drainage. It would appear never to attain more than about a foot in -height, being unusually short and stout in growth. It is best grown in a -basket or pot suspended from the roof, and should be well shaded from -the sun. It revels in a good supply of water during the growing period, -which extends over summer and autumn; but in winter only just sufficient -water should be given to keep the moss damp, for if allowed to become -over-dry it will shrivel, having no pseudobulbs to support it. Thrips -and scale are sometimes found on this plant; these should be diligently -searched for and destroyed, as the leaves, being of a fleshy nature, -would otherwise soon become disfigured by the onslaught of these pests. - - -Orchids at Arnot Hill.—We append a few notes on the Orchids at Arnot -Hill, near Nottingham, the residence of C. G. Hill, Esq., a gentleman -who is forming a fine collection of these plants, and one which we have -no doubt will in time take a foremost rank, as Mr. Hill is specially -fond of good Orchids, and intends to grow only those which are most -worthy of cultivation. There is a fine range of houses built to suit the -cool, the intermediate, and the East Indian kinds, and the arrangements -are all that can be desired, having been made the chief study. Of the -genus _Odontoglossum_, we found at the time of our visit, some few -months since, there was a large collection, including some hundreds of -plants of _O. Alexandræ_ and _O. Pescatorei_, amongst which were many -fine specimens. There was also a fine lot of Masdevallias; the -Bull’s-blood variety of _M. Harryana_ was in splendid condition, and -there were many other fine varieties. We noticed a house full of -_Oncidium Gardneri_ mixed with _O. prætextum_ and _O. curtum_, the -plants bearing about fifty spikes, the greater part of which were in -bloom, the flowers deliciously fragrant, and presenting a beautiful -picture, as the bright yellow lip with its definite margin of brown -shows off the flowers to great advantage. In the Cattleya house there -were many fine plants which were rooting and growing well. We noticed a -good specimen plant of the new _Cattleya Trianæ Russelliana_, also of -the rare _C. exoniensis_, of the beautiful _C. Reineckiana_, of the best -variety of _C. labiata_ showing flower-sheaths, and many others. -_Oncidium incurvum_ was beautifully in bloom, and with its snow-white -lip had a very pretty appearance. - -In the next house we noticed three good plants of _Dendrochilum -filiforme_ finely in flower; one plant had fifty of its graceful spikes -of yellow blossoms hanging among the foliage, and the other two plants -were equally good. - -In the adjoining house there were many fine East Indian Orchids. We -noticed four plants of the rare _Aërides Schröderi_, and a wonderful -variety of _A. Lobbii_ in full bloom, with a fine branching spike—one of -the best we have seen, and one of which we hope at some future time to -furnish our readers with a figure. There was a good collection of East -Indian Orchids being got together, and from the appearance and health of -the young stock they seemed likely to thrive well. We were glad to see -this class of Orchids so well appreciated, as there can be no doubt that -the East Indian kinds are among the richest and finest of the family, -and they will flourish in a lower temperature than most people -imagine.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 16. - CATTELYA GUTTATA LEOPOLDII.] - - - - - CATTLEYA GUTTATA LEOPOLDII. - [Plate 16.] - Native of the Island of St. Catherine, Brazil. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ (or pseudobulbs) elongate, fusiform, many-jointed, - two to two and a half feet in height, bearing a pair of leaves at the - apex. _Leaves_ broadly-oblong obtuse, dark green, coriaceous. _Scape_ - terminal, issuing from a short ovate acute ancipitous spathe developed - between the leaves on the more vigorous stems, and bearing a - many-flowered raceme, with small lance-shaped bracts. _Flowers_ - fleshy, in dense racemes, “sometimes as large as a man’s head;” - _sepals_ cuneate-oblong acute, the lateral ones subfalcate, of a light - cinnamon or orange-tinted brown, spotted thickly with crimson; - _petals_ similar in form and colour, but rather broader and wavy; - _lip_ three-lobed, the lateral lobes semi-ovate, acute in front, - rolled over the column, the middle lobe cuneate-flabellate and - bilobed, of a bright magenta colour, the disk tuberculate with lines - of elevated papillae. - - Cattleya guttata Leopoldii, _Linden and Reichenbach fil._, - _Pescatorea_, t. 43. - - Cattleya Leopoldii, _Hort. Verschaffelt_; _Lemaire_, _Illustration - Horticole_, ii. 69. - - Epidendrum elatius, var., _Reichenbach fil._, _MSS._; _Id._, in - _Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi. 319. - - -This noble plant is remarkable for the large mass of richly-coloured -flagrant blossoms which terminates the flower-scape, and is very much -superior to the old _Cattleya guttata_, which was introduced to our -collections some fifty years ago, and of which a fine figure was -published in the _Transactions of the Horticultural Society_, ix. t. 8. -The variety _Leopoldii_ differs from the type, in its much larger -flowers, and in the rich olive or reddish-brown colour of its sepals and -petals, which are freely spotted with dark crimson. _C. guttata -Leopoldii_ is, moreover, of much more recent introduction than the type, -having been imported to the gardens of Belgium by M. Ambroise -Verschaffelt, through his collector, M. Devos, in 1850. It was by him -dedicated to his Majesty the late King of the Belgians. As will be seen -from our illustration, it is a very great improvement on the typical -form. We are indebted to H. Shaw, Esq., of Buxton, for the opportunity -of securing our figure, the plant having flowered in his choice and -valuable collection during the month of August in the present year, -producing a spike of eleven fine flowers, each measuring three inches in -diameter. This must be regarded as a very valuable Orchid, since it -blossoms during the late summer months, when flowers are comparatively -scarce in our Orchid houses; while for exhibition purposes, again, it is -of great value. - -The plant now before us is a strong grower, like _Cattleya guttata_, and -sometimes produces as many as thirty flowers in a spike. A plant bearing -a spike of this noble character was exhibited some years ago by Mr. -Page, then gardener to the late W. Leaf, Esq., of Streatham, and was a -most wonderful object. The stems grow from twenty to thirty inches in -height, and are furnished at the apex with a pair of broad leathery -leaves of a dark green colour. It produces its flowers from the top of -the bulb after it has finished its growth. The sepals and petals are of -a lively cinnamon-brown, spotted with rich deep crimson; while the lip -is of a bright magenta, with the basal lobes of a paler rose colour. The -blossoms last some two or three weeks in perfection. - -_Cattleya guttata Leopoldii_ requires the same treatment as that -recommended for other Cattleyas under Plates 3 and 6. Being a -tall-growing plant, pot culture will be found to suit it best. - - -M. Massange’s Orchids.—Château de Baillonville, the country seat of -Mons. D. Massange de Louvrex, is situated in the Ardennes, about 6 miles -from Marche, and some 80 miles from Brussels. The collection of Orchids -at the Château is very large, one of the finest in Belgium. In the house -devoted to East Indian Orchids there are some grand specimens of Vandas, -Aërides, and Saccolabiums. During a visit in July last, we noticed in -bloom a very fine variety of _Vanda tricolor planilabris_, the flowers -of which were very large, with fine broad sepals and petals, the -markings being well defined and the colour bright. Here was also a grand -plant of _V. Cathcartii_, about four feet high, in perfect health. -Cypripediums are, moreover, treated with great success in this house; -indeed, we noticed some plants of _C. caudatum_ with extraordinary -growths upon them, one plant having leaves as much as eighteen inches -long, and quite distinct in the character of its growth, being almost -erect. In the Cattleya house were some fine examples of _Cattleya -labiata_, the true autumn-flowering variety; also _C. Warnerii_ in -abundance, and _C. Mendelii_. _Zygopetalum Gautieri_, the best variety, -with dark blue flowers, was also open. _Cælogyne Massangeana_, had a -spike of twenty-three flowers; this species is a grand subject for -treating as a basket plant, the spikes being of a drooping character; we -have seen it bearing as many as twenty-seven flowers on a spike. There -were, moreover, in the same house, some enormous plants of _Cattleya -Trianæ_, marvels of cultivation, with good specimens of _Lælia elegans_, -_L. anceps_, _L. Perrinii alba_, _L. elegans prasiata_, _L. -Stelzneriana_, _Cattleya Dowiana_, &c., all in perfect health, and doing -well. In the Odontoglossum houses there was not much in flower, but the -plants were looking remarkably well and making enormous bulbs. Here we -noticed the largest plant of _Restrepia antennifera_ we have ever seen; -the plant probably measured as much as eighteen inches across, and had -some hundreds of leaves. Masdevallias were well represented, and there -were some good varieties in flower: amongst others was a grand plant of -_M. macrura_, as well as _M. Houtteana_ and _M. trochilus_, forming good -specimens. We saw a splendid specimen of _Odontoglossum citrosmum -roseum_ with nine flower-spikes, a marvel of good cultivation. -Altogether, we believe, this is the most select collection of Orchids in -Belgium, and great credit is due to Mr. Wilkie, the gardener, for the -way in which he cultivates his plants; his employer, however, spares no -expense in providing the appurtenances necessary to good cultivation.—H. -Williams. - - [Illustration: PL. 17. - PESCATOREA KLABOCHORUM.] - - - - - PESCATOREA KLABOCHORUM. - [Plate 17.] - Native of Ecuador. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ none or consisting of a short crown or growing - point from which the leaves and stout fibrous roots proceed. _Leaves_ - tufted, numerous, imbricated at the base, erect or spreading, - lanceolate, acute, twelve to fifteen inches long, and about two inches - wide, deep green above, paler beneath, thin but firm in texture. - _Flowers_ large and showy, measuring about three inches in diameter, - the peduncles springing from the axils of the lower leaves; _dorsal - sepal_ obovate-oblong, acute, about an inch and a half long, white in - the lower half, and of a velvety chocolate purple in the upper - portion; _lateral sepals_ more distinctly oblong, being less narrowed - at the base, acute, and attached obliquely to the chin of the flower; - _petals_ obovate-oblong, like the dorsal sepal, acute, white, deeply - tipped with chocolate purple; _lip_ distinctly stalked, with a sharply - incurved claw, normally trowel-shaped when spread out, three-lobed, - the lateral lobes prolonged, acute, and incurved so as to meet the - base of the column, the middle lobe obtusely cordate, sulcate, with - the edge recurved so as to bring it to a narrow triangular outline; it - is white, with the whole surface, except the margin, covered with - short purple-tipped papillæ, or ‘styliform processes,’ ranged in - combined lines; on the _disk_ is a large semicircular lamellate ruff - or frill, extending to the base, and consisting of numerous (about 20) - erect folds or lamellæ, which are white below and of a deep rich - purple along the edge of the folds, forming a series of stripes - extending inwards to the base of the lip. _Column_ stoutish, angulate - on both sides at the base, semiterete, dark purple, three-fourths of - an inch long, projected over the basal ruff. - - Pecatorea Klabochorum, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, - N.S. xi., 684; xii., 167; _Paxton’s Flower Garden_, re-issue, t. 21. - - Zygopetalum Klabochorum, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ - Chronicle_, N.S. xi., 684. - - -Until quite recently but few species of _Pescatorea_ were known in -cultivation. Latterly, however, several new ones have been introduced -into this country, and Orchid cultivators have now more numerous -opportunities of admiring the beautiful plants which are referred to -this genus. - -_Pescatorea Klabochorum_ was introduced from Ecuador, by Franz Klaboch, -a nephew of Herr Roezl, one of the most successful plant collectors of -our time, and is named in commemoration of him and his surviving -brother, also a traveller and collector, The first plants, brought home -some four or five years since, were purchased by Messrs. James Veitch -and Sons, of Chelsea, and were distributed by them; but since then it -has been several times re-introduced, and is now to be found in numerous -collections. Several varieties have been already noticed. It appears to -have been first flowered in 1878 in England, by John Day, Esq., and in -Scotland by J. Gair, Esq., and again in 1879 in the noble collection of -Sir Trevor Lawrence Bart., M.P. The drawing reproduced in our plate was -prepared from a plant which flowered last August in our own collection, -and represents a very fair variety. A fine variety, which bloomed with -W. Cobb, Esq., of Silverdale Lodge, Sydenham, is figured in the revised -edition of _Paxton’s Flower Garden_. - -The treatment which we find to suit this plant the best is to place it -in the Cattleya-house at the cool end. It should be potted in a compost -of peat and sphagnum moss, with a few lumps of charcoal added; and a -liberal supply of water should be given during the growing season, this -being gradually decreased as the winter approaches. The plants should be -well elevated above the rim of the pot, so as to allow any superfluous -water to drain away from the crown. - -We do not find that noxious insects attack the species of _Pescatorea_ -in any great degree. The scale will sometimes take up its abode on the -young growths, but when found this can easily be removed by the use of a -brush or sponge and water. - -We saw a fine lot of Pescatoreas and Bolleas in splendid condition at -Falkirk in September last, in the collection of J. Gair, Esq. These -plants are not so easy of cultivation as many Orchids, their treatment -not being generally so well understood; but this was not the case in -this instance, for they were perfect plants, well cultivated, and -blooming freely. We noticed more especially a fine species named in -honour of Mr. Gair, which bears the richest coloured flowers we have -ever seen; of this we hope to give our readers an illustration when it -flowers next year. These plants were grown at the end of a house where a -mixed collection of Orchids, such as Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Aërides, -and Saccolabiums, were doing well. Being a large house, the plants could -be treated according to their several requirements, whereas in a small -house the varied collection would not be found to do so well. - - -Vanda cœrulea.—This _Vanda_, whose flowers are of such a distinct and -beautiful colour, is no doubt one of the finest Orchids in cultivation. -We have had the pleasure of seeing the plant we are about to mention for -two successive years blooming in great perfection in the collection of -the Marquis of Lothian, at Newbattle, Dalkeith. The plant, which stands -one foot in height, and is well furnished with good foliage, produced -two spikes of its charming flowers, fourteen on each spike. The sepals -and petals are of a delicate lavender blue colour, barred and veined -with a deeper tint of the same; the lip is small, and of a dark violet -colour. It was a most showy object, and the amount of bloom upon it was -extraordinary, considering the small size of the plant. We have seen -larger specimens, but never one that has pleased us so well. Great -credit is due to Mr. Priest for producing such a plant, which is -increasing in size, and in the number of its flowers every year. There -Is a good collection of Orchids being formed at this place, where the -houses are suitable for their cultivation, and the plants are well -looked after and cared for.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 18. - BURLINGTONIA CANDIDA.] - - - - - BURLINGTONIA CANDIDA. - [Plate 18.] - Native of Demerara. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ elliptic-oblong, compressed, monophyllous. - _Leaves_ evergreen, broadish oblong, acute, somewhat channelled. - _Racemes_ pendulous, issuing from the base of the pseudobulbs, three - to five-flowered. _Flowers_ two and a half inches long, white, - semitransparent, with a delightful violet-like fragrance; _sepals_ - projected forwards in the plane of the lip, the _dorsal_ one - obovate-oblong, emarginate, the _anterior_ one bifid, linear-oblong, - about half the length of the lip, curved sharply forwards, and - channelled so as to closely invest the spur of the lip; _petals_ - parallel with the sepals and lip, obovate, oblique, the base - encircling the column, spreading at the apex; _lip_ parallel with the - column, with a channelled claw, dilated and bilobed in front, cuneate - below, decorated in the centre with a yellow bar, the disk furnished - with four or five yellowish lamellæ on each side, of which the - anterior ones are longer, the spur short, enclosed in the anterior - sepal. _Column_ smooth, slender, clavate, with two fleshy teeth at the - apex. - - Burlingtonia candida, _Lindley_, _Botanical Register_, t. 1927; _Id._ - _Paxton’s Flower Garden_, i. 158; _Rand’s Orchids_, 179; _Floral - Magazine_, t. 548. - - Rodriquezia candida, _Bateman in litteris_; _Reichenbach fil._, in - _Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi., 695. - - -The genus _Burlingtonia_ was dedicated to the amiable and accomplished -Countess of Burlington, and contains a few small-growing but very -beautiful species, which come mostly from Brazil. The plant now under -notice, which was the earliest introduction, and the type of the genus, -was imported from Demerara, in British Guiana, so long since as 1834, by -James Bateman, Esq., now a veteran in the study and cultivation of -Orchids. It is consequently well-known to the growers and collectors of -this class of plants. - -As a subject for growing in a basket suspended from the roof, this -species has few, if any, equals. When grown in this way, the pendent -spikes of white flowers hanging over the sides of the basket produce a -charming and distinct appearance. - -The plant is compact-growing, and, like all the species of -_Burlingtonia_, is evergreen. The pendent flower-spikes are produced -from the sides of the pseudobulbs, and each bear from four to six -flowers, which are white, marked with yellow in the throat, and have a -slight but pleasant odour of violets. - -_Burlingtonia candida_ should be grown in the Cattleya-house, in a -basket or pan, suspended from the roof. Sphagnum moss, with a good -drainage composed of crocks, is the best material for its roots, and the -bulbs should be well elevated above the rim of the pan or basket. This -plant delights in a plentiful supply of water at the roots—in fact, it -should never be allowed to get dry, as it requires but little rest. It -is propagated by division of the pseudobulbs. - -Few insects attack this plant. The scale is the most frequent intruder, -and this is easily removed by the use of a sponge and clean water. - - -Ferguslie House, Paisley.—We have been in the habit of visiting the -gardens of T. Coates, Esq., for many years past, and have always been -surprised to see the Orchids grown by Mr. Thompson, the gardener who has -charge of them. There is no house specially devoted to the cultivation -of this class of plants, but they are grown in different houses -intermixed with stove-flowering plants, foliage plants, and ferns, and -in no instance have we seen East Indian Orchids grown to greater -perfection. We have from time to time witnessed the progress of the -specimens we are about to enumerate—in fact, we have seen them grown on -from quite small plants purchased some ten or twelve years ago, and the -size to which they have attained during this time, viz., up to the first -week in September, 1881, will no doubt astonish some of our readers, and -convince them it is not true that Orchids cannot be cultivated unless -they have houses set apart for their especial benefit. In order to show -the error of this conclusion, we will name a few of the Specimens that -we saw growing on one side of a span-roofed house, with stove plants on -the centre stage. _Aërides suavissimum_, grown from a small plant, is -now a fine specimen three feet high, having four stems, and in perfect -health, the foliage reaching down to the pot; it bore twenty spikes of -its long racemes of flowers, many of them having thirty-seven flowers on -a spike, and was one of the most beautiful objects that have come under -our notice. There is also another plant produced from the same specimen, -bearing twelve spikes of its lovely blossoms, which were in full beauty. -_A. Warnerii_ is a well-grown specimen, having several stems two to -three feet in height, and this blooms freely every year. _A. virens_, is -also a fine plant, with three stems three feet in height. _A. affine_ is -a wonderful specimen of good cultivation; it is generally of slow -growth, but in this case it has not proved so. _A. crispum_ again, is -well cultivated, having two stems nearly three feet high, and perfect, -and there is also a second plant of the same, three feet in height. _A. -Fieldingii_ is a fine specimen. _Vanda tricolor_, a well-furnished -plant, and _V. suavis_ four feet high, with three stems, are both -beautifully grown. A plant of the curious long-tailed _Angræcum -sesquipedale_, from eighteen inches to two feet in height, has four -stems, and is undoubtedly the best grown specimen we have seen. -_Phalænopsis Schilleriana_, a good specimen, with seven of its -beautifully-marked leaves, is growing suspended over the centre table. -There are other choice Orchids, such as _Cypripediums_, _Cœlogynes_, &c. -We also noticed, grown in two other houses, intermixed with various -plants, beautiful specimens of _Lælia Turnerii_, _L. elegans_, _L. -anceps_, _Cattleya Trianæ_, and others. There are also well-grown -examples of _Calanthe Masuca_, of _Dendrobium_, and other good Orchids; -but space will not admit of these being here enumerated.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 19. - ANGULOA RUCKERII SANGUINEA.] - - - - - ANGULOA RUCKERII SANGUINEA. - [Plate 19.] - Native of Colombia. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ large, ovate-oblong, four to six inches high, - furrowed when mature. _Leaves_ several, growing from the apex of the - younger pseudobulbs, broadly lanceolate, acute, two to two and a half - feet long and four to six inches broad, strongly ribbed and plaited. - _Flower-scapes_ radical, one-flowered, shorter than the leaves, - clothed below with imbricated sheathing bracts. _Flowers_ large, - fleshy, nearly erect; _sepals_ roundish with an apiculus, strongly - convex, conniving into a semi-globular shape, which with their nearly - erect position gives them a somewhat tulip-like appearance, creamy - yellow outside, and of a deep sanguineous red on the inner surface; - _petals_ similar in form and colour to the sepals; _lip_ clawed, - subconvolute, three-lobed, the lateral lobes broadish and obtuse, the - middle portion hairy, funnel-shaped and two-lipped, the front lobe - tridentate, and with the middle part crimson blotched and barred with - white. _Column_ entire, creamy white, spotted with crimson. - - Anguloa Ruckerii sanguinea, _Lindley_ in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, 1852, - 271; _Hooker_, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 5384; _Williams’ Orchid - Growers’ Manual_, ed. iv., 90; ed. v., 92. - - -The subject of our present illustration is an exceedingly rare plant, -and is met with in only a few collections. In its habit of growth and -general appearance it resembles the type _Anguloa Ruckerii_, but it is -very distinct in colour, and is altogether a more desirable plant, the -flowers being of a much richer colour—a deep rich blood-red spotted with -a darker tint of the same—whereas in the original _A. Ruckerii_ they are -of a fine orange colour spotted with dark brown. - -The growth of this plant is very majestic, producing as it does bulbs -four to six inches high, and leaves from eighteen to thirty inches long, -by four to six inches broad. The flowers, which proceed from the base of -the pseudobulb, are erect, tulip-shaped, and of great substance and -size, lasting as long as four weeks in perfection. _A. Ruckerii -sanguinea_ is a very suitable plant for exhibition purposes on account -of the distinct appearance produced by its massive flowers when -intermixed with other Orchids. - -The temperature best suited for this plant is that of the cool -Orchid-house. We have found it succeed well in pots in a compost of good -fibrous peat, with plenty of drainage. It requires a good season of -rest, during which period the plant should be kept rather dry until it -begins to show renewed signs of growth, when the supply of water may be -increased. It is propagated by division of the pseudobulbs just before -they start into growth. We are indebted for the opportunity of figuring -this plant to Dr. Boddaert, of Ghent, Belgium, in whose collection it -flowered last July. - -A fine figure of the original _Anguloa Ruckerii_ will be found in -_Warner’s Select Orchidaceous Plants_, 2nd series, t. 10; and it is also -figured in the _Botanical Register_, 1846, t. 41; and in _Moore’s -Illustrations of Orchidaceous Plants_, art. Auguloa, plate 3. - - -Cattleya Dowiana.—We have received a very beautiful flower of this grand -Cattleya, by post, from R. Dodgson, Esq., of Blackburn, in whose fine -collection the plant has been grown. Mr. Osman, the gardener, says, “we -had three imported plants last year, and two of them are now in bloom.” -We were pleased to hear this, as _Cattleya Dowiana_ is considered a -difficult plant to flower, though we have seen many plants blooming this -season. There is no doubt that its cultivation is becoming better -understood. The variety above referred to has a large lip of a most -intense dark purple, striped and reticulated with golden yellow, in a -very prominent manner. The sepals and petals are large, of good -substance, of a bright nankeen colour, and produce a very pleasing and -altogether distinct appearance. This is, undoubtedly, one of the most -distinct and beautiful of all Cattleyas. There is a grand figure of this -species in the 2nd series of _Warner’s Select Orchidaceous Plants_, t. -27.—B. S. W. - - -Cypripedium Spicerianum.—We were pleased to receive last month a -splendid bloom of this fine variety from J. S. Bockett, Esq., of -Stamford Hill. There is no doubt that it is one of the most distinct -species of the whole genus. The dorsal sepal is erect, curiously curved, -pure white, of a wax-like texture, having a purple streak extending from -the base to the apex; the linear-oblong petals are much crisped on the -edge, and, like the other parts of the flower, are of a bronzy-green -colour, the lip being darker, of a reddish-brown and glossy. It has been -named in honour of H. Spicer, Esq., and was introduced from India some -few years ago. We also received at the same time a fine form of -_Odontoglossum Chestertoni_, and a most distinctly spotted variety of -_O. Alexandræ_, the sepals and petals of which are white, spotted with -reddish-crimson, and the lip white, with a large reddish-brown blotch on -the lower portion.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 20. - DENDROBIUM AINSWORTHII ROSEUM.[] - - - - - DENDROBIUM AINSWORTHII ROSEUM. - [Plate 20.] - A Garden Hybrid. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ (pseudobulbs) clustered, elongate, spreading, - terete, stoutish above, tapering to the base, jointed, the surface - furrowed between the joints. _Leaves_ distichous, linear-oblong, - acute, three-fourths of an inch broad, sheathing the stems at the - base, the sheaths remaining as a membranous investment. _Peduncles_ - proceeding from the joints of the stem, slender, two to - three-flowered, the pedicels with small ovate bracts at their base. - _Flowers_ showy, white, with rich amaranth-crimson blotch, measuring - about three inches across; _sepals_ lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, - spreading, white, tinged with rose colour, as are the larger and - broader oblong-ovate _petals_; _lip_ (labellum) broadly obovate, - cucullate, the basal portion rolled in over the column, the anterior - portion spread out into a broad concave heart-shaped front lobe, which - is undulated at the margin, and nearly covered by a large rich - amaranth-crimson blotch, feathered at the edge, and traversed by - deeper crimson veins, the extreme margin being paler. _Column_ short, - enclosed by the basal portion of the lip. - - Dendrobium Ainsworthii, _Moore_ in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_ (1874), N.S. - i. 443, figs. 93, 94; _Id._ N.S. viii., 166, figs. 30, 31, 32; - _Anderson_ in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, N.S. vii., 751; _Floral - Magazine_, 2 s. t. 196; _Rand’s Orchids_, 242; _Williams’ Orchid - Growers’ Manual_, ed. v., 163. - - _Var._ ROSEUM; sepals and petals tinted with magenta rose; lip almost - wholly covered by the large mulberry-crimson feathered blotch. - - Dendrobium Ainsworthii _var._ ROSEUM, _Moore_ in _Gardeners’ - Chronicle_ (1877), N.S. vii., 655; _Id._ N.S. viii., 166; _Anderson_ - in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, N.S. vii., 750. - - -The beautiful _Dendrobium Ainsworthii_ is the result of a cross between -_D. nobile_ and _D. heterocarpum_, and was raised by Mr. Mitchell, -gardener to R. F. Ainsworth, Esq., M.D., Of Higher Broughton, -Manchester, after whom it is named. In habit of growth and in general -appearance the plant partakes mostly of the character of _D. nobile_, -while the flowers more closely resemble those of _D. heterocarpum_ in -form, and have in a slight degree the delicious fragrance of those -produced by that species. In _D. Ainsworthii_ the flowers have white -sepals and petals, while the lip is marked by a dense blotch of a rich -amaranth or mulberry-crimson. In the _D. Ainsworthii roseum_ now -figured, the sepals and petals are of a bright rosy-magenta, and the lip -is more fully covered with a richer coloured deep crimson blotch. This -variety is extremely rare, and forms a charming contrast to the white -blossoms of its sister hybrid. The flowers will be found very useful for -cutting, as they last for a considerable time in water. - -_Dendrobium Ainsworthii roseum_ requires treatment similar to that given -to _D. nobile_. We have found it to do well in a compost of peat and -sphagnum moss, planted in pans suspended from the roof of the East India -house, in a position where it can get plenty of light and air. During -the growing season this plant enjoys a liberal supply of water, which -after the bulbs have completed their development may be gradually -withheld, and the plant cooled down by placing it in the Cattleya-house, -where it should remain until the time of flowering, which extends from -February to June. Mr. Stevens, of Trentham, grows it very successfully, -suspended in a well-appointed plant stove, where it has abundance of -light. - -We remember seeing a splendid plant of _Dendrobium Ainsworthii roseum_ -exhibited by Mr. Mitchell, at the Whitsuntide Manchester Show, in May, -1877, in the form of a well furnished specimen two and a half feet in -height and two feet in breadth, the stems being literally smothered with -some hundreds of its beautiful crimson-lipped rosy-tinted flowers. - -Referring to this same Manchester Show of 1877, Mr. Anderson, of Meadow -Bank, a well-known Orchid grower, writes of this plant, as follows -(_Gardeners’ Chronicle_, N.S. vii., 750):—“Possibly the gem of the -Exhibition was _Dendrobium Ainsworthii roseum_. This is a most -remarkable seedling partaking of the character of both its parents (_D. -nobile_ and _D. heterocarpum_), and in some respects superior to either. -In point of floriferousness none of its parents can lay claim to such a -quantity of nodes on the deciduous stems, each bearing, or rather -emitting, its quota of flowers. I counted on one stem sixteen short -racemes, each two and three-flowered. The flower itself has the sepals -and petals of _moniliforme_ rather than of _nobile_, white shaded with -an almost imperceptible tint of rose, and tipped distinctly with that -soft pleasing colour. The labellum is flat, like an expanded -_heterocarpum_, reflexing a little towards the centre, with a blotch -covering three-quarters of its surface with deep veined purplish or -rather mulberry-crimson, edged very distinctly with white, and the -extremity slightly tipped with crimson. This I look upon as one of the -greatest gains in hybridization, whether we regard the colour of the -flower, or the general floriferousness of the plant, or its free -although not awkward habit of growth. As an Orchid enthusiast of the -last five and twenty years, I would pronounce it one of the greatest -gains that may be counted up in the whole known Orchid family.” - -Altogether this is a most desirable plant, and being easy of -cultivation, and of remarkably free-flowering habit, it should find a -place in every collection. - - [Illustration: PL. 21. - AERIDES LOBBII.] - - - - - AËRIDES LOBBII. - [Plate 21.] - Native of Moulmein. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ erect, densely foliose, producing the stout aërial - roots from between the leaf bases. _Leaves_ evergreen, close set, - distichous, leathery in texture, loriform, channelled, obliquely - bilobed at the apex, of a deep green colour, obsoletely spotted with - purple, paler on the under surface. _Racemes_ axillary, many-flowered, - long, branched, cylindrical, pendulous. _Flowers_ very numerous, - medium-sized, fragrant, the sepals and petals white, flushed with rosy - purple and spotted with deeper rose-purple, the broader lip with a bar - of rosy purple, darkest in the centre, from base to apex, and bordered - with white; _sepals_ and _petals_ elliptic-oblong, nearly equal, - incurved; _lip_ much larger, clawed, the claw hollowed out and - coadunate with the base of the column, the limb ovate or somewhat - lozenge-shaped, wavy at the margin; _spur_ arcuate, somewhat - compressed laterally. _Column_ short, in form resembling the neck and - beak of a bird, with the front edge produced and folded over the - stigmatic cavity. - - Aërides Lobbii, _Hort. Veitch_; _Lemaire_, _Illustration Horticole_, - xv., t. 559; _Williams_, _Orchid Growers’ Manual_, ed. 5, 67; _Rand_, - _Orchids_, 149; _Britten & Gower_, _Orchids for Amateurs_, 177. - - -This very beautiful brightly-coloured plant was discovered in Moulmein -by Mr. Thomas Lobb, who sent it to the Messrs. Veitch & Sons, of -Chelsea, about the year 1856. It is of remarkably free-flowering and -decorative character, and is no doubt one of the most beautiful species -of this fine genus of Orchids, being valuable alike on account of its -compact-growing habit, and the strikingly ornamental nature of its -inflorescence. There appear to be several varieties of this plant -distributed through our Orchid collections, all of them handsome and -deserving of cultivation, but that which we now illustrate, from a -finely grown, elegantly branching spike, kindly sent to us by C. J. -Hill, Esq., of Nottingham, and referred to in the note published under -Plate 15, is the finest form, and the most freely bloomed specimen we -have met with. We were, in truth, charmed with the size and colour of -the flowers of this plant, when recently inspecting Mr. Hill’s -collection, the long spikes of blossom which were produced by so small a -plant being quite extraordinary. - -There is no genus of Orchids that surpasses _Aërides_ in having handsome -evergreen foliage, so that, even when not in blossom, they are -exceedingly pretty objects; while to this it must be added, that their -flower-spikes are beautiful, and their flowers deliciously fragrant; -some, of course, are more handsome than others, but all are worth -growing: in fact, we have never seen an indifferent _Aërides_. They have -every good quality that a plant of this character can possess, and they -are of easy cultivation, so that anyone who has a stove may manage them -successfully. They do not require so much heat as some persons imagine; -the temperature need not be above 65° in the winter; more is, indeed, -required in summer, but even then sun-heat should be fully utilised, and -very little fire-heat should be used. - -_Aërides Lobbii_ blooms in June and July, and lasts for three or four -weeks in beauty. The plant, from which our illustration was taken, was -but a foot in height, and the magnificent flowering racemes we saw upon -it were fully two feet six inches in length, with two branches each a -foot in length. The sepals and petals are white, spotted with bright -rose colour; the lip is also of a bright rose colour, slightly veined -and margined with white. The flowers are deliciously fragrant. - -The plant being very compact in growth, occupies but little space, so -that anyone having a small vacant place in the Orchid-house or plant -stove, might readily grow it. It will thrive either in a basket -suspended from the roof of the house, or in a pot planted in sphagnum -moss, with good drainage, and a moderate supply of water during the -summer season, while in winter only just sufficient should be given to -keep the moss damp. The plants do not, however, like to be dried up, as -this often causes them to loose their bottom leaves, which is a great -disfigurement. They require plenty of light, but do not like to be -exposed to the burning sunshine. Canvas should therefore be used as a -shading during all the bright sunny portion of the day, but when the sun -has, in some degree, lost its burning heat the blinds may be raised. -Never allow water to get into the hearts of the plants in winter. In -summer a fine rose should be employed to syringe them, which operation -should be done about three o’clock in the afternoon, when the house is -closed. - -They should be always kept free from insects. Scale, thrips, and many -other insects are to be reckoned amongst their enemies, and cockroaches, -if allowed to attack them, will often eat away their young roots and -flower-spikes. - - [Illustration: PL. 22. - CYPRIPEDIUM LAWRENCIANUM.] - - - - - CYPRIPEDIUM LAWRENCEANUM. - [Plate 22.] - Native of Borneo. - - - Epiphytal. _Stem_ almost none, the leaves springing from the crown of - stout roots. _Leaves_ radical, distichous, coriaceous, broadly oblong, - acute, channelled, a foot long, the upper surface marbled with a dark - green mosaic pattern on a whitish-green ground colour. _Scapes_ - solitary in the leaf-axils, stout, pubescent, with an oblong-ovate - acute sheathing bract near the top, from which the flower or flowers - emerge. _Flowers_ very large, in the way of those of _C. barbatum - majus_; _dorsal sepal_ sub-rotund or very broadly-ovate, acute, white, - with numerous (about thirteen) shining curved purplish veins which run - out nearly or quite to the edge, and usually alternate with others - which are short and less boldly marked; _lateral sepals_ connate, - small, oblong, greenish white, with five dark purplish veins; _petals_ - fully half an inch wide, divaricate, linear-oblong ciliate, green in - the upper half, with purple margin, stained with dull purple towards - the tip, and with several dark fleshy warts along each margin, the - lower half flushed with pale wine red; _lip_ very large, pouch-shaped, - the lateral horns much developed, purplish brown above, yellowish - green below, with numerous warts on the inside. _Staminode_ of a - wax-like yellowish white, the posterior exterior border split in the - centre, and having five anterior teeth, the middle one much larger - than the rest. - - Cypripedium Lawrenceanum, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ - Chronicle_, N.S., x., 748; _Veitch and Sons_, _Catalogue of New - Plants_, 1879, p. 9, 23, with figure; _Florist and Pomologist_, 1880, - 112, with figure. - - -The introduction of this splendid species of Lady’s Slipper is one of -the results of Mr. F. W. Burbidge’s visit to Borneo, in the service of -Messrs. Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea. It is a very robust grower, and -flowered for the first time in the autumn of 1878, when it was named by -Professor Reichenbach, in the place above quoted, in honour of Sir -Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., an ardent orchidophilist, and the -possessor of a collection of Orchids of unequalled richness and beauty. - -The Cypripediums now form a large family group, and rank amongst the -most useful of Orchids that can be cultivated, since the lasting quality -of their flowers, especially for exhibition and decorative purposes, is -something extraordinary. Many of them in addition possess beautifully -variegated foliage, as in the species we now figure, which has the -leaves most distinctly marked with light and dark green. Our drawing was -taken from a very fine plant in the select collection of H. M. Pollett, -Esq., Fernside, Bickley, a gentleman who is a great lover of Orchids, -and who has the wisdom to secure healthy young plants at the outset, in -order that he may see them grow on into good specimens, such as the one -now before us has done. It gives one great pleasure to see plants so -well cultivated. - -_Cypripedium Lawrenceanum_ has, as we have already said, beautifully -marked foliage, so that even when not in blossom, it is found to be an -object of attraction. The upper or dorsal sepals of the flowers were in -this case three inches across, white, striped with plum-purple, which -runs in curved lines from the base nearly to the margin. The petals are -green along the upper edge, suffused with purple towards the end, and -having black wart-like spots, and a fringe of purple hairs along the -margin. The pouch or lip is large, of a reddish brown colour in front, -the under and hinder part yellowish green. - -These plants are best grown in pots with peat, and a little charcoal, or -sometimes a little good fibrous loam mixed with the peat. It is a -free-rooting species, and likes to be well elevated above the pot rim, -so that its roots can penetrate readily and work freely in the rough -material. The pot should be half filled with drainage, so that a good -supply of moisture may be given to the roots during the growing season. -The Cattleya or the East India-house seems to suit the plants well, as -in these structures they grow and flower freely. - -The flowers are very useful for cutting, as they will keep a long time -in vases if the water is kept sweet and pure. - - -Baron Schröder’s Orchids.—On the occasion of a recent visit to The Dell, -Staines, the seat of Baron Schröder, we had the good fortune to inspect -the fine collection of Orchids which has been got together. The houses -are well built, after the plans of Mr. Ballantyne, the gardener, and are -placed in good positions; not only have the ventilation and heating -power been well considered, but cleanliness also; indeed the arrangement -of the houses leaves nothing to be desired. The Orchids were, at the -time, looking remarkably well. Entering the Phalænopsis house we noticed -a fine plant in flower of the rare and beautiful _Phalænopsis intermedia -Portei_, a treat which seldom falls to one’s lot, for it is a matter of -regret that this splendid Phalænopsis is so rare in collections: it must -be very scarce in its native habitat or collectors would surely find it -oftener. _Cypripedium Spicerianum_ was also flowering here. Several -different species of _Nepenthes_ were in fine character, growing above a -tank, with their pitchers gracefully drooping over the water, in which -position they seemed to be quite at home. In this house were also some -grand plants of different species of _Saccolabium_, _Cypripedium_, &c., -all doing well. Leaving the Phalænopsis house the Cattleya house, which -runs at right angles to it, is next entered. Here we noticed a gigantic -specimen of _Cattleya exoniensis_, carrying several spikes of flower; -_Lælia autumnalis atrorubens_, with grand spikes, and flowers of unusual -size and fine colour; and _Dendrobium Wardianum_ in full beauty, -suspended from the roof. The Cattleyas, &c., in this house were in grand -condition, and bid fair to produce some fine spikes next season. In the -Odontoglossum house _Zygopetalum Gautieri_ was flowering well, also -_Miltonia candida_ and _Sophronitis grandiflora_. The East Indian -Orchids were in an especially healthy condition, the collection -containing some grand specimens of _Vanda_, _Aërides_, and -_Saccolabium_. - -This collection, which has been lately formed, bids fair to become one -of the finest in the country, Baron Schröder being an enthusiastic lover -of this handsome class of plants, and being also careful to obtain only -the best varieties.—H. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 23. - LÆLIA XANTHINA.] - - - - - LÆLIA XANTHINA. - [Plate 23.] - Native of Brazil. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ clavate fusiform, the narrowed base closely - invested by imbricating bracts, monophyllous. _Leaves_ oblong-lorate, - bluntish, coriaceous, longer than the pseudobulbs, and with them - reaching to about a foot in height. _Scape_ four to six flowered, - issuing from a terminal linear-oblong acute compressed bract or - spathe, three-fourths of an inch wide and about four inches long, and - of a pale green colour. _Flowers_ leathery in texture, three to four - inches across, very distinct in aspect; _sepals_ and _petals_ - oblong-ligulate obtuse, undulated, the sides rolled back so that they - appear convex, the petals most so, both of a deep golden yellow, more - or less stained or flushed with olive-green; _lip_ cucullate, - subquadrate, obtusely three-lobed at the apex, yolk of egg colour, - paler at the edge, the front border white, and marked on the disc by a - few crimson-purple veins, which are not raised like crests above the - surface, as in the allied _L. flava_. _Column_ semiterete, clavate, - lobulate at the apex, projected forwards, about as long as the entire - edges of the lip and convergent therewith. - - Lælia xanthina, _Lindley_, in _Botanical Magazine_, t. 5144; - _Bateman_, _Second Century of Orchidaceous Plants_, t. 180; _Rand_, - _Orchids_, 303. - - Bletia xanthina, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Walpers’ Annales Botanices - Systematicæ_, vi. 425; _Id._ _Xenia Orchidaceæ_, ii. 54. - - -This interesting and distinct-looking _Lælia_ was introduced from Brazil -many years ago by Messrs. Backhouse & Son, of York, but from the limited -quantity then obtained it has always remained a scarce plant. It appears -to have been imported about 1858, as it was figured in 1859 in the -_Botanical Magazine_, as above quoted. It is, indeed, with great -pleasure that we are enabled to introduce to our readers a figure of so -rare and so distinct a species, for it is seldom seen in collections, -having always been a rare plant. The colour of the flowers is of a -nankeen-yellow, consequently they strongly contrast with those of the -generality of Orchids of this affinity, the usual colours of which are -purple, or rose colour in various tints, or white. - -Our plate was prepared from a drawing which was made in September last -from a plant which flowered in our own collection. It will be seen from -the representation, which is a very faithful one, that _Lælia xanthina_ -is really a very pretty species, and one that our collectors ought to be -looking after, so that Orchid growers may have it supplied to them at a -more reasonable price than at present. - -The plant grows about a foot in height, and is somewhat like _Lælia -purpurata_ in its habit of growth, only it is very much smaller and more -compact and free-blooming. The flowers continue about three weeks in -perfection. It requires the same kind of treatment as other species of -_Lælia_ and _Cattleya_, and thrives best when cultivated in a pot or -basket, with fibrous peat, and good drainage. Like the rest of its class -it requires to be kept as fully exposed to the light as possible, in -order that the pseudobulbs may be thoroughly ripened; and the growth -being thus more completely matured, it will be found to become more -vigorous in character, and enabled to throw up its flower-spikes more -freely. There is a grand specimen of this species, over two feet in -diameter, in the collection of H. Shaw, Esq., Corbar, Buxton. - - -Lælia autumnalis atrorubens.—It is highly gratifying to find that this -splendid variety of _Lælia autumnalis_, is becoming more plentiful, and -that it keeps up its original character. Many growers were of opinion -when it was first introduced, that the large size of its flowers and the -rich colour of the sepals and petals were due mainly to superior -cultivation and a pure atmosphere, but such is not the case. We have -flowered some plants of it this season in our own establishment at -Holloway, which have been as good, both in regard to the size and colour -of the flowers, as those of any of the plants grown in a purer -atmosphere, away from the smoke of this great City. We have received -from the Right Honorable J. Chamberlain, Esq., M.P., of Birmingham, a -splendidly developed spike of a grand form of this beautiful variety, -which had been grown under the care of his gardener, Mr. Cooper.—B. S. -W. - -Odontoglossum vexillarium (Autumn-flowering variety)—A short time back -Mr. W. Bull exhibited at South Kensington a recently imported form of -_Odontoglossum vexillarium_, which had all the appearance of being a -distinct variety, flowering during the autumn months of the year. It is, -however, we think, somewhat premature to regard this autumn-flowering -character as thoroughly established, though there is no doubt the -variety is a distinct one, and remarkably fine in colour. This being the -first time of its flowering, the particular growth shown may have been -influenced by the time at which the plants were started. However, in due -time, and with good cultivation we shall see whether this peculiarity of -flowering towards the end of the year is really a constant character, or -whether it may have resulted from the circumstances above referred -to.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 23. - MASDEVALLIA HARRYANA CŒRULESCENS.] - - - - - MASDEVALLIA HARRYANA CŒRULESCENS. - [Plate 24.] - Native of New Grenada. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ slender, tufted. _Leaves_ evergreen, coriaceous, - ten to twelve inches long, with a nerveless elongate oblong-spathulate - blade, obtuse or somewhat acute at the apex, channelled at the base, - keeled behind, of a very dark green colour, narrowed downwards into - the stout petiole, which is three to four inches long, deeply grooved - in front, and invested at the base by long membranous brownish - sheaths. _Scape_ a foot long or more, brown, covered below with three - or four bluntish sheaths, the upper of which is distant from the - flower and closely appressed. _Flowers_ large, peculiar in form, - richly coloured, the colour varying in different forms, typically of a - brilliant magenta-crimson; _dorsal sepal_ elongate linear from a - triangular base, sub-erect or reflexed; _lateral sepals_ broadly - semiovate, apiculate, connate to below the middle, deflexed, the tips - approximate, all united below into a decurved _tube_, which is yellow - (in the allied _M. Lindeni_ the tube is white); petals small, hidden - within the tube, linear-oblong emarginate, the base auriculate on one - side; _lip_ also small, enclosed, clawed, tongue-shaped, cordate at - the base. _Column_ rather longer than the lip, entire, not winged. - - Masdevallia Harryana, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, - 1871, 1421; _Florist & Pomologist_, 1873, 169, with coloured figure; - _Belgique Horticole_, 1873, t. 21; _Flore des Serres_, t. 2250. - - Masdevallia Lindeni, _Hooker_, _Botanical Magazine_, _t._ 5990—_fide_ - Reichenbach. - - Masdevallia Lindeni, _var._ Harryana, _André_, _Illustration - Horticole_, 3 ser., t. 142. - - _Var._ CŒRULESCENS: flowers of a rich magenta-crimson, with a - bluish-purple flush or bloom; otherwise as in the type. - - Masdevallia Harryana cœrulescens, _Hort._ _plurim._; _Bull_, - _Catalogue of New Plants_, 1877, p. 83. - - -We ought to be cordially grateful to our plant collectors for -introducing to European gardens so brilliant, varied, and charming a set -of epiphytal plants, as the several showy ornamental, and pleasingly -grotesque species of the genus _Masdevallia_. There are indeed but few -Orchids that possess such bright colours as are found therein. A few -years since we had but two species that were really worth growing, -namely, _M. coccinea_, of an orange-scarlet colour, and _M. tovarensis_, -pure white. Then came _M. Lindeni_, a charming plant with flowers of a -rich magenta-purple colour. _M. Veitchiana_, of which there are some -very fine forms, made a fine contrast with its glowing orange-scarlet -and bright yellow, the scarlet flushed with purple. The most beautiful, -however, of all the Masdevallias are the varieties of _M. Harryana_, the -colours of which—shades of magenta-crimson—are most intense and -brilliant, many of the forms being also distinct in shape. - -_Masdevallia Harryana cœrulescens_, our present subject, was forwarded -to us by R. P. Percival, Esq., of Southport, who is forming what will in -time doubtless become one of the best collections of these plants in the -North of England. Whatever Mr. Percival takes in hand he carries out -thoroughly, and this has led him to build separate houses to suit the -different classes of Orchids. Now as Masdevallias prefer cool treatment -they are best kept in a house by themselves: they require but a small -one, as they take up very little room; indeed they will thrive well -enough in the Odontoglossum house, for if their few wants are attended -to, there are no freer growing plants in cultivation. They increase very -fast under good treatment, and soon repay all the care which is bestowed -upon them. They last a long time in beauty and make grand exhibition -plants, producing also, when in bloom, a charming effect in the houses -if intermixed with the various Odontoglots and other cool Orchids. There -are so many varieties that some of them will always be in flower, but -the best time to see them is from May to July. They are so accommodating -to the grower that many wonderful specimens have been produced and -exhibited during the last few years. When a plant is found to be too -large it may be divided, and the divided portions will go on increasing. - -We have found good fibrous peat and sphagnum moss to suit well as -material for the potting of these plants. They thrive best in small -pots. The roots should not be disturbed too often; when, however, they -require fresh material to root in, it must be given them, as they are -free rooting plants and prefer to have sweet wholesome soil about them. -They must also have good drainage, for they need an abundant supply of -water, and by giving them efficient drainage the water passes off -quickly without doing any harm, which it would do if allowed to become -stagnant about them. The plants should be placed near the light but so -as to avoid the sun’s rays. A north house suits them best, as it shields -them in summer from the heat of the day, which they do not like, in -fact, they should be kept as cool as possible at all times, very little -fire-heat being required in winter, and none during the summer. They -like fresh air, but in winter cold draughts must be avoided. We find -that they will thrive in a heat of from 45° to 50°: even somewhat less -would suffice, but the temperature here named is the most suitable. -Anyone, therefore, who possesses a small low house could grow them at a -trifling expense. - -They are easily propagated by dividing the tufts, leaving about three -old stems and a leading growth associated. The best time for the -division to be effected is just as they are beginning to grow. They -should be placed in small pots until they are established, when they -should be removed to larger ones. - -Insects should be annihilated as soon as they put in an appearance. The -thrips is their greatest pest. Cool Orchids, as a rule, are also subject -to the attack of a small kind of snail, that increases very rapidly, if -not kept under by constant watching night and morning. A few lettuce -leaves placed in different parts of the house, or potatos or turnips cut -in half and scooped out in the centre, form good traps for them, and by -looking these over frequently many of them may be caught, as also by -moving the plants, as they are apt to harbour about the pots. - - [Illustration: PL. 25. - CYMBIDIUM PARISHII.] - - - - - CYMBIDIUM PARISHII. - [Plate 25.] - Native of Moulmein. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ fusiform, three to four inches long, annulately - marked with the remains of the leaf-bases. _Leaves_ evergreen, - distichous, ligulate-linear, keeled behind, bifid with acute lobes, - from one to two feet long, of a rich green colour. _Racemes_ springing - from the axils of the outer leaves, three to seven-flowered, the - scapes furnished with lanceolate, falcate, acuminate, scariose - sheaths. _Flowers_ large, sweet-scented, ivory-white, with an orange - disk and crimson-purple spots on the lip; _sepals_ and _petals_ - oblong-ligulate, acute, of a creamy white colour, the lateral sepals - largest; _lip_ white with an orange coloured central band, - flabellately dilated from a narrowed base, three-cleft in front, the - side lobes oblong directed forwards, white, with numerous - violet-purple spots, the middle or front lobe cuneate-ovate, - undulated, with an orange-coloured silky or velvety disk, spotted with - purplish crimson; disk having near the base a callus which terminates - abruptly in front, and is furnished on the outer side with velvety - hairs. _Column_ white behind, yellow at the edges, and in front having - brownish purple spots at the base; caudicle provided in front, on both - sides, with an awl-shaped extrorse process. - - Cymbidium Parishii, _Reichenbach fil._, _MS. Herb. Kew_; _Id._ - _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, N.S. I., 338, 566; x., 74; _Id._ _Transactions - of the Linnean Society_, xxx., 144. - - -The genus _Cymbidium_ forms a small group of Orchids of which there are -but few species worthy of cultivation for ornamental purposes. That -which we now figure is one of the best of them, and is a very rare and -very beautiful plant, which has but seldom bloomed in this country. In -the summer of 1878 Mr. Swan, gardener to W. Leach, Esq., of Oakley -Fallowfield, Manchester, flowered it for the first time in Europe, and -about the same time another specimen blossomed with John Day, Esq., of -Tottenham, which was subsequently purchased by us for 100 guineas. This -latter plant has again flowered, and our sketch was taken from it. - -Though a near relative of _Cymbidium eburneum_, this plant is considered -by Reichenbach to be a distinct species, the points of difference -being—the broader leaves with more prominent nerves on the upper -surface; the somewhat smaller flowers with shorter sepals and petals; -and the different form of the segments of the lip, together with some -peculiarities in its callus and pubescence. It is one of the treasures -of India, having been originally discovered so long since as 1859, in -Moulmein, by the Rev. C. Parish, who found _Dendrobium crassinode_ at -the same time. The plants of both these fine Orchids, then collected, -were lost in the Ganges, and the _Cymbidium_ was not seen again for many -years. It appears to have been actually introduced shortly prior to -1874, since at that date living plants are recorded as being rarities in -the collection of Mr. J. Day, of Tottenham, and Mr. R. Warner, of -Broomfield, though it had not then flowered in Europe. It is a most -chaste and lovely plant, its graceful green foliage, and creamy white -blossoms in which the lip is spotted with crimson, producing a beautiful -effect. The flowers have also a pleasant perfume, and last for three or -four weeks in perfection. The flowering season is July and August, and -several flowers are produced upon a spike, in which respect it has a -decided advantage on the score of beauty over _C. eburneum_, which -produces but one flower on a spike. The latter, however, is a charming -Orchid for winter and spring flowering, its ivory-white blossoms being -then especially acceptable. There is also another fine species, _C. -Mastersii_, which produces its white flowers during the dull months of -autumn, when Orchid as well as other white flowers, are scarce. These -are all worth growing for the purpose of cutting, as they keep for a -long time in water. - -_Cymbidium Parishii_ is very much like _C. eburneum_ and _C. Mastersii_ -in its manner of growth, and also in its general appearance; in fact, it -is somewhat difficult, when the plants are not in bloom, to distinguish -the one from the other. An inspection of our figure will, however, show -that the foliage of _C. Parishii_ is broader and that it is of a lighter -green colour. - -It requires the same treatment as _C. eburneum_. We grow the plants in -pots, in the Cattleya house, on the side tables, near the glass. The -material we use for potting is rough fibrous peat and loam, with -thoroughly good drainage, the plants being also elevated above the rim -of the pot. Their roots are thick and fleshy, and they therefore require -a good supply of water during the growing season, but when at rest, the -soil must be kept only just moist. They must be shielded from bright -sunshine, by blinds or some other means, otherwise their foliage will -become spotted. In winter they do not like to have their leaves damped, -although in summer, on warm days, it will not injure them. - -They are propagated by dividing the tufts just as they are starting to -make fresh growth, leaving some of the established portion at the back -of the new growth. They must be kept free from insects. The white scale, -which sometimes endeavours to make its way on the foliage, is that -chiefly to be guarded against. - - -Vanda tricolor.—In November last, we saw in the collection of J. Broome, -Esq., of Didsbury, a very finely grown plant of _V. tricolor_, with two -spikes of exceedingly richly coloured flowers—one of the best we have -ever seen. It is in the way of the Dalkeith variety, but the flowers are -large and of a remarkably bright colour. Mr. Broome sent us a spike to -figure but it was spoilt in the transit; we hope, however, to be able to -procure another when the plant again blooms, so that our subscribers may -see what a well-grown specimen it is. It stands two feet six inches in -height, and has beautifully healthy foliage down to the pot. - - [Illustration: PL. 26. - CATTLEYA VELUTINA.] - - - - - CATTLEYA VELUTINA. - [Plate 26.] - Native of Brazil. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ slender, terete, from twelve to eighteen inches - high, supporting the evergreen foliage, and furnished at intervals - with short ovate appressed bracts. _Leaves_ in pairs, oblong, acute, - widest near the base, leathery, about eight inches long, and an inch - and a half broad, of a dark green colour. _Scape_ two-flowered, - issuing from a terminal compressed sheath or bract. _Flowers_ of - medium size, stout in texture, tawny orange, the lip white marked with - purplish spots arranged in radiating lines, very fragrant; _sepals_ - ligulate-oblong, acute, recurved, rich tawny orange, spotted with - purple; _petals_ of the same colour, cuneate-oblong, acute, somewhat - lobulate or wavy; _lip_ three-lobed, the side lobes very short - semi-ovate, partially enclosing the column, the front lobe large, - roundish-ovate, apiculate, wavy and toothletted, the disk between the - side lobes yellow with purplish streaks, the radiating veins purplish, - the front or middle lobe white with dark purple veins, everywhere - clothed with velvety pubescence. _Column_ free at the back, marked - with many purple spots, and having a purplish border to the - anther-bed. - - Cattleya velutina, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, - 1870, 140, 1373; _Id._ 1872, 1259, figs. 288, 289; _Williams_, _Orchid - Grower’s Manual_, 5 ed. 135. - - -This fine Orchid first flowered in 1870, under the care of Mr. A. -Williams, in the collection of Joseph Broome, Esq., of Didsbury, -Manchester, and subsequently in that of E. G. Wrigley, Esq., of Bury. -What is described as a still finer variety of the same plant appeared -shortly after in the collection of Consul Schiller, of Hamburgh. One of -the most remarkable and special peculiarities of the species is the -powerful fragrance of its flowers, which is so strongly developed as to -scent the whole house in which a blooming plant is placed. - -It is a very rare as well as a very distinct species. We have, -ourselves, only met with one example in bloom, besides that from what -our illustration was taken, and that was the specimen in the collection -of Mr. J. Broome, above referred to, as being the first which bloomed in -this country. Our figure was taken from a plant which flowered recently -in the grand collection of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., who was -good enough to send it for our artist to sketch, and he has succeeded in -securing a very faithful likeness of it. We have no doubt our collectors -will meet with it in their journeyings in its native country, but it -must be rare there, or we should have obtained more of it; most -probably, like others of its genus, it is difficult to secure. It -resembles _Cattleya bicolor_ in its habit of growth, the stems bearing -two leaves, which grow about twelve to eighteen inches in length. The -sepals and petals are of a rich tawny orange colour, irregularly spotted -with purple, and the lip has the side lobes yellow, and is white in -front, and distinctly striped with violet. Mr. Spyers says it blooms in -September and October, when its fragrance, combined with its distinct -colour, renders it a very acceptable inmate of the Orchid house; it also -flowers at a time when few other Cattleyas are in bloom. - -_Cattleya velutina_ requires the same treatment as the other Cattleyas, -that is, to be potted in peat soil with good drainage; it does not need -so much water at the roots as some kinds, but it should be borne in -mind, on the other hand, that it must not be allowed to shrivel, and -therefore a little moisture should always be supplied to the roots. If -the plant once gets into an unhealthy condition its recovery will be -very doubtful. Those of the Cattleyas, such as _C. bicolor_ and _C. -velutina_, which have very slender bulbs are more liable to go wrong -than those that form thick fleshy bulbs, the latter having more -substance from which to draw their support. They require to be kept near -the light, with very little shade, excepting just sufficient to keep -them from the burning sun. - -Like other Cattleyas, this species is subject to the inroads of the -scale insect, which should be frequently sought for, and, if found, -promptly removed. The foliage should be kept in a plump condition and -not allowed to shrivel. In cleansing the leaves injury is often caused -by too hard rubbing, by which they become bruised; rather should they be -handled delicately, as, if once damaged, they cannot be restored to a -sound healthy appearance. A damaged leaf is not only a disfigurement, -but is of great injury to the health of the plant, by interfering with -the action of its pores. Cleanliness is one of the great secrets of -success in plant cultivation, but the operation of cleansing should be -taken in hand before the insects get a-head, or they will assuredly eat -into the leaves, which will thus become permanently injured at the -points of attack. - - -Dr. Ainsworth’s Orchids.—When in Manchester we had the pleasure of -visiting the collection of R. F. Ainsworth, Esq., M.D., in whose fine -and varied collection the plant that most especially attracted our -attention was _Masdevallia Chimæra_, the blossoms of which were very -large, each flower measuring seventeen inches across. The effect of -these beautiful and curiously spotted flowers hanging around the basket -was very striking. We have had it sent to us to figure, but the flowers -do not travel well; we hope, however, some day, when it is in bloom, to -be able to figure it. We also noticed, in the same house, a wonderfully -fine form of _Odontoglossum Alexandræ_, with broad sepals and petals of -beautiful white, while the centre of the petals is marked with a -pleasing rose colour, which gives it a very pretty appearance; the lip -is large, white, beautifully crisped round the edge, the upper part -bright orange-yellow. It was, altogether, a very showy flower. Mr. -Mitchell, the gardener, said it had been in bloom for several weeks, and -it was still fresh and fine when we saw it. - - [Illustration: PL. 27. - ODONTOGLOSSUM BREVIFOLIUM.] - - - - - ODONTOGLOSSUM BREVIFOLIUM. - [Plate 27.] - Native of the Cordillera of Peru. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ ovate-oblong, compressed, monophyllous. - _Leaves_ short, oblong, two inches broad, and sometimes not much - exceeding that in length, spreading. _Scape_ simple, radical, bearing - at the apex a many-flowered erect raceme, the membranaceous bracts of - which are oblong acute, and as long as the pedicels. _Flowers_ nearly - or quite two inches in diameter, of a rich chestnut brown on the - inner, and olive-green on the outer surface; _sepals_ roundish-ovate, - somewhat undulated, narrowed at the base, of a bright chestnut-brown, - narrowly bordered with yellow; _petals_ similar in size and colour, - oblong-ovate; _lip_ clawed, auriculate, wedge-shaped, emarginate, - shorter than the sepals, bright yellow, bearing at the base five warty - tubercles, with a three-toothed appendage in front of them. _Column_ - small, the edges of the anther-bed serrated, and decurrent in the form - of membranous wings. - - Odontoglossum brevifolium, _Lindley_ in _Bentham’s Plantæ - Hartwegianæ_, 152; _Id._ _Folia Orchidacea_, art. _Odontoglossum_ no. - 61; _André_ in _Illustration Horticole_, 3 ser. t. 170; _Reichenbach, - fil._, in _Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ_. vi. 846. - - -This very distinct species was first found by Hartweg, on the Peruvian -Andes, near Loxa, and was described by Lindley, in Mr. Bentham’s account -of the plants collected by that traveller. It appears to have been -introduced by M. Linden, and to have been first flowered in his -establishment, the figure published in _L’Illustration Horticole_ having -been derived from this source. The small compressed pseudobulbs are -formed at the end of a sucker or offshoot, which is invested by large -membranous bracts or scales, the upper of which covering the base of the -flower-scape is somewhat broader and leaf-like. - -This Odontoglot ranks among the most distinct species of its genus, as -may indeed be seen by a glance at our illustration. It produces dense -spikes of its beautiful flowers, which are more in the way of those of -_Odontoglossum coronarium_ than of any other cultivated species; it, -however, blooms more freely. The spike of flowers we have here -represented was sent to us by Mons. F. Massange, of Liége, in whose -collection the gardener—Mr. Kramer—induces it to flower freely every -year. M. Massange is a great _connoisseur_ of Orchids, and in his -collection are to be found many rare and valuable specimens, which have -been frequently exhibited during the past few years, including the Liége -Exhibition of 1881. - -_Odontoglossum brevifolium_ is a dwarf growing plant, and produces its -erect spikes of flowers from the side of the pseudobulbs. There were -seventeen blossoms on that which is here represented. The sepals and -petals are of a bright chestnut-brown, margined and slightly marked near -the base with yellow, the lip is rich yellow with two light brown -patches at its base. It is altogether a strikingly showy plant, and one -that should be always cultivated amongst Odontoglots for its -distinctness of colouring. - -The treatment which we find to suit the plant, is to grow it in a basket -suspended from the roof, as it requires and enjoys all the light that -can be given to it; but, of course, it needs to be shaded from the -burning sun. The most suitable material in which to grow the plant is -sphagnum moss and fibrous peat. It requires also a good supply of water -in the growing season, so that it must be thoroughly drained. It thrives -best in a cool house in which the same temperature is maintained as is -found congenial to _Odontoglossum Alexandræ_, and others of that class. - - -Odontoglossum Londesboroughianum.—We have been under the impression that -this species was not so good as it was first reported to be, but we are -now of a different opinion. There are no doubt many varieties of the -plant, as is the case with nearly all Orchids. In their native countries -they are produced freely from seeds, all of the variations not being -equally good. If our collectors could only pick out the best, when in -bloom, we should be saved many disappointments, but of course they -cannot spend their time in doing this. We were agreeably surprised when -we paid a visit to the collection of G. W. Law-Scholefield, Esq., -New-Hall-Hey, Rawtenstall, near Manchester, to see a fine spike of the -_O. Londesboroughianum_ with twenty-five of its large blossoms, much -finer than any we had ever seen before. The sepals and petals are -yellow, barred with brown; the lip is large, of a bright golden yellow, -and very showy, and, as the long spikes hung drooping among the white -and coloured flowers of the other Orchids the effect was very good. No -one could complain of having such a species as this, for it is a most -showy flower. - - -Cypripedium insigne.—When calling at Mrs. Haywood’s, Norris Green, -Liverpool, a few weeks ago, we were pleased to see a fine specimen of -this old Orchid, which was two feet in diameter; on nearly all the -numerous scapes there were two flowers, and very fine ones they were. -Mr. Bardney, the gardener, informed us that they come so every year, -which makes this plant the more interesting, as the character of the -species is merely to produce one flower on a stalk. This plant was grown -in the grand conservatory, in which there was a most wonderful display -of blossom, in fact, the grandest lot of greenhouse flowers we ever -remember to have seen in winter, consisting of Pelargoniumns, Primulas, -Camellias, Cyclamens, and the _Luculia gratissima_, with 40 or 50 heads -of bloom. There are not many Orchids at this place, but, what there are, -are doing well, and are well looked after. - - [Illustration: PL. 28. - ZYGOPETALUM GAUTIERI.] - - - - - ZYGOPETALUM GAUTIERI. - [Plate 28.] - Native of St. Catherine’s, Brazil. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ oblong, deeply furrowed, the younger ones - ancipitous, attached to a branched creeping rhizome. _Leaves_ - fascicled, distichous, the outer ones shorter, the central ones - narrowly elongate-oblong, plicate with a strongly developed costa, ten - to twelve inches long, bright green. _Scape_ issuing from the centre - of the leaf-tufts, and terminating in a drooping raceme of three to - six flowers, furnished with elongate-oblong amplexicaul bracts, those - subtending the flowers being nearly as long as the pedicels. _Flowers_ - large, showy, green blotched with brown, the lip purple with darker - purple ruff in front of the column; _sepals_ and _petals_ oblong, - acute, nearly equal, the petals directed upwards, all pale green - transversely barred and blotched with purplish brown; _lip_ broad, - three-lobed, furnished with an obtuse spur, the lateral lobes erect, - rich deep purple, forming a crenated unguliform ruff or frill around - the column, the middle lobe very large, two inches across, roundish, - broader than long, apiculate, deep bluish purple, lighter at the edge. - _Column_ short, half surrounded by the purple ruff, arcuate, the - anther case yellow, with a projecting point at the apex. - - Zygopetalum Gautieri, _Lemaire_, _Illustration Horticole_, t. 535; - _Williams_, _Orchid Grower’s Manual_, 5 ed., 311. - - -This genus of Orchids does not comprise so many species as many others, -but among those which are known and introduced, are some which make very -useful autumn and winter flowering subjects, and which are well adapted -for decorating our stoves and Orchid houses. Amongst them occur some of -the oldest of cultivated Orchids, such as are generally to be met with -in good old-fashioned places. We remember to have seen plants of -_Zygopetalum Mackayi_ and _Z. crinitum_ some thirty years ago, also of -_Z. maxillare_—grand specimens with from seventy to a hundred flowers -upon them, and a magnificent sight they were, with their numerous spikes -hanging around the foliage, as represented in the plate, and being -similar in colour. - -The species which we now desire to bring to the notice of our readers, -is a very lovely one, which has been sometimes considered as a variety -of _Zygopetalum maxillare_, but the flowers are larger, and it not only -blooms much earlier, but continues in blossom for several weeks. In -addition to this, it is a much freer grower than _Z. maxillare_. We have -had different plants in flower for several months, and then they seemed -as though they would continue blooming much longer; in fact this species -seems to flower whenever it makes its young growth—a peculiar feature -which renders it the most useful of its class. - -Our plate was prepared from a plant which bloomed in the fine collection -of Mons. D. Massange, of Marche, in Belgium, under the care of Mr. -Wilcke, who is one of the most successful continental growers of -Orchids. We had the pleasure of seeing specimens from M. Massange’s -grand collection, exhibited at the great show held at Brussels in July, -1880. - -_Zygopetalum Gautieri_ is a dwarf growing kind, attaining a height of -about twelve inches, and is provided with distinct plaited green -foliage. The flowers are large, and borne several together on the -spikes; the sepals and petals are green, blotched with purplish brown, -while the lip is of purplish blue, edged with a lighter tint of the same -colour. - -There are several varieties of this species, varying from very pale -violet to a rich purplish blue, the variety here figured being one of -the darkest-coloured forms we have yet met with. The flowers are -particularly showy, and last a long time in perfection. - -It is of easy cultivation, and not only free-growing but also -free-blooming. It does well in the Cattleya house, planted in peat and -moss, with good drainage, and it may be grown either in a pot or a -basket, or on a block of wood, or on the stem of a tree fern, on which -latter it is frequently imported from its native country. In its wild -state, it appears naturally to creep up these fern stems, and it must -look very beautiful growing in this way, since its drooping spikes -cannot fail to have a good effect when thus seen hanging among the green -foliage. It requires a good supply of water during the growing season, -but, when at rest, less will suffice. The plant needs plenty of light, -but it must be shaded from the fierce sun-rays during the summer months. - - -Lælia anceps Dawsoni.—One of the best specimens we have had the pleasure -of seeing of _L. anceps Dawsoni_ is in the collection of R. S. Dodgson, -Esq., Blackburn; it had four spikes of buds when we saw it in November -last; since then we have received a spike of three flowers, and a very -fine variety it is. Mr. Osman informs us that the plant has ten expanded -blossoms. It is one of the best plants and as good a variety as we have -met with; the sepals and petals are large, pure white, and of great -substance; the lip is bright rosy purple edged with white, the throat -orange, veined with purple. No doubt there are different varieties in -cultivation which were imported along with this some years ago. Mr. -Dodgson’s plant is grown suspended from the roof, and from its -appearance this seems to be the best method of growing it to perfection. -It likes plenty of light all the year round, and should be just kept -shaded from the burning sun. - - [Illustration: PL. 29. - CŒLOGYNE MASSANGEANA.] - - - - - CŒLOGYNE MASSANGEANA. - [Plate 29.] - Native of Assam. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ pyriform, three to four inches in height, - smooth, bearing two leaves at the apex. _Leaves_ persistent, - cuneate-oblong, acute, stalked, somewhat plicate, a foot and a half - high including the stalk, and four inches broad. _Peduncle_ pendulous, - produced from the base of the pseudobulbs, one and a half to two feet - long, nigro-asperate; _bracts_ cuneate-oblong obtuse, much shorter - than the pedicels. _Flowers_ showy, in loose racemes of two dozen or - more, yellow with a brown lip; _sepals_ ligulate obtuse, somewhat - keeled outside, light ochre-yellow; _petals_ linear-ligulate, of the - same colour as the sepals; _lip_ three-lobed, concave, the side lobes - semi-ovate, acute in front, of a beautiful maroon-brown with - ochre-coloured veins, the middle lobe creamy white at the edge, with a - large brown disk, short, transversely oval with an apiculus, and - having three light yellow rather prominent toothletted keels extending - from the base to the anterior lobe, and “six confluent rows of green - retuse many-angled cells, reminding one of human molar teeth” in front - of them. _Column_ light ochre-yellow, streaked with brown, winged in - front, the anther-bed with a retuse membranous border. - - Cœlogyne Massangeana, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, - N.S., x., 684; _Floral Magazine_, 2 ser., t. 373. - - -The plant which we now bring under the notice of our readers belongs to -a rather extensive genus of Orchids, some of the species of which are -very beautiful, while others are not worth cultivating as decorative -plants. That which is now before us, is, however, an exceedingly -handsome and very remarkable species, which was imported from Assam, by -MM. Jacob-Makoy & Cie., of Liège, Belgium. Our illustration was taken -from a very fine plant, which produced no fewer than eight of its long -pendulous racemes of flowers, some of these having as many as -twenty-seven blossoms on them. This grand specimen was grown in the -notable collection of Mons. D. Massange, at the Château de Baillonville, -near Marche, in Belgium, in whose honour the species was named by -Professor Reichenbach. We had the pleasure of seeing this -extraordinarily fine plant, growing under pot-culture, in M. Massange’s -Cattleya house, and since then we have received the materials from which -our artist has made the capital representation which accompanies these -remarks. In regard to its botanical affinities it stands near to the -Bornean _Cœlogyne asperata_, which is sometimes called _C. Lowii_. - -One remarkable feature of this _Cœlogyne Massangeana_ is the -extraordinary shortness of time which it takes to develope its rather -ample spikes of flowers; these are often pushed up from the pseudobulbs -in their corkscrew-like fashion, and become extended to their full -length in a very few days, the buds swelling off at once, and the -flowers very soon appearing in full beauty, in which state they continue -for four or five weeks. - -We have seen a wonderfully fine example of this plant in the grand -collection of R. Smith, Esq., Brentham Park, Stirling; this was -suspended from the roof, and bore several fine flower-spikes. Mr. Smith -regards this as one of the most beautiful Cœlogynes in cultivation. When -we saw the plant, it was overhanging a wonderful specimen of _Cattleya -exoniensis_, a grand variety, and there were also many other fine -Cattleyas in the same house. - -_Cœlogyne Massangeana_ is a free-growing evergreen plant, with stout -pseudobulbs from three to four inches in height, each supporting a pair -of light green plicate leaves, which are about eighteen inches high, and -about four inches broad. The flower-spikes are produced from the base of -the pseudobulbs, and, when the plants are in vigorous health, they -frequently attain the length of eighteen inches, or sometimes two feet. -The sepals and petals are of a light yellow-ochre colour; the lip rich -brown, its upper part or side lobes creamy yellow, lined with brown. The -plant flowers at various times of the year. We have more than once had -it in bloom twice in one year, and it continues for several weeks in a -state of freshness and beauty. - -In its native country, Assam, this species is found growing on the -branches and stems of trees. Here, provided it receives proper -treatment, it is a very free-growing Orchid, and is also easy of -increase, as it often produces two growths from one bulb. It will thrive -either in a basket or in a pot, but, when in bloom, it should be -suspended from the roof in order that it may be seen to the best -advantage, to accomplish which, if it be grown in a pot, some wire may -be fixed around the rim by which to hook it up. When growing it may -occupy any part of the Cattleya house, but it should be placed so that -it can obtain plenty of light. When hung up near the glass it must be -shaded from the burning sun. With us it thrives well in good fibrous -peat, and we have found it to be a free-rooting plant, requiring to be -kept moist during the growing season; indeed, we never allow the plants -to become too dry, but just supply them with sufficient moisture to -prevent them from shrivelling. Every effort must be made to keep the -foliage clean, and free from insects, in respect to which the cultivator -should adopt and act up to the golden maxim—“Prevention is better than -cure.” - - -Cymbidium eburneum.—In our remarks on this plant, under Plate 25, we -have inadvertently referred to it as producing but one flower on a -scape. This, however, is not quite correct; as, although the scapes each -usually bear but a solitary blossom, we have known them to produce two, -or sometimes even three flowers.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 30. - LÆLIA ELEGANS ALBA.] - - - - - LÆLIA ELEGANS ALBA. - [Plate 30.] - Native of Brazil. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ terete, somewhat club-shaped, about eighteen inches - in height, the weaker ones bearing one, the stronger two, leaves at - the apex. _Leaves_ solitary or in pairs, ligulate-oblong, from six - inches to a foot in length, very thick and leathery in texture, of a - bright green colour. _Scape_ two to three-flowered, issuing from a - terminal oblong compressed bract, about three inches in length. - _Flowers_ white and crimson-purple, large and very handsome, about six - inches in expansion; _sepals_ oblong lanceolate, acute, plane, pure - white; _petals_ rather shorter than the sepals, broadly-lanceolate, - undulated at the margins, pure white; _lip_ three inches long, - three-lobed, the lateral lobes rolled over the column, the front - portion spreading, undulated, and marked within the edge with a blotch - of crimson-purple, the middle lobe roundish, flabellately expanded, - crispato-undulate, of a rich crimson-purple, the colour breaking out - near the tip into crimson veins on a purplish ground, and extended - into a claw-like base through the pale yellowish disk. _Column_ about - as long as the convolute base of the lip, enclosed. - - Lælia elegans var. alba, _Williams_, _Catalogue_ 1881, 68. - - -We have here one of the most beautiful of this charming class of -Orchids, and one which no Orchid fancier can fail to admire. The showy -blossoms of the forms of this species offer many shades of colour, those -of the variety before us being exceedingly chaste and delicate. The -accompanying figure is a good representation of this charming variety, -and was prepared from a sketch of a well-grown specimen which bloomed in -the fine collection of W. Lee, Esq., Downside, Leatherhead, under the -care of Mr. Woolford, the gardener. - -This Lælia grows about eighteen inches high; it is furnished with bold -thick foliage of a pleasant green, and produces its blossoms in June and -July, continuing for about three weeks in beauty. The sepals and petals -are of a pure white, while the lip is of a rich magenta-crimson, the two -colours making a well-marked and charming contrast. This delicately -beautiful variety is extremely rare. - -_Lælia elegans alba_ is like the Cattleyas in its growth, with the -exception of the stems being more slender, most of them producing two -short leaves about six inches in length. The plants require the same -temperature and the same material in which to grow as the allied -Cattleyas, and also about the same amount of water during the growing -season. The rest required is also the same as for Cattleyas. There are -some of the species, such as _L. albida_, _autumnalis_, _majalis_, -_pumila_, and others, which will thrive better in a cooler temperature. -They are all subject to insects, which should be diligently looked -after. White scale is sometimes troublesome, and if allowed to remain on -them will disfigure the foliage by causing yellow spots. Thrips will -also attack them, and increase very fast if they are not kept under by -adopting the usual remedies. - - -Shading Orchids.—This is a subject of the greatest importance in Orchid -culture, and one that is often overlooked until it is too late—the -mischief being done. What is required is a strong durable material that -will wear well, and, where rollers are used, stand the strain upon it. -It must also be understood that shading does not consist of merely -daubing upon the glass some opaque material, such as paint, summer -cloud, whitening, or the like, which though all very well as palliatives -in positions where rollers cannot be used, such as at the ends and sides -of a house, are greatly to be deprecated as a shading for the roof, for -this reason, that in our English climate we are so subject to sudden -changes of the weather, that were such a permanent shading to be used, -we should frequently, especially during dull weather, have our plants in -comparative darkness when they should be getting all the light possible. -This cannot fail to lead to bad results and produce a sickly growth. -Some growers use thick canvas; indeed, we have done so ourselves many -years ago, but, by experience, we have found out the ill effects of it, -for when we employed this kind of shading, we found the plants under its -influence became weak and sickly, producing small puny flower-spikes. A -lighter shading was then employed, and the difference was marvellous; -the plants assumed quite a different aspect. It was at this time that we -were exhibiting at Chiswick the fine specimens of East Indian -Orchids—Aërides, Saccolabiums, Vandas, Dendrobiums, and many others—such -as we seldom see equalled now. Since then we have used thinner shadings, -with the best results. Our Vandas thus treated have always been strong -and healthy, with broader foliage, producing their flower-spikes as -often as three times a year, with the flowers of a good colour, lasting -a long time in perfection; in fact we are never without flower, always -having a good display. We refer more particularly to the suavis and -tricolor section of the genus. Some people imagine Vandas do not flower -till they attain a large size, but such is not the case if they are -properly grown, and thin shading is used. Our experience leads us to the -belief that all Orchids, with a few exceptions, require a thin shading, -that is to say, one that, while warding off the direct rays of the sun, -will allow the light to enter through it. To arrive at this result we -use a strong, durable, cotton netting, woven in small squares, close -enough to exclude the rays of the sun, while the light penetrates it -with but little interruption. This netting stands exposure to the -weather much longer than canvas, and on that account is cheaper in the -long run. We have used this material for some years; in the case of Cool -Orchids, Mexican, and East Indian kinds, with the best results, the -netting being attached to rollers with appropriate gear. For the cool -Orchid houses we employ raised blinds, upon which we hope to speak -further shortly. The blinds can be managed with but little trouble. In -the winter we take them off the house and put them in a dry place until -they are required again in the ensuing spring.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 31. - CALANTHE VEITCHII.] - - - - - CALANTHE VEITCHII. - [Plate 31.] - A Garden Hybrid. - - - Terrestrial. _Pseudobulbs_ fleshy, conical, bluntly angular, four to - six inches in height. _Leaves_ deciduous, about two from the apex of - each pseudobulb, lanceolate, narrowed both towards the base and apex, - plicate or plaited, of a bright green, produced before the flowers. - _Scapes_ radical, downy, invested in the lower part with sheathing - bracts, and each supporting a tall showy raceme of flowers, sometimes - reaching three to four feet long. _Flowers_ abundant, each subtended - by an ovate bract, of a very attractive and pleasing tint of rich deep - rosy pink, darker in some varieties; _sepals_ oblong lanceolate, the - dorsal one erect, the lateral ones spreading, deep rose-pink; _petals_ - of the same form and colour, patent, directed upwards; _lip_ adherent - to the column, round which it is rolled at the base, front part - clawed, and expanded into a squarish four-lobed limb, rich rose-pink, - deepening almost to crimson around the creamy white eye or centre, the - spur straight, downy. _Column_ small, terete, downy at the back. - - Calanthe Veitchii, _Lindley_, _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, 1859, 1016; - _Hooker_, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 5375; _Bateman_, _Second Century of - Orchids_, t. 106; _Jennings_, _Orchids_, t. 48; _Floral Magazine_, t. - 280; _Williams_, _Orchid Growers’ Manual_, 5 ed., 109. - - -This Hybrid is one of the most distinct and charming of Orchids, as well -as one of the most useful for winter decoration. Our illustration was -prepared from some admirably grown materials which were kindly sent to -us from the rich collection of William Leach, Esq., of Oakley, -Fallowfield, near Manchester, where we have seen as many as one hundred -flower spikes of one of the most highly coloured forms of this somewhat -variable plant in full beauty; and, intermixed as they were with the -white _Calanthe vestita_, the effect produced was exceedingly pleasing -and attractive. Mr. Swan seems to have hit upon the most successful -method of cultivating these very charming plants, for some of the spikes -bore as many as forty flowers. He evidently knows also how to arrange -the plants to advantage, namely, by placing them in rows among the -foliage of the East Indian Orchids, so that the Calanthes, blooming as -they do without their leaves, have their beauty enhanced by the foliage -of the associated plants, especially that of the Aërides and Vandas. - -_Calanthe Veitchii_ is of deciduous habit, losing its foliage just as it -comes into flower. We have, however, occasionally seen it with leaves -accompanying its flowers, though its natural habit is to lose them. It -produces flower spikes from three to four feet or more in length, and -sometimes bears as many as fifty flowers on one spike. The plants are -free-blooming and continue in flower for two months. The sepals and -petals, as well as the lip, are of a rich rosy pink colour. A gay -appearance may be kept up throughout the dull months of winter by having -a sufficient number of plants and starting them successively into -blossom. - -These Calanthes are very accommodating, since they will thrive well in -baskets suspended from the roof, as well as in pots suspended by wire in -the same way as the baskets; they will also thrive in pots standing on -the tables, where room is not an object. If grown in baskets, they will -require more water in their growing season. We prefer them grown in this -manner where there is room, as they look so pleasing with their spikes -hanging gracefully from the roof. Where hundreds of spikes have to be -produced, as for instance is the case with Mr. C. Penny, of Sandringham -Gardens, for decorating the Prince of Wales’ table, the effect produced -is charming, and even for filling large vases they form a most elegant -adornment. - -They are of easy cultivation when they get the treatment they require. -Like all other deciduous and bulbous plants their blooming season -follows that of the completion of the growth of the bulbs, and their -growing season commences when they have finished blooming, after which -they will soon begin to throw up their young growths. When this is -observed, let them be fresh potted. We have found it best to do this -every year, as they lose all their old roots annually. We shake the soil -away and cut off all the roots, and repot them, when, as soon as they -begin to grow, they will send out their new roots into fresh soil. The -material we use for potting is good rough fibrous loam and leaf mould, -with a little rotten manure, mixing them well together, and giving good -drainage with a layer of rough peat and moss on the top of it. In -potting, fill the pot up with the soil and place the bulb on the top, -just making it firm; it will soon root and support itself. If planted in -baskets, it is necessary to place some rough fibrous peat round the -sides and at the bottom to keep the soil from washing out; fill the -basket up with the same kind of compost as that recommended for the -pots, with drainage at the bottom; place the bulbs upright in the -basket, about three in number, on the top of the soil, and finish by -giving a little water. After the plants get into growth and are making -roots freely, they should always be kept moist until they have finished -their growth, when a less copious supply will suffice; and after they -have bloomed they may be kept dry for a time until they are ready for -potting. When the plants are in vigorous growth a little manure water -may, with advantage, be applied to their roots once or twice a week, but -it must be well diluted before being used, as, if given too strong, it -might destroy the roots. - -We find the East India house to suit these Calanthes best, or they will -thrive well in a house where stove plants are grown. They are propagated -by separating the pseudobulbs at the time they are potted, and as they -generally make two growths from one bulb the increase is comparatively -rapid. Like other orchidaceous plants, they must be kept free from -insects. - - [Illustration: PL. 32. - ONCIDIUM HÆMATOCHILUM.] - - - - - ONCIDIUM HÆMATOCHILUM. - [Plate 32.] - Native of New Grenada. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ none or obsolete, the leaves and - flower-scapes springing directly from the axils of the scaly bracts - which surround the crown. _Leaves_ solitary, flat, oblong, acute, - leathery in texture, dull green spotted with reddish brown, nine to - twelve inches long. _Scape_ radical, deep red, supporting a dense - panicle of green spotted crimson-lipped flowers. _Flowers_ about an - inch and a half across, showy on account of their rich colouring and - markings; _sepals_ oval-oblong, yellowish green, thickly marked with - irregular transverse bands of rich reddish brown; _petals_ oblong, - spathulate, wavy, similar in colour to the sepals, but less heavily - marked; _lip_ clawed, with a pair of auricles at the base, the claw - and auricles deep magenta-rose colour, the front expanded portion - roundish or transversely reniform, of a deep sanguineous crimson, and - having the margin yellow, closely mottled with deep rose-crimson, the - disk furnished with a flexuose crest shaped like the letter W, and - thence raised into an eminence with a toothlet on each side. _Column_ - short, with rounded wings curved downwards and somewhat lobed. - - Oncidium hæmatochilum, _Lindley_, in _Paxton’s Flower Garden_, i., t. - 6; _Id._, re-issue, t. 26; _Id._, _Folia Orchidacea_, art. _Oncidium_, - No. 132; _Reichenbach fil._, in _Walpers’ Annales Botanices - Systematicæ_, vi., 783. - - Oncidium luridum purpuratum, _Loddiges_, _List_—_fide_ Lindley. - - -This is undoubtedly one of our oldest Orchids—one that we recollect to -have seen in bloom with the Messrs. Loddiges, in their noble collection -of Orchids, about thirty years ago. We have always been under the -impression that it was one of the prettiest of the spotted Oncidiums, -but, although we have occasionally bloomed it, since then we have seen -it in very few collections. We were accordingly very greatly pleased to -meet with a remarkably fine example of it in the collection of G. W. L. -Schofield, Esq., of Rawtenstall, near Manchester, from which our -illustration was taken. The plant bore two flower-spikes, one of which -was three feet six inches in length, bearing forty fine blossoms, and -was a most beautiful example of the species; the other was shorter, and -from this our drawing was made, as our page would not afford space for -the representation of the larger spike. Our readers will, however, be -enabled from the description and figure to form a good idea of the -beauty of this rare species when well grown. Mr. Schofield is a great -lover of good Orchids, and apparently intends having a fine collection -of them, as he has had houses built for the different classes; his -gardener also takes great interest in the plants, and consequently they -are closely looked after and well cared for. - -The _Oncidium hæmatochilum_ is a very compact-growing plant, with leaves -from nine to twelve inches in height, and two and a half inches broad, -of a dark green colour, spotted with brown. The sepals and petals are of -a greenish yellow, mottled with crimson; the lip is of a rich crimson, -edged with yellow, and spotted round the margin with magenta-rose -colour. It flowers in November, the blossoms continuing for several -weeks in perfection, and is a plant that will no doubt become popular, -as it blooms at a time when flowers are in request. The specimen we are -describing was grown in a basket in the Cattleya house, in peat and -moss, which form an unexceptionable compost for it, with good drainage, -and a moderate supply of water in the growing season. It is best -suspended from the roof where it may obtain plenty of light, but it does -not like bright sunshine, and consequently must be shaded in sunny -weather. - -The Oncidiums are a class of Orchids among which occur some most showy -and beautiful species; while almost every colour we could mention is to -be found represented among them. They come from different regions, and -in consequence their treatment must vary. Some of them rank among our -finest exhibition plants, as well as amongst the best for the decoration -of our stoves and Orchid houses. We often see fine specimens of -Oncidiums in our grand old collections of plants where there is no -pretence at growing a collection of Orchids, but where they are merely -cultivated for cutting purposes. What is more airy and elegant for vases -than the inflorescence of _Oncidium flexuosum_, or even _O. -sphacelatum_, or that of many others we could mention if space would -allow? What more brilliant than such species as _O. varicosum_ and its -variety _O. Rogersii_, _O. ampliatum majus_, _O. tigrinum_, _O. -Marshallianum_, or _O. macranthum_? - - -Dendrobium Findleyanum.—This plant is now (January, 1882) finely in -flower in the collection of J. C. Bowring, Esq., Windsor Forest. It must -be a grand specimen, as Mr. Clinkaberry, the gardener, informs us that -it has one hundred and ninety-two expanded blossoms. We have never -before heard of such a well-flowered specimen as this; indeed, large -plants of this species are somewhat rare. It is a most curious grower, -and very remarkable for its long tapering compressed and deeply nodose -stem-like pseudobulbs. The flowers are large, white, tipped with rosy -pink, in the same way as those of _D. Wardianum_, and they are produced -in great profusion. It is a plant that takes but little room, and should -be in every collection.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 33. - CATTLEYA SUPERBA SPLENDENS.] - - - - - CATTLEYA SUPERBA SPLENDENS. - [Plate 33.] - Native of Brazil in the region of the Rio Negro. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ slender, subterete, furrowed, with distant nodes, - nearly a foot in height. _Leaves_ in pairs, ovate or ovate-oblong, - obtuse, barely four inches in length, of a deep bluish green colour - and stout coriaceous texture. _Scape_ four to five-flowered, issuing - from a terminal oblong obtuse compressed sheathing bract, of a pale - brown colour, which is about two inches long and three-quarters of an - inch broad. _Flowers_ richly coloured, nearly six inches in breadth; - _sepals_ elliptic-lanceolate, plane, about two and a half inches long, - of a deep rich purplish rose colour; _petals_ of the same colour - somewhat broader and longer, rhomboid, more or less undulated at the - margin in the upper half; _lip_ about two inches long, three-lobed, - the basal lobes elongately connivent into a tube acute in front, of a - rich magenta-crimson, white at the base, middle lobe transversely - rounded, broader than long, emarginate, narrowed into a claw, the - front portion of the same rich crimson colour, the disk and interior - of the tube yellow, the former traversed by five elevated golden - yellow lines. _Column_ enclosed. - - Cattleya superba splendens, _Lemaire_, _Illustration Horticole_ xvi., - t. 605; _Williams_, _Orchid Grower’s Manual_, 4 ed., 127; 5 ed., 132. - - -The plant we are now about to describe is one of the most magnificent -members of its genus, so far as regards the brilliant colouring of its -flowers. This may be seen by a reference to the accompanying -illustration, which was taken from a fine plant that flowered at the -Victoria Nursery, and was subsequently purchased by William Lee, Esq. of -Downside, Leatherhead. The plant was seen to great advantage when -suspended in a basket from the roof of the Orchid-house, and in this -position was greatly admired, by _connoisseurs_ on account of its rich -and brilliant colours. The plants of _Cattleya superba_ vary -considerably in the colour of their flowers, those of the original or -type form being well represented in the first series of _Warner’s Select -Orchidaceous Plants_ (t. 24), where a most beautiful spike with six of -its really superb flowers is shown. - -The variety which we now introduce to the notice of our -readers—_Cattleya superba splendens_—is one of distinct character, and -of unparalleled beauty. It comes from a different country, viz., the Rio -Negro region of Para instead of Guiana. The plant is of compact growth -like _C. superba_, and generally flowers during July and August; the -stems (pseudobulbs) are ten to twelve inches in height; the leaves are -produced in pairs, and are longer and more pointed, and its splendidly -coloured flowers are produced four or five together in the spike from -the top of the stem when it is making its growth. The individual -blossoms are as much as five inches across, and are well expanded, the -sepals and petals being of a bright but delicate rose colour, and the -lip white at the base, the front and side lobes rich magenta-crimson, -the disk and interior of the tube being of a bright golden yellow. The -plant continues in blossom for three or four weeks if the flowers are -kept from damp; indeed, all Cattleya blooms retain their freshness for a -longer period if kept dry, especially the large light-flowered forms of -_C. Mossiæ_, _C. Trianæ_, _C. Mendelii_, &c., which soon become spotted -if the atmosphere surrounding them is much charged with moisture. - -_Cattleya superba_ is not in general well cultivated, but we have seen -some specimens which were grown with extraordinary skill and success in -the select collection of O. Schneider, Esq., of Cromwell Grange, -Fallowfield, near Manchester. These specimens, as many as nine in -number, were suspended in baskets from the roof of the warm house. They -were grown from imported plants, and we have noticed them in the same -position growing and blooming freely for the past three years, and, as -they succeed so well, we should certainly recommend their being retained -in the same situation. It is a golden rule for cultivators that when a -particular kind of plant is found to thrive in a certain position, it -should be kept there, so long at least as the conditions are suitable. -In the instance just referred to the plants were suspended close to the -glass, where they enjoyed a great abundance of light, and this was -possibly the secret of their success. Other important considerations are -that the plants do not like to be disturbed and will not bear cutting -up. - -It is necessary at all times to keep sweet healthy material about the -roots by removing the old effete soil and replacing it by that which is -fresh and sound. We find rough fibrous peat and charcoal to suit it, but -this must be accompanied by good drainage. We have seen them thrive well -on blocks of wood, but when grown in this way they require more water. -If cultivated in baskets they also need a good supply during the season -of growth. In winter less will suffice, merely enough being given to -keep the bulbs in a plump condition. As soon as they show signs of -growth, more water should be given, but it is necessary to avoid wetting -the young growths, as this often causes them to damp off, and when this -is the case the succeeding growth will be weakly and unable to develop -blossoms. - -The plants should be kept free from insects; sometimes thrips will -attack the young growths, but it should be speedily removed, as, if -allowed to remain, it will soon make great havoc. - - [Illustration: PL. 34. - PAPHINIA CRISTATA.] - - - - - PAPHINIA CRISTATA. - [Plate 34.] - Native of Trinidad and Guiana. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ small, clustered, oblong-ovate, compressed, - somewhat furrowed, bearing one to three leaves at the apex, and - leaf-like scales at the base. _Leaves_ oblong-lanceolate, plicate, - submembranaceous, spreading, about eight inches in height. _Scapes_ - proceeding from the base of the pseudobulbs, pendent, two or - three-flowered, clothed with loose brown membranaceous bracts. - _Flowers_ smooth, spreading, whitish on the outside, beautifully - marked with purple lines within, about three and a half inches across; - _sepals_ lanceolate acute, fleshy, pale straw colour, almost entirely - covered by thin transverse lines of chocolate-purple; _petals_ similar - in form and colour, but somewhat narrower; _lip_ much smaller than the - foregoing, fleshy, tripartite, almost entirely of a rich purplish - black, ovate in outline, shortly unguiculate, with four stalked glands - on the reddish orange purple-spotted claw, the lateral lobes - sickle-shaped, the middle lobe rhomboidal, terminated by a tuft of - club-shaped fimbriæ; disk crested, bidentate, with a few deep yellow - spots down the centre. _Column_ club-shaped, semiterete, greenish at - the base, the upper portion auriculate, with a projecting tooth on - each side, deep yellow. - - Paphinia cristata, _Lindley_, _Botanical Register_, 1843, misc. 14; - _Lyons_, _Treatise on Orchidaceous Plants_, 203; _Van Houtte_, _Flore - des Serres_, iv., t. 335; _Hooker_, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 4836; - _Reichenbach fil._, in _Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi., - 614; _Williams_, _Orchid Grower’s Manual_, 5 ed., 265; _Bateman_, _2nd - Century of Orchidaceous Plants_, t. 117. - - Maxillaria cristata, _Lindley_, _Botanical Register_, t. 1811. - - -_Paphinia_ is a genus of very limited extent, and of which but few -species are at present known. That now before us is a very old and -familiar species, one of the best known amongst them, and a singularly -handsome little plant. It was the _Maxillaria cristata_ of early Orchid -days, and considerable quantities of it were formerly imported, but it -has now become very rare. We have flowered several plants during the -past year at the Victoria Nursery, where they were greatly admired by -those who saw them. It is a plant which comparatively few persons -interested in Orchids have met with in blossom, and of which our plate -gives a very correct representation. The flowers are remarkably curious, -not only for their structure, but also for their colouring, as will be -seen by reference to our illustration. The plant has, moreover, a very -peculiar mode of throwing out its flower-spikes. - -We have also flowered _Paphinia rugosa_, another very singular and -pretty plant, after the same style, but differing in colour, and well -worth cultivation. They occupy but little space in the Orchid-houses, -and are best grown in small pans suspended near the glass where they -have the full benefit of the light, but must be shaded from the sun -since their thin-textured leaves would suffer injury from too complete -an exposure. - -_Paphinia cristata_, is a low-growing plant, with small shiny -pseudobulbs, and light green plicate foliage about eight inches in -height. It is a free-blooming species, generally producing three flowers -on a scape which proceeds from the base of the pseudobulb after that has -completed its growth. The flowers last in beauty for about a fortnight, -and are produced at different periods of the year. The sepals and petals -are nearly covered with transverse parallel lines of dark -chocolate-purple on a creamy yellow ground; the lip is coloured in a -similar manner, and furnished with some curious tufted fringes. - -These plants are not so easy to cultivate as some other Orchids; but, by -bestowing on them a little extra care and attention, they may be kept in -a thriving and healthy condition. We find them to grow best in small -pans, nearly filled with drainage, and a lump of charcoal on the top of -it; place the plant on the top of this with but little rough fibrous -peat or live sphagnum moss about the roots, and so that it is elevated a -little above the rim, as it has the peculiarity of throwing its -flower-spike downwards. - -This species is a native of Guiana, and of the adjacent island of -Trinidad. In the latter it is found growing on decayed branches of trees -in the neighbourhood of the mud lake. In the former it occurs in the -warmer parts of Demerara, and, consequently, must be cultivated in the -warm house, and kept in a moist atmosphere during the season of its -growth; when at rest, however, a smaller quantity of water will suffice, -but it should never be allowed to shrivel, as, when once its condition -becomes bad, it is very difficult to restore its health. - - -Odontoglossum Alexandræ flaveolum.—Whoever expected ten years ago to see -a yellow-flowered _Odontoglossum Alexandræ_ (?) No one, we should think, -unless it were by a great stretch of the imagination. However, here is -one from the fine collection of G. Hardy, Esq., of Timperley, -Manchester. The flowers in every respect resemble those of _O. -Alexandræ_, except in their colour, which is a bright canary-yellow. The -spike before us bears fifteen expanded flowers, and is one of the -greatest surprises we have had the good fortune to meet with for a long -time. It is true that distinct varieties of this “the Queen of Orchids” -are turning up almost every day, but one seldom has a chance of seeing -an entirely new break of colour of this sort. We believe that a variety -with yellow flowers bloomed some time ago in the Broomfield collection, -but the colour was not so decided in Mr. Warner’s plant as it is in the -case now before us.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 35. - ODONTOGLOSSUM ANDERSONIANUM.] - - - - - ODONTOGLOSSUM ANDERSONIANUM. - [Plate 35.] - Native of New Grenada. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ ligulate-pyriform, costate, two or three - inches high. _Leaves_ broadly linear, acute, about a foot long, of a - light green colour, two from the top of each pseudobulb, with - occasionally another from its base. _Scape_ radical, spreading, more - or less drooping, supporting a branching raceme about two feet long. - _Flowers_ resembling those of _Odontoglossum Alexandræ_, but smaller, - prettily spotted; _sepals_ ovate-oblong, acute, slightly crispy, - creamy white, heavily and irregularly blotched on the lower half with - bright chestnut-brown, the attenuated upper half unspotted; _petals_ - similar in form and colour, the blotches which are also on the lower - half smaller, and more thickly placed; _lip_ from a cuneate base, - pandurate, narrow in front, apiculate, distinctly wavy and toothed, - creamy white, yellow at the base, with fewer and smaller brown spots; - disk deep yellow, with a prominent crest dividing in front into two - divergent horns. _Column_ greenish towards the base, brown in front, - the wings and anther-case white. - - Odontoglossum Andersonianum, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ - Chronicle_, 1868, 599; _Id._ 1872, 41; _Floral Magazine_, 2 ser., t. - 45. - - -The charming _Odontoglossum Andersonianum_, supposed to be a wild mule -between _O. Alexandræ_ (_crispum_) and _O. præstans_ or _O. gloriosum_, -is one of the many prettily spotted Odontoglots which have been -introduced into our collections during the past few years, and among -which new varieties are continually appearing. One of the best forms of -this plant which has come under our notice is that represented in the -accompanying plate, prepared from a very beautiful specimen which -bloomed last year among many other fine Odontoglots, well cultivated in -the collection of Messrs. William Thomson & Sons, of Clovenfords near -Galashiels. - -The _Odontoglossum Andersonianum_ is a compact-growing plant, with -pyriform pseudobulbs two to three inches high, pale green leaves, and -gracefully drooping branched flower-spikes about two feet in length. The -sepals and petals are at first creamy white, spotted with purplish -brown, the lip being also white, but less heavily spotted. The plant is -of free-blooming habit, the flowers continuing fresh and perfect for a -period of five or six weeks. It is exceedingly difficult to recognize -this form until it produces its blossoms, as its growth is remarkably -similar to that of _O. Alexandræ_. Indeed there are many forms and -varieties of this particular group which it is impossible to recognize -until their flowers are seen; and, though cultivators may sometimes feel -assured of the identity of individual plants, the production of flowers -not unfrequently proves them to be mistaken. - -_Odontoglossum Andersonianum_ requires the same treatment as _O. -Alexandræ_ and other cool Orchids, also the same amount of water. The -plants must have good fibrous peat to grow in, and plenty of drainage, -as they need to be freely supplied with water all the year round, and -this, if allowed to become stagnant, would prove very injurious to them. -The material in which they are grown must also be clean and sweet; and -though they must never be over-potted, sufficient space should be -allowed for their roots. We have sometimes seen Odontoglots in pots far -too large for them, and though this may tend to make the plants more -important-looking, yet it will eventually spoil them, as the larger -amount of soil becomes soddened with water, and this produces rotting of -the roots. - - -Raised Blinds for Orchid Houses.—During the summer months we have found -Raised Blinds very beneficial to the growth of Orchids, especially to -those requiring cool-house culture. When the hot summer’s sun is shining -upon the glass, it is very difficult, where Raised Blinds are not -employed, to keep the temperature sufficiently low. The glass roof of -the structure upon which the sun is shining becomes very hot, even when -shaded with ordinary blinds; but if Raised Blinds are used a current of -air is allowed to pass over the entire surface of the roof, and the -glass is kept comparatively cool. The effect of this is to decrease very -appreciably the internal temperature of the house; and the moisture, -which would otherwise be dried up by the burning heat of the sun, -produces a nice humid genial atmosphere in which Orchids delight. Having -thus far referred to the advantages to be derived from the use of this -method of shading, we may now explain briefly the mode of construction. -Supposing that the house to be furnished with Raised Blinds is an -ordinary span-roofed structure, it is necessary in the first place to -provide a second ridge elevated about six inches above the top of the -existing one. This should not consist of a solid plank, but of a strip -of timber sufficiently strong to bear the weight and strain of the -blinds and roller, and should be supported on blocks of wood placed at -intervals in order to allow the current of air from below to find an -outlet, which would not be the case if a solid ridge-board were adopted. -Having arranged for the ridge, the next thing is to provide supports for -the rollers; either wood or iron may be used for this purpose, but we -have found iron to be the lightest looking and the most durable. Where -the length of the rafters does not exceed say eight feet, half-inch rod -iron will be found to be strong enough, and this should be cut into -proper lengths, with the lower end turned up in a semi-circular form, so -as to catch the roller when it descends, and prevent it from running off -the supports. These supporting rods should be fixed to the bars or -rafters of the house, about six inches above the woodwork, by being -welded to vertical iron stays, which latter should be flattened out at -the base, and provided with holes so that they can be screwed to the -rafters or bars of the roof. In this way a strong support for the blinds -to roll upon will be formed; the blinds themselves can be attached to -the elevated ridge in the ordinary way, and the gearing usually employed -for the purpose will be found to answer well for pulling them up or -down. Many Orchid growers have already adopted these Raised Blinds with -very beneficial results.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 36. - CYPRIPEDIUM POLITUM.] - - - - - CYPRIPEDIUM POLITUM. - [Plate 36.] - Garden Hybrid. - - - Epiphytal. Acaulescent. _Leaves_ radical, distichous, coriaceous, - oblong, acute, palish green thickly chequered with dark bottle-green - markings, the under side dull reddish purple. _Scapes_ solitary in the - leaf axils, pubescent, purplish, terminating in a lanceolate sharply - keeled bract, from which the solitary blossom emerges. _Flowers_ - medium-sized, peculiar in form, rather showy; _dorsal sepals_ - ovate-acute, ciliate, the inner surface polished, suffused with - reddish purple in the lower part, whitish towards the tip, traversed - by numerous green veins of which the alternate ones are longer and - stouter than the rest, all of them distinctly marked on the outer - surface; _lateral connate sepals_ smaller, ciliate, greenish white - with green veins, rather shorter than the lip; _petals_ linear-oblong, - about two and a half inches in length, glossy, deflexed (more so than - in the figure), ciliate with a fringe of unequal black hairs, bright - wine-red, greenish towards the base, where it is marked with several - Indian-purple warts most abundant near the upper edge, exterior - surface green; _lip_ narrowly pouch-shaped, nearly as long as the - petals, suffused in front with the same purplish red tint, and marked - thickly with green veins at the sides and back, the basal auricles - erect, obtuse, interior surface green, dotted with wine-red, the - incurved margins of the claw greenish yellow, with reddish spots. - _Staminode_ transverse, yellowish green, with two large exterior teeth - in front and a small inner tooth, light brown with green markings. - - Cypripedium politum, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, - N.S. xiv., 525. - - -This new Lady’s Slipper is one of a batch raised some few years since by -Robert Warner, Esq., of Broomfield, near Chelmsford, who has been -successful in producing several very good forms by the process of -hybridisation. The plants are of dwarf habit, free-growing, and -free-blooming, each small growth bringing forth its flower. This -_Cypripedium politum_ has been flowered for several years past by Mr. -Warner, and thus its characteristic features and its constancy are well -ascertained. There are also some other distinct kinds obtained through -the same cross, some of which we hope to figure on a future occasion. We -should expect that the cross was made between _C. barbatum superbum_ and -_C. venustum_. - -_Cypripedium politum_ is a plant of compact habit and of free growth. -The leaves are of a distinct and well-marked character, as will be seen -in the very accurate portrait furnished by our artist. They are oblong, -acute, about five inches long, and somewhat over an inch broad, of a -beautiful light green, barred and chequered with a very deep or -bottle-green, which gives it a very pleasing appearance; the -under-surface is stained with a deep reddish wine-purple. The downy -flower-scapes are also purple, some six to eight inches in height, each -supporting a solitary flower, in which the dorsal sepal is ovate, -polished, flushed in the lower part with purplish red and spotted with -purple at the base, the upper part white, and the whole traversed by -bright green veins which are alternately long and short. The petals are -oblong, broadest at the apex, of a bright wine-red, polished, with black -hairs along the margin, and Indian-purple warts near the upper edge, -greenish towards the base and along the lower edge. The pouch-shaped lip -is nearly as long as the petals, purplish red with a coppery tinge, -glossy, veined with green at the sides and back. The flowers are -produced during January and February, a season when they are much in -request for decorative purposes. The Cypripediums are very useful for -furnishing a supply of cut flowers, as they will keep fresh for several -weeks in water, and will last for at least six weeks on the plant. - -These interesting plants are of easy cultivation, and occupy but little -space, hence they may be accommodated in every small collection, and may -be grown without much expense. The species and varieties forming the -_barbatum_ group, to which this plant belongs, all require similar -treatment. They may be grown either in the Cattleya or East India house, -and are best cultivated in pots. Some of our Orchid-growers prefer to -plant them in sphagnum moss, others in peat; for ourselves, we prefer to -use good fibrous peat, ample drainage being provided. We have seen them -thrive well in fibrous loam. The plants must be kept above the rim of -the pot, as they root freely over the surface of the rough material. -Since they have no fleshy bulbs to support them, and their growth is -continuous almost throughout the year, they require to be liberally -supplied with water at the roots; for this reason the pots must be well -drained. - -Insects require to be constantly searched for. The scale sometimes -appears upon the plants, but may easily be subjugated by sponging the -surface with clean water. Their greatest enemy, however, is the red -thrips, which must be hunted up and destroyed if the health of the -plants is to be maintained, but it may be easily kept under if promptly, -perseveringly, and vigorously attacked. - - -Dendrobium macrophyllum.—We have received two splendid spikes of this -magnificent Dendrobe, with flowers of an unusually fine colour, from a -well grown specimen, such as we might expect from so experienced a -grower as Mr. Penny, of the Royal Gardens, Sandringham, who has been one -of the most successful exhibitors of specimen Orchids at our London -shows, where he has, with the large collections staged by him, carried -off nearly all the leading prizes. We hope at some future period to be -able to figure this fine Dendrobium, the sepals and petals of which are -of a rose-magenta colour, and the lip of the same colour, with a -purplish crimson throat. We received with the Dendrobe a fine spike of -the white-lipped form of _Odontoglossum Hallii_ in grand condition, the -sepals and petals being of a very bright golden yellow with rich -markings of a brownish crimson colour. This variety forms a splendid -contrast with the white-flowered _O. Alexandræ_ and _O. Pescatorei_, of -which kinds there is a fine collection at Sandringham. The Prince of -Wales is a great admirer of these as well as of other good Orchids.—B. -S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 37. - CYPRIPEDIUM CHLORONEURUM.] - - - - - CYPRIPEDIUM CHLORONEURUM. - [Plate 37.] - Garden Hybrid. - - - Epiphytal. Acaulescent. _Leaves_ radical, distichous, coriaceous, - oblong acute, closely tessellated with dark hieroglyphic markings on a - light green ground, the under surface reddish purple. _Scapes_ - solitary in the central leaf-axils, pubescent, reddish purple, - one-flowered, with a very short ovate bract. _Flowers_ large, with - expanded petals, rather attractive in colour; _dorsal sepal_ broadly - ovate, bright yellow-green with white margin, and a narrow purple - central stripe, on each side of which are about four strongly marked - dark green longitudinal veins, connected by finer transverse veins; - _lateral (connate) sepals_ small; _petals_ oblong, broader upwards, - two and a half inches long, and three-fourths of an inch wide, with - green longitudinal veins, and a dark purple central line, on one side - of which (the upper half) they are washed with wine-purple, and have a - yellowish buff margin, and a few black warts near the base, where they - are ciliated; on the other (lower) half very slightly tinted with - purple, the cross veins more apparent, and the margin green; _lip_ - rather large, shortly pouch-shaped, heavily stained with wine-purple, - and freely marked with bold reticulations of a darker purple, the - upper angles yellowish at the margins. _Staminode_ transversely - reniform, pale green, with dark green feathery markings in front. - - Cypripedium chloroneurum, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ - Chronicle_, N.S., xiv., 525. - - -This is one of the most distinct of the new hybrid Lady’s Slippers that -have been recently introduced to the notice of Orchid-growers; it will -also be appreciated as one of the most useful, being of a neat -free-growing and abundant-blooming habit of growth. The Cypripediums are -everybody’s plants, that is to say, any one who has a place adapted for -their cultivation can manage them without difficulty. Many growers make -them their especial care and study, procuring every species and variety -that can be obtained, and thus forming a very interesting and diverse -group. - -Our present subject was raised by Robert Warner, Esq., in whose -collection at Broomfield it has been blooming very abundantly, and it -was from Mr. Warner’s plant that our drawing was taken. The variety -resembles the one figured on plate 36 in being of free-blooming habit, -and also in being very attractive in regard to its foliage as well as -its flowers. Many hybrid Cypripediums have been raised in this country -of late years by the Messrs. Veitch and Sons, and also by other growers. -Some of these have proved to be very beautiful and effective subjects, -and no doubt there are others coming forward that have not yet bloomed. -Many splendid novelties may yet be gained by crossing those kinds that -have flowers of distinct forms and colours, and, as many of the -varieties bloom simultaneously, the hybridiser will find abundant -opportunities for carrying out his plans. - -These plants appear to be easily raised from seeds, and to reach the -flowering stage sooner than most other seedling Orchids. - -Some of the Cypripediums thrive well in a cool house, and by fertilising -these with the best of the stove species, a new set of cool-house forms -would probably be obtained. Such a result would be one of considerable -importance to Orchidists, as no doubt, if varieties of a different -character to those we already possess could be obtained, some of our -enthusiastic growers would take up their cultivation in good earnest. At -present the majority of the Lady’s Slippers require a warm house. - -_Cypripedium chloroneurum_ is a dwarf compact-habited plant, with -evergreen foliage about six inches in length, beautifully variegated -with closely chequered markings of dark and light green. The flowers are -produced in January and February, and continue on for several weeks. The -colours are distinct and attractive, the broad flat dorsal sepal being -of a bright lively pale green striped with darker green nerves and -bordered with white, the petals suffused with purple on the upper half -and marked with black marginal warts, and the purplish lip freely -ornamented with bold dark purple reticulations, altogether presenting a -remarkably effective appearance. - -This novel hybrid grows freely when potted in rough fibrous peat with -good drainage. When in vigorous growth it requires a liberal supply of -water at the roots. Propagation is accomplished by dividing the plants -after they have finished blooming and are ready to start into fresh -growth; they can then be divided with safety by cutting off a back -growth with a leading shoot in front of it, but care must be taken in -cutting that the remaining portion of the plant is provided with an eye -so placed as to break and form a new growth. When this young growth has -been made, the divided plant may be shaken out from the old soil and -potted. The offshoots should be placed in small pots until the following -year, when, if they have made good growth, they may require to be -repotted. They must be kept moist and in a plump condition, as they have -only slender resources of their own to rely upon, but they root freely. -As the plants get established they will require larger supplies of -water, for which reason good drainage must be secured. - - -Aërides Leeanum.—This novelty has bloomed in the collection of G. W. L. -Schofield, Esq., of New Hall, Hey, Rawtenstall, near Manchester, -producing four flower-spikes. It is a beautiful object, its spikes of -richly-coloured rosy pink blossoms hanging gracefully from the plant. It -is very distinct from any other species of _Aërides_, and will doubtless -become a great favourite. One of its great recommendations is that it -blooms in the winter, which is not the case with the generality of these -plants, their usual flowering season being during the spring and summer -months. _A. Leeanum_ is a small growing plant, but produces its spikes -of blossoms very freely; and requiring, as it does, but a limited space -for its accommodation, it will be a most useful introduction for amateur -cultivators.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 38. - DENDROBIUM BIGIBBUM.] - - - - - DENDROBIUM BIGIBBUM. - [Plate 38.] - Native of Tropical North-east Australia. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ long, slender, erect, fusiform, one to two - feet in length, closely invested between the nodes with dry light - brown sheaths, the older ones swollen at the very base. _Leaves_ - oblong-lanceolate, sub-acuminate, five ribbed, of a deep green colour, - and a somewhat coriaceous texture, a few only (five or six) being - developed towards the extremities of the stems. _Racemes_ erect or - curving, six to twelve flowered, nearly a foot in length, usually - produced from the upper nodes of the old leafless stems, but sometimes - from the apex of the younger leafy stems. _Flowers_ large, showy, rich - rosy purple; _sepals_ oblong acute, flat, of a rich purplish magenta, - the lateral ones united at the base into a short blunt spur below the - setting on of the lip, above which spur is a gibbosity, occasioned by - a similar swelling at the base of the lip (whence comes the specific - name _bigibbum_); _petals_ large, roundish, spreading, recurved, of - the same colour as the sepals; _lip_ three-lobed, the lateral lobes - incurved, the retuse middle lobe somewhat reflexed, rich - crimson-purple veined with darker purple, the base decurrent and - gibbose, and the disk with three white papillose crests. _Columns_ - compressed, grooved, the back united with the sepal. - - Dendrobium bigibbum, _Lindley_, in _Paxton’s Flower Garden_, iii, 25, - fig. 245; _Hooker_, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 4898; _Walpers’ Annales - Botanices Systematicæ_, vi., 302; _Warner_, _Select Orchidaceous - Plants_, 2 ser. t. 8; _Van Houtte_, _Flore des Serres_, xi., t. 1143; - _Bateman_, _Second Century of Orchidaceous Plants_, t. 169; - _Williams_, _Orchid Growers’ Manual_, 5 ed., 165. - - -This plant belongs to one of the most noble and popular, one of the most -showy and beautiful genera of the whole family of Orchids, and one among -the flowers of which nearly every colour occurs—bright yellow, pure -white, rich crimson, bright purple, soft mauve, rich orange, nankeen, -and many others being found among the many and various habited species -of Dendrobes. - -_Dendrobium bigibbum_, the subject of our plate, is a species of a -remarkably beautiful and showy character, which, until within the last -few years, has been somewhat rare. In 1876, however, we received a large -consignment from our collector, Mr. Goldie, who was then on his way to -New Guinea, and who met with it growing on an island in Torres Straits, -it having hitherto, we believe, been found only on the mainland of -Australia. These plants were very fine, some of the specimens being of -enormous dimensions, with stems quite two feet long, and from one and -a-half to two inches in circumference. The specimens from which our -figure of one of the most charming forms of this species which we have -yet seen, was prepared, were kindly sent to us from the fine collection -of the Marquess of Lothian, at Newbattle Abbey. Dalkeith, where it -bloomed in September last in full beauty, amongst many other notable -Orchids which are well cultivated by the intelligent gardener, Mr. -Priest, who takes great delight in the careful management of his plants. - -This species of _Dendrobium_ is partially deciduous, the fully ripened -stems sometimes losing the whole of their foliage, while the young -growths retain their leaves until the following year. It grows from one -to two feet in height, and produces its racemes of flowers sometimes -from the top of the young growths, and sometimes from the old stems, in -the latter case often bearing many spikes on the same stem. The flowers -are of a rich rosy purple, and last in perfection for a considerable -period. It is a most useful subject for associating with a button-hole -bouquet, single flowers being shown off to great advantage by placing a -light-looking fern frond behind them. The racemes of flowers last a long -time after being cut if placed in water, and are most useful in all -floral decorations. By growing several plants, successional blooms may -be had at different periods. - -This Tropical Australian species is best grown in a warm house, as the -plants require a good amount of heat—70° to 80° while growing—and plenty -of light, but the burning rays of the sun must be kept from them. They -thrive best when planted in pans or baskets amongst rough fibrous peat -and sphagnum moss, and suspended from the roof of the Orchid house. -During the summer season they require a liberal supply of water, but in -winter should have only sufficient to keep the stems plump. The plant -will also succeed on blocks of wood, but, if grown in this way, it will -in hot weather need watering twice a day, and once a day at other times. -Some cultivators have been unsuccessful with this species, but we have -found it to thrive well in a house where Crotons, Dipladenias, -Stephanotis, etc., are grown; the Dendrobes seem to enjoy the moisture -transmitted to them by the stove plants which are generally syringed in -warm weather, and the dew arising from this operation appears to suit -the Orchid. The syringe is also useful in subduing the red spider, which -will sometimes attack the young growth. Insects often infest those kinds -of _Dendrobium_ that are grown in strong heat, but they must by this and -other means be kept under. - -Such treatment suits almost all the popular Dendrobes, namely, _D. -Devonianum_, _D. Wardianum superbum_, _D. chrysanthum_, _D. superbum -(macrophyllum)_, _D. crassinode_, etc.; and the plants are found to be -much stronger by reason of hanging near the glass well exposed to light, -in which position they can be syringed on warm days—this moistening not -only invigorating their growth, but being also a means of keeping -insects under control. - - [Illustration: PL. 39. - PHALÆNOPSIS STUARTIANA NOBILIS.] - - - - - PHALÆNOPSIS STUARTIANA NOBILIS. - [Plate 39.] - Native of the East. - - - Epiphytal. Acaulescent, the plants clinging to their supports by stout - flattened roots. _Leaves_ coriaceous, distichous, ligulate-oblong, - acute, channelled, equitant at the base, the upper surface marbled - with transverse grey blotches which disappear with age, the under - surface purplish red, similar in size to those of _Phalænopsis - Schilleriana_. _Scape_ radical, bearing a many-flowered (120 or more) - branching panicle of very handsomely and peculiarly spotted blossoms. - _Flowers_ nearly three inches across, expanded, cream-coloured at - first, becoming white; _sepals_ oblong, or ovate-oblong, about an inch - in length, the dorsal one white, the lateral ones white along the - upper side, the lower side being yellow thickly spotted with - cinnamon-red; _petals_ much broader, narrowed near the base, white; - _lip_ three-lobed, with a four-horned yellow callosity at its base, - the lateral lobes oblong, rounded, the middle lobe oval, with an - anchor-like extremity, the apex terminating in a pair of narrow - recurved laciniæ, all the lobes yellow at the base, white upwards and - handsomely spotted with rich cinnamon-red. _Column_ clavate, white. - - Phalænopsis Stuartiana, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, - N.S. xvi., 748, 753, fig. 149; Moore, _Florist and Pomologist_, 1882, - 49, t. 559. - - _Var._ NOBILIS; flowers larger in all their parts, marked with fewer - and larger spots; front lobe of the lip rhombic. - - Phalænopsis Stuartiana _var._ NOBILIS, _Reichenbach fil._, in - _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, N.S. xvi., 748. - - -There can be no doubt that the species of _Phalænopsis_ rank amongst our -finest Orchids, on account of the purity and soft tinting of their -blossoms and the profusion in which they are produced. Unfortunately, at -present, we only possess a limited number of them. During the last few -years, indeed, many new kinds, which are giving a fresh interest to the -genus, have been introduced by our collectors; and, although it is -barely possible that any new introduction should surpass the old -species, yet it is gratifying to know that there are yet to be found -distinct and novel kinds of great beauty. _P. Stuartiana_, which we now -bring under the notice of our readers, is a very fine and well-marked -species, recently imported from the East by Messrs. Low & Co., of Upper -Clapton, and named by Professor Reichenbach in honour of Mr. Stuart Low, -who is one of the largest importers of this class of Orchids. Our plate, -which represents the variety called _P. Stuartiana nobilis_, was -sketched from a plant now in the fine collection of William Lee, Esq., -of Downside, Leatherhead, who purchased it when in full beauty from the -Messrs. Low, and we have to thank Mr. Lee for his kindness in allowing -the drawing to be made. It is to be hoped that collectors may find more -of it in its native country, although we believe it to be very rare, -and, like many other recent discoveries to be probably a natural hybrid -produced by insect fertilisation. We have no doubt that there are yet -many fine forms of _Phalænopsis_; and if we could but obtain the scarlet -one, which some years ago was reported to have been seen by a collector -who was not able to bring it home, what a grand acquisition that would -be! - -_Phalænopsis Stuartiana nobilis_ resembles _P. Schilleriana_ in the -young growth, its newly developed leaves being of the same shape and -colour and similarly spotted, but the older leaves assume more of the -character of _P. amabilis_; while the flowers, instead of being -mauve-coloured, are pure white, with the inferior halves of the lateral -sepals yellow and boldly spotted with cinnamon-red, as also is a portion -of the lip, the side lobes of which bear smaller and more closely set -spots. We have little doubt that this plant is a wild hybrid between _P. -Schilleriana_ and _P. amabilis_, as though the young leaves come -spotted, they afterwards change to the colour of those of _P. amabilis_, -as already described. - -This plant requires the same treatment as _P. Schilleriana_, and is best -grown among sphagnum moss in baskets suspended from the roof, care being -taken to give it a good supply of water during the growing season. It -should have the heat of the East India house, and should at all times be -kept moist at the roots, for if allowed to become dry, it will loose its -lower leaves. If the plants are in a healthy and free-growing condition, -flowering does not injure them; but, if at all sickly, they should not -be allowed to blossom until they regain strength and vigour, as they are -naturally free-flowering plants, and under such circumstances might -bloom themselves to death. The moss about their roots must be sweet and -in a living state; when it becomes decayed it should be removed, the -roots washed, and the plant replaced in clean live moss with fresh free -drainage, so that the water, of which a considerable quantity is -required, may never become stagnant. Shading is an important element in -the successful cultivation of these plants; therefore the sun, when at -its full power in summer, must never be allowed to shine upon them, but -in winter a little sun-heat is beneficial, and they then require all the -light which it is possible to give them. Neither drip, nor water in any -other form, must be suffered to reach the hearts of the plants, as it -causes them to rot. - -Insects are troublesome at times. The thrips, if allowed to multiply, -will greatly disfigure the plants, causing damage by depriving them of -the juices which should go to sustain their vigour. When free from such -pests, and in a healthy condition, the leaves of the Phalænopsids have a -pleasing appearance; and, if they are well looked after, it will not be -difficult to keep them clean, the more especially as being of large -size, they can be readily operated upon. - - [Illustration: PL. 40. - ODONTGLOSSUM KRAMERII.] - - - - - ODONTOGLOSSUM KRAMERI. - [Plate 40.] - Native of Costa Rica. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ nearly orbicular, much compressed, ancipitous - or sharply two-edged, one and a-half inch in diameter, pale green. - _Leaves_ solitary, oblong-lanceolate, acute, keeled, six to eight - inches long, one and a-half to two inches broad, light green, with a - smooth even surface. _Scapes_ radical, four to six inches long, - shorter than the leaves, three to five flowered, drooping or - ascending, flexuous, pale green, with small appressed bracts and - longish peduncles. _Flowers_ one and a-half inch or more across, and - delicately coloured; _sepals_ oblong acute, rosy lilac with a white - margin; _petals_ about equalling the sepals in size, and similar to - them in form and colour; _lip_ with a short stout neck, deeply - hollowed in front, with two erect calli, the lateral lobes semi-ovate, - narrow, deflexed, the much larger middle lobe three-fourths of an inch - broad, roundish reniform, emarginate, bearing at the base a pair of - erect lamellæ, the unguis or neck yellow spotted with red, the front - lobe deep rosy lilac, marked near its base with two semi-circular - bands of white and purplish rose. _Column_ short, thick, white in - front. - - Odontoglossum Krameri, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, - 1868, 98, with woodcut; _Hooker fil._, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 5778; - _Bateman_, _Monograph of Odontoglossum_, t. 24; _Williams_, _Orchid - Growers’ Manual_, 5 ed., 236; _Floral Magazine_, t. 406 (as O. - Kremeri.) - - -This is a most charming small-growing Orchid, with remarkably pretty -delicately coloured flowers. It is at the present time very rare in -collections, and, in fact, had become almost lost to cultivation, but -fortunately during the last year a small number of plants was imported -into this country and distributed. Our drawing was made from a plant -which formed part of this importation, and which produced its chastely -coloured blossoms in the Victoria Nursery. Many years ago we remember to -have seen a fine lot imported by the late George Ure Skinner, Esq., but -since then it has until last year disappeared from our notice. We are, -however, glad to see it again making its appearance in our -Orchid-houses; for, as will be seen by reference to our illustration, it -is a plant of a most distinct and pleasing character, and will be a real -acquisition to the group of Odontoglots, of which numerous highly -popular species are at present in cultivation. - -_Odontoglossum Krameri_ is a plant of compact-growing habit, with small -flattened light green pseudobulbs, each producing from the top a -solitary leaf of a pale green colour. The plant generally attains about -ten inches in height. The flower spikes or peduncles are freely produced -from the base of the pseudobulbs after they have completed their growth, -several flowers being produced on each peduncle. The sepals and petals -are of a rosy lilac colour, margined with white; the lip is also rosy -lilac, but of a darker shade, flushed with yellow and marked and spotted -with purple at the neck, and having two semi-circular bands of dark -purplish rose and white near the base. The plants continue in bloom for -several weeks. - -We have found this species to thrive well in the Cattleya house, planted -in small pans or pots with good peat and sphagnum moss. It might -possibly do in a cooler structure, but we have as yet only cultivated it -in the Cattleya house, and this treatment has been found to suit it. It -requires to be kept moist during the growing season, but when at rest -should have only just sufficient water to keep it in a plump condition. -The plant possesses one great advantage—that of blooming during the -autumn months, when such flowers are so much in request. It has also -another good quality—that of occupying but a small space, so that any -cultivator who has a spare niche in his Orchid house can grow it without -any inconvenience. - - -Cattleya Trianæ.—R. B. Dodgson, Esq., of Blackburn, has kindly sent us a -wonderfully fine series of flowers of the different varieties of _C. -Trianæ_, including some of the grandest that have yet come under our -notice. Of two or three of these our Artist is preparing plates, which -will be issued in due course in the _Orchid Album_. The variety named -_C. Trianæ Dodgsoni_ bears most beautiful flowers, which are quite -distinct from all that we have previously seen, the sepals and petals -being large, and of a pure white, while the lip is of a rich magenta -colour, with the throat rich orange, white in the upper part. _C. Trianæ -Osmani_ is also a very fine variety, the flowers being rich in colour, -the sepals and petals rosy pink, and the lip large, of a bright magenta -colour; it is in fact altogether a wonderfully fine flower. There were -several other varieties sent, including one which we have selected as -the original _C. Trianæ_; this we shall first bring under the notice of -our readers, and the other two will follow.—B. S. W. - - -Mr. Dorman’s Orchids.—When visiting this grand collection last month -(March) we noticed the rare _Epidendrum Wallisii_ in flower. Mr. -Coningsby, the gardener, informed us that the flowers on this plant had -been open since November, and they still looked fresh. _Lælia flava_ was -also good. _Galeandra Devoniana_, a plant one seldom sees in bloom, was -quite at home here, flowering and growing luxuriantly. _Lycaste Skinneri -alba_, with its pure white flowers looked very charming; this was an -extra fine variety, with flowers as large as any we remember to have -seen. In addition to these there were many fine things in flower, which -space will not permit us to mention. Mr. Dorman’s Orchids are looking -remarkably well, and are well cared for, both employer and gardener -being enthusiastically fond of them.—H. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 41. - ANGRÆCUM EBURNEUM.] - - - - - ANGRÆCUM EBURNEUM. - [Plate 41.] - Native of Madagascar and Bourbon. - - - Epiphytal. _Stem_ erect, leafy, producing roots from the lower part - and from between the bases of the lower leaves. _Leaves_ distichous, - ligulate, very oblique at the apex, coriaceous, of a shining green - colour, striated, about two inches broad, carinate below and - overlapping each other at the base. _Peduncles_ axillary, furnished - with dark sheathing scales, and bearing an erect spike of numerous - large flowers of peculiar form and appearance, all pointing in one - direction and placed alternately back to back in a distichous or - two-ranked manner. _Flowers_ of a thick fleshy texture, green, with a - broad conspicuous white lip; _sepals_ and _petals_ lanceolate, pale - green, the dorsal sepal and the petals reflexed, the lateral sepals - patent; _lip_ large, broadly cordate, cuspidate, ivory white, the - centre concave, and bearing a cleft acuminated ridge; _spur_ tapering, - considerably longer than and parallel with the dorsal sepal, dark - green. _Column_ short, thick, greenish white. - - Angræcum eburneum, _Du Petit-Thouars_, _Orchidées des Iles Australes - d’Afrique_, t. 65; _Lindley_, _Botanical Register_, t. 1522; _Hooker_, - _Botanical Magazine_, t. 4761; _Paxton’s Magazine of Botany_, xvi., - 90, with woodcut; _Bateman_, _2nd Century of Orchidaceous Plants_, t. - 111; _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, 1873, 216, fig. 46; _Williams_, _Orchid - Grower’s Manual_, 5 ed., 88, with woodcut. - - Angræcum superbum, _Du Petit-Thouars_, _Orchidées_, tt. 62-4. - - Limodorum eburneum, _Bory_, _Voyage_, i., 359; t. 19. - - -A grand Orchid which was first introduced to this country from -Madagascar by the Horticultural Society of London, through their -collector, Mr. Forbes, in the third decade of the present century, that -is, more than fifty years since. It is, without doubt, one of the finest -of the species, and when well grown forms a noble plant, its long spikes -of attractive flowers, in company with its bold and characteristic -foliage and its majestic habit of growth, imparting to it an aspect of -dignity which no one can fail to recognise. Indeed, the magnificent -appearance it has when placed on the central stage of the East India -house is quite sufficient to win for it the favour of Orchid fanciers. - -Wherever space can be given to it, it should always be grown, as it -blooms during the winter months and continues in perfection for many -weeks longer than any other of its family that has come under our -notice. Our drawing was taken from a very fine specimen, producing three -well developed spikes, in the collection of D. B. Crawshay, Esq., -Rosefield, Sevenoaks, Kent, who is a great lover of Orchids, and is -forming a nice collection of them. - -_Angræcum eburneum_ is, as we have before noted, from Madagascar, and -consequently requires the heat of the East India house. It is of -comparatively easy cultivation. The strap-shaped leaves grow to about -eighteen inches in length, and are of a pleasant glossy, light green -colour; the flower spikes are produced from the leaf axils on each side -of the stem, and extend to the length of eighteen inches, bearing many -flowers of which the broad cordate lip is of a conspicuous ivory white. -The plants will sometimes produce as many as four spikes at one time. -The blooming period is in December, January, and February. - -There is in cultivation another variety of _Angræcum eburneum_, called -_virens_, but is not nearly so handsome and effective a plant as the -type, its flowers being of a greenish white, but the spike has a -somewhat more graceful contour, and the foliage is of a dark green -colour, so that it also is worth cultivating where room can be found for -its accommodation. - -The Angræcums form a very interesting genus in the great Orchid family; -and although amongst those that have bloomed in this country there are -not many that we consider to be worth growing as ornamental plants, yet -some, on the other hand, are very beautiful, and these we hope to be -able to figure in due course. There have been several new introductions -of late, and no doubt there are many yet to be acquired. We are glad to -notice that Sir Trevor Lawrence is getting up a collection of all the -best kinds, but it is found that some of them are difficult to obtain, -and they are none of them so readily imported alive as many other -Orchids are. They are mostly found growing on trees in their native -country, different species being met with on the same trees. It was very -interesting to hear the late Rev. W. Ellis talk of these plants, of -which many years ago he brought home living specimens of some of the -most beautiful of the species, such as _Angræcum sesquipedale_, _A. -Ellisii_, and others. - -_Angræcum eburneum_ is best cultivated in a pot as it is a large growing -plant, and produces thick fleshy roots. We find sphagnum moss to suit it -well, but it must have good drainage as it requires a liberal supply of -water during the summer months, for if it be allowed to shrivel the -bottom leaves wither and decay; in the winter, on the other hand, it -should have merely sufficient to keep the moss damp and the plant in a -plump condition. It requires the same general treatment as the large -growing Vandas, such as _Vanda suavis_, _V. tricolor_, and others. The -plants are not subject to the attacks of insects, their thick fleshy -leaves appearing to have no attraction for these pests. - - -Cattleya Trianæ.—We have received from E. Wright, Esq., Gravelly Hill, -Birmingham, a very fine form of this splendid _Cattleya_; the flowers -were six inches in diameter, the sepals and petals broad and of a rosy -pink colour, the lip of a rich magenta and beautifully fringed, having -the throat bright orange colour and the upper part rose-pink. It is -altogether a desirable and charming flower. The varieties of this -species are very useful, as they bloom in winter, when there are but few -other Cattleyas in flower.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 42. - DENDROBIUM MACROPHYLLUM.] - - - - - DENDROBIUM SUPERBUM [MACROPHYLLUM]. - [Plate 42.] - Native of the Philippine Islands. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ (pseudobulbs) stout, cylindrical, striated, the - nodes of the flowering ones marked by the persistent scarious - sheathing bases of the fallen leaves, drooping, and often attaining - considerable length. _Leaves_ alternate elliptic-oblong, acute or - obtuse, subcordate at the base, nervose, thin in texture, two-ribbed. - _Flowers_ very numerous, usually in pairs from the joints of the - stems, which form long floral wreaths; _sepals_ lanceolate, plane, the - lateral ones produced at the base, of a deep rich purplish magenta, - varying in intensity in different forms; _petals_ broadly - oblong-ovate, somewhat undulated, of the same colour as the sepals; - _lip_ pubescent, cordate-ovate, acuminate, convolute at the base, so - that with the extended front lobe it assumes something of the shape of - an oblique-mouthed funnel, the margin denticulate, the basal portion - of an intense sanguineous purple, appearing like two deep blotches; - the front lobe purplish magenta, marked with longitudinal ribs, - connected with finer transverse veins of a deeper purple, and having a - transverse three-lobed callosity. _Column_ short, included. - - Dendrobium superbum, _Reichenbach fil._ _MSS._; _Id._, _Walpers’ - Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi., 282; _Williams_, _Orchid Grower’s - Manual_, 5 ed., 180. - - Dendrobium macrophyllum, _Lindley_, _Botanical Register_, 1839, misc. - 46; 1844, misc. 62; _Id._ _Sertum Orchidaceum_, t. 35; _Pescatorea_, - t. 40; _Paxton’s Magazine of Botany_, viii., 97. - - Dendrobium macranthum, _Hooker_, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 3970; - _Planchon_ in _Flore des Serres_, viii, t. 757. - - -This is a magnificent Orchid, especially in the case of its finer -varieties, whether superior on the score of size or colouration. It was -first bloomed by the Messrs. Loddiges in 1839, in their wonderful plant -emporium at Hackney, having been introduced by them from the Philippine -Islands. A grand variety called _giganteum_, having flowers of immense -size, is figured in Mr. R. Warner’s _Select Orchidaceous Plants_ (1 -ser., t. 26); and in respect to colour, the form of which we now give an -illustration, is one of the richest and most effective we have yet seen. -The materials from which our figure was prepared were obligingly sent to -us by Mr. C. Penny, gardener to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, at -Sandringham. It will be at once seen that the specimen in question was a -well-grown example, and we understand that the plant yielded two -similarly well furnished wreaths, bearing as many as forty blossoms. -Besides this there are many other Orchids of superior merit to be seen -in the collection at Sandringham gardens, these plants, the magnates of -the vegetable world, being highly appreciated both by the Prince and the -Princess of Wales. - -The Dendrobiums are among the most beautiful and charming of our Indian -Orchids, many of the species being of a most graceful habit of growth, -and by their brightly coloured flowers imparting a remarkably -picturesque character to our Orchid houses. Some of them, moreover, have -delicately fragrant blossoms. In very many cases they bloom most -profusely, and with their long pendent stems look well suspended from -the roof of the house. Our present subject belongs to this latter class, -and is one of the most showy and beautiful of the species. - -_Dendrobium superbum_, which is more commonly known in gardens as -_Dendrobium macrophyllum_, is a deciduous plant, losing its foliage just -as it begins to blossom. It is a noble object when growing, producing -stems from two to three feet long, furnished along each side with -flowers growing in pairs; these flowers are four inches across, with -sepals and petals of a lively magenta-rose, and a lip similar in colour, -but with a purplish crimson throat. It blooms during February and March, -the individual blossoms lasting about a fortnight in beauty. It thrives -best when grown in a basket, and suspended from the roof. If hung up -when in blossom, amongst the foliage of the other plants, the flowers -are shown off to greater advantage, as it naturally blooms without -foliage. It grows well in the East India Orchid house, and requires a -good amount of heat and moisture during its growing season. After growth -is completed it will do well in the Cattleya house during the dormant -period, and when it begins to show its flower buds a little water may be -given to induce the buds to swell and develop fine flowers. When the -flowering season is over it may, if required, be placed in fresh -sphagnum moss. It is a free growing plant, and thrives best suspended -near the glass in the full light, but shaded from the burning sun. It -is, indeed, absolutely necessary to give it all the light possible; and, -in summer, a slight syringing when the house is closed will tend to keep -the red spider and thrips in check. - - -Dendrobium Hillii.—There is in the collection of R. Wyatt, Esq., Lake -House, Cheltenham, a very fine specimen of this cool Orchid, which has -been bearing numerous spikes of blossom, some of the spikes being as -much as twenty inches in length. The specimen was a most beautiful -object, with its long racemes of creamy white blossoms, which proceed -from the apices of its thick fleshy pseudobulbs; it has, moreover, dark -green foliage. This plant was growing in the conservatory, and had -continued in bloom for about two months, so that it is a most useful -subject for winter decoration. It is a very old Orchid, but is worth -cultivating, especially as it will grow in a conservatory or in any cool -house. There was also in the same collection a very fine variety of -_Cypripedium villosum_, one of the best we have seen, the flowers being -wonderfully bright in colour, and of large size. Of _Lycaste Skinneri_ -there was a well-grown plant, with very fine flowers, the sepals and -petals being broad and pure white, and the front portion of the lip -bright magenta, with the throat white. - - [Illustration: PL. 43. - ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ FLAVEOLUM.] - - - - - ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ FLAVEOLUM. - [Plate 43.] - Native of New Grenada. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ ovate, compressed, one or two leaved. - _Leaves_ elongate, oblong-lanceolate, acute, of a bright green colour. - _Scape_ radical, supporting a many-flowered raceme (or panicle) of - showy flowers, each subtended by a small ovate-oblong acute bract. - _Flowers_ large, differing from other known forms of the species by - their yellow colour, about three inches across; _sepals_ - ovate-lanceolate, acute, slightly wavy at the edges, pale - sulphur-yellow; _petals_ ovate, much undulated at the margins and - irregularly toothed, of the same pale yellow as the sepals; _lip_ - oblong, the apex truncately rounded and cuspidate, the margins - undulated and fimbriated, and the basal angles rounded and produced, - all of a bright yellow colour, marked near the centre with about three - conspicuous round reddish brown spots, and at the base with fine - radiating lines of the same colour, in front of which are two - divergent bars or crests. _Column_ arcuate, club-shaped, pale yellow - behind, dull brown on the inner face, and furnished with the usual - toothed wings at the edge. - - Odontoglossum Alexandræ flaveolum, _supra_. - - Odontoglossum crispum flaveolum, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ - Chronicle_, N.S. xiii., 41, 232. - - -This very distinct variety is one which will become very useful in the -decoration of our cool Orchid houses, for as the white-flowered -varieties of _Odontoglossum Alexandræ_ and other species are now so -numerous, that now before us, being yellow, will produce a good -contrast, which we must have in order to make a pleasing display. Our -drawing was taken from a fine example in the collection of G. Hardy, -Esq., Pickering Lodge, Timperley, near Manchester. We may add that Mr. -Hardy’s is one of the largest and best collections in the North of -England, since he spares neither trouble nor expense in procuring the -best varieties that can be obtained. As a proof of this we may refer to -the recent Manchester Whitsuntide flower shows, where Orchids are one of -the prominent features, and where Mr. Hardy’s collection has frequently -taken high honours. - -_Odontoglossum Alexandræ flaveolum_ is a compact free-growing plant, -like _O. Alexandræ_ itself, and produces fine drooping flower spikes -which we have seen bearing fifteen expanded bright creamy yellow -flowers, these continuing in beauty for several weeks. This variety is -all the more useful because of its blooming in the winter months when so -many of our white Odontoglots are also in flower. The plant requires the -same treatment as others of its class. It was found growing on the -branches of trees intermixed with _Odontoglossum Alexandræ_, and no -doubt, as is probably the case with others of the so-called new -varieties, it has originated by intercrossing with some allied species, -which may have been growing near to it, and has been flowering at the -same time. We hope shortly to give an illustration of the original or -typical form of _O. Alexandræ_. - -The best material in which to grow the Odontoglots is fibrous peat; they -must have good drainage because they want plenty of water during the -growing season, in fact the material should always be kept moist. The -plants must never be over-potted, but just sufficient root room must be -permitted them to secure healthy progression; over-potting, indeed, -often becomes dangerous. We find that live sphagnum moss placed on the -top of the peat is a great help in their cultivation, as it holds water, -and there is always some degree of moisture arising from it; moreover, -when it is kept in a healthy growing state it has a very neat and -pleasing appearance. - - -Odontoglossums at Trentham.—The _régime_ adopted at Trentham for growing -Cool Orchids, such as Odontoglots, is to give them water most profusely, -the cold rain-water which falls from the roof being used summer and -winter, and to allow fresh air to circulate freely amongst them at all -times, night and day, except in very severe weather. The natural water -at Trentham, as does any other water containing lime, will, after a -time, kill the Sphagnum used for potting purposes, and this is most -inimical to the plants, which never thrive so well as when the Sphagnum -keeps fresh and in a growing state. In respect to the Sphagnum Moss used -for Orchid growing, it does not appear to be generally known that -amongst the different species the best for potting Odontoglots and -similar plants is a dense-growing compact kind, whose very compactness -gives it a sponge-like consistency, and enables it to suck up and retain -water freely. This is what the Odontoglots like.—T. M. - - -Odontoglossum Roezlii.—A fine example of this showy Orchid has reached -us from D. Todd, Esq., Eastwood Park, near Glasgow. The spike was a -particularly fine one, bearing well-developed flowers, of which the -sepals and petals were white, the lower part of the latter being of a -dark magenta, and the lip white, coloured with lines of crimson on the -disk. Mr. Todd grows these plants remarkably well, and deserves great -credit for his felicitous treatment of them, as few persons are so -successful in their cultivation. There is a very good collection of -Orchids forming at this place, Mr. Todd being an admirer of good kinds. -At the Glasgow exhibitions his fine collection forms one of the greatest -attractions of the show.—B. S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 44. - LÆLIA ANCEPS DAWSONII.] - - - - - LÆLIA ANCEPS DAWSONI. - [Plate 44.] - Native of Juquila in Mexico. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ oblong-ovate, four to five inches long, - compressed and two-edged, with prominent angles on the flattened sides - so as to render them tetraquetrous, clothed with large membranaceous - scales. _Leaves_ one or two from each pseudobulb, oblong-lanceolate - acute, coriaceous, smooth and glossy on the surface, of a rich deep - green colour. _Scape_ rising from between the leaves at the apex of - the pseudobulb, two to three feet long, ancipitous, clothed with - carinate bracts, and bearing about three large and charmingly - beautiful blossoms. _Flowers_ large, measuring about four and a-half - inches across; _sepals_ lanceolate, acuminate, white; _petals_ ovate, - acuminate, white; _lip_ prominent, three-lobed: the lateral lobes - convolute over the column, white at the margin, stained with rosy - purple exteriorly, and marked with numerous bright purple branched - lines within the closed portion, where there is also a yellow ridge - lined with purple which passes out into the base of the front lobe in - the form of three yellow crests; the front lobe oblong acute, recurved - at the tip, the base white, the rest of the lobe (about three-fourths - of its surface) of a deep rich magenta-purple, evenly but narrowly - bordered with white. _Column_ enclosed. - - Lælia anceps Dawsoni, _Anderson_, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, 1868, 27; - _Reichenbach fil._, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, 1873, 254; _Warner_, - _Select Orchidaceous Plants_, 2 ser., t. 34; _Jennings_, _Orchids_, t. - 6; _Floral Magazine_, t. 530; _Williams_, _Orchid Grower’s Manual_, 5 - ed., 202. - - Lælia anceps Dawsoniana, _Rand_, _Orchids_, 296. - - -This is one of the most chaste and beautiful Orchids of its class. The -type, _Lælia anceps_, has flowers of a rosy lilac and deep purple -colour, while the one before us is pure white with the exception of the -lip, which is of a rich sparkling purple, and makes a splendid contrast. - -This variety was imported many years ago by the Messrs. Low & Co., of -Clapton. There have been several other white forms flowered lately, but -none to equal the one represented in our plate, the drawing of which was -taken from a very fine specimen bearing four spikes, growing in the rich -collection of R. B. Dodgson, Esq., of Blackburn; it was the finest plant -we have seen in bloom, and the production of so grand a specimen -reflects great credit on Mr. Osman, the Gardener, for his skill in -cultivation. - -_Lælia anceps Dawsoni_ is, like the type form, of compact-growing habit. -The pseudobulbs are from four to six inches in height, and the foliage -of a light green colour. The flower spike is developed at the tip of the -pseudobulb after it has completed its growth, and attains to about two -feet in length, generally bearing two or three blossoms at the end; the -sepals and petals are pure white, of good form and substance, and the -lip is of a dark rosy purple edged with white, the disk orange coloured, -the lower part of the throat pale orange veined with crimson, and the -upper part white. It generally blooms in January and February, and -continues in perfection for two and three weeks. - -This variety must be very rare in its native habitat, as we have -received importations on several occasions purporting to be this white -form, but after the plants have been grown on and flowered, they have -invariably proved to be the type with rosy-coloured flowers. This is -also the experience of other importers of Orchids. - -The plant is best grown in a pot or basket suspended from the roof, -where it can obtain all the light possible, which induces it to grow -with greater vigour and to flower more freely. It thrives well in the -Cattleya house with a moderate supply of water in the growing season, -but when at rest less water will suffice. We have found good rough -fibrous peat to be the most advantageous material in which to grow it, -allowing ample drainage; and when fresh potting material is required the -operation of supplying it should be performed just as the plant begins -to grow, which is after the blooming season. Always bear in mind that -the plants must be kept free from insects. - -Propagation is effected by dividing the plant just as it begins to break -into growth. In performing the operation two or three pseudobulbs should -be detached from the plant, having a leading bulb; when taken off at -this stage the plants soon become established. - - -Dendrobium Wardianum.—A fine variety of this grand Dendrobe comes from -D. Alroy Salamon, Esq., Clapham Park. The specimen has very large -flowers, four and a-half inches in diameter, and of great substance. The -sepals and petals are one and a-quarter inch broad, of a pure white, -heavily tipped with rich magenta; the lip is very large, and also -heavily blotched with magenta, the throat being rich orange with two -dark brown eye-like spots. These flowers were from an imported plant, -and we are curious to see whether it will produce equally fine flowers -from the home made growths. If so we shall hope to figure it at some -future time, as in the state in which it has just bloomed, it is -certainly one of the finest and best forms of this splendid species -which we have met with. It is also a free grower.—B. S. W. - - -Dendrobium Falconeri.—Mr. Priest, Gardener to the Marquis of Lothian, -has sent us some fine flowers of this favourite Dendrobe. He informs us -that the plant from which the flowers were taken has 150 blossoms upon -it. This must be a remarkably fine specimen, and well cultivated, to -produce flowers in such profusion.—H. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 45. - CATTLEYA TRIANÆ.] - - - - - CATTLEYA TRIANÆ. - [Plate 45.] - Native of Colombia. - - - Epiphytal. _Stems_ oblong, club-shaped, furrowed, about a foot in - height, clothed with whitish membranaceous sheaths. _Leaves_ solitary, - coriaceous, ligulate-oblong, recurved at the tip, of a deep green - colour, six to eight inches long. _Scape_ two or three-flowered, - proceeding from a terminal oblong compressed brownish bract or sheath, - about two inches long. _Flowers_ large, variable in colour, from white - to a dilute delicate tint of rosy purple in the typical form, the lip - being of a rich magenta; _sepals_ three inches or more in length, - oblong-lanceolate, plane, of a delicate blush or pallid tint of rosy - purple; _petals_ of the same colour, rhombeo-ovate, retuse, crispulate - at the anterior edge; _lip_ convolute at the base, where it is of a - pale purplish mauve, the front lobe obovate, rounded and crimped in - the anterior part, where it is bilobed, wholly covered with - crimson-magenta, exceedingly rich and brilliant, the disk marked with - a broad rich orange-yellow bilobed blotch. _Column_ club-shaped, - bearing at the tip a pair of sickle-shaped wings. - - Cattleya Trianæ, _Linden and Reichenbach fil._, in _Mohl and - Schlechtendal’s Botanische Zeitung_, xviii., 74 (1860); _Reichenbach - fil._, in _Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi., 315. - - Cattleya labiata Lindigiana, _Karsten_—fide _Reichenbach fil._ - - Cattleya labiata Trianæ, _Duchartre_, _Journal de la Société Impériale - d’Horticulture_, 1860, 369—fide _Reichenbach fil._ - - Epidendrum labiatum, _var._ Trianæ, _Reichenbach fil._, in _Walpers’ - Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi., 315. - - -This very charming species of _Cattleya_ was first obtained from -Colombia for European gardens, in 1856, by Mr. Linden, to whom we are -indebted for so many choice introductions amongst exotic plants. It is -one of the best and most useful of the species, especially for winter -decoration, and though very variable as regards the tinting of the -flowers in the many distinct forms which have been imported, it is -always of a brilliant and strikingly beautiful appearance, owing to the -rich colouring displayed on the lip. The shades of colour in the several -kinds varies from pure White through blush white and pale pinkish rose -to a pale shade of deep rose, the upper lobe of the lip being of a rich -magenta-crimson. - -There are, as we have just said, many forms of _Cattleya Trianæ_. That -which we now figure we consider to be a very good representative of the -typical form of the species. Our drawing was taken from a very fine -specimen grown in the beautiful collection of R. B. Dodgson, Esq., of -Beardwood, Blackburn, in which many forms of this lovely species occur, -as we have already intimated under Plate 40. We have also mentioned Mr. -Osman as being a most successful cultivator of Orchidaceous plants. - -_Cattleya Trianæ_ is a free-growing as well as a free-blooming species. -It has dark green foliage, and attains the height of about fifteen -inches, producing its blossoms during the winter months, after the -growths are completed. The sepals and petals are of a pale pink or -delicate tint of rosy purple; the lip is of a bright magenta, margined -with delicate rose-pink, the edge being fringed, and the disk marked -with a rich orange-coloured two-lobed blotch. The flowers are produced -in February and March, and continue for several weeks in perfection, -provided they are kept free from moisture, which if it lodges upon them -will cause them to become spotted, and destroy their beauty. It is an -excellent plan to place the plants when in bloom in a drier house than -that in which they are grown, and to bestow all possible care upon their -preservation. Of themselves they form a fine group of Cattleyas, there -being so many distinct varieties, of colours such as to make them -thoroughly useful for decorative purposes. By their agency our Orchid -houses may be kept gay for several months in the most dreary time of the -year, for when there is a number of plants they may be flowered in -succession. The plants can now be bought at a reasonable price, as, in -consequence of the large importations of them, they have become -plentiful. - -_Cattleya Trianæ_ requires the same treatment as _C. labiata_, _C. -Mossiæ_, and others of the same class, all these plants being, indeed, -regarded by some botanists as varieties of one species. For their -successful growth the use of good fibrous peat and sphagnum moss, with -ample drainage, are requisite, and they should be kept well elevated -above the pot rim. They will also thrive well suspended from the roof in -baskets, and also on blocks of wood, but in these cases they require -more attention as to watering, in order to keep them moist at the roots. - -Cattleyas thrive best when placed under the influence of strong light, -but they must be shaded from bright sunshine. This _régime_ induces them -to blossom more freely, indeed, if the bulbs are not well ripened good -results cannot be anticipated. The plants require a plentiful supply of -water during the growing season, by which we mean that they should be -kept constantly moist about the roots. When their growth is completed -less may be applied, merely enough to keep them in a plump state. When -the flower spikes begin to appear more water should again be given, as -it will induce the buds to swell more freely, in consequence of which -the flowers will be finer. - - -Orchids from Dr. Paterson.—This gentleman has been kind enough to send -us a grand spike of his _Vanda tricolor Patersoni_. It is a fine form of -this noble Orchid, the flowers being of large size, and well marked, the -lip beautifully coloured with rich magenta. A nice spike of the -beautiful _Aërides nobile_ came in the same parcel, and a curious _Eria_ -with white flowers, named _stellata_ (the true _stellata_ has dull pale -yellow flowers) on account of the star-shaped form of its blossoms.—B. -S. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 46. - MILTONIA CUNEATA.] - - - - - MILTONIA CUNEATA. - [Plate 46.] - Native of Brazil. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ ovate-oblong, compressed, light green, - diphyllous. _Leaves_ ligulate-oblong, striate, somewhat carinate - beneath, of a cheerful green colour. _Scape_ radical, erect, bearing a - five to eight flowered raceme, each of the pedicels having at its base - a whitish glumaceous triangular bract about half as long as the ovary. - _Flowers_ large and showy, with a broad flat white lip; _sepals_ - oblong-lanceolate, narrowed to the base, of a deep chocolate-purple - with a yellowish green tip on which is a dark spot, the margins - undulated, the lateral ones connate at the base; _petals_ similar in - form, size, and colour; _lip_ white, with a pink tinge, and one or two - chocolate spots near the base, wedge-shaped, with a narrow claw-like - base and a broad flat anterior expanded portion, somewhat repand on - the margin, and furnished on the disk with two raised plates or - lamellæ. _Column_ short, creamy white, bidentate on the middle - portion, the anther-bed cucullate, membranaceous, denticulate, retuse. - - Miltonia cuneata, _Lindley_, _Botanical Register_, 1844, misc. 28; - 1845, t. 8; _Id._, _Folia Orchidacea_, art. _Miltonia_, No. 8; - _Reichenbach fil._, _Xenia Orchidacea_, i. 131; _Moore_, - _Illustrations of Orchidaceous Plants_, art. _Miltonia_, 7 t. 2; - _Lemaire_, _L’Illustration Horticole_, t. 237; _Williams_, _Orchid - Grower’s Manual_, 5 ed., 223. - - Miltonia speciosa, _Klotzsch_, in _Otto and Dietrich’s Allgemeine - Gartenzeitung_, xvii. 129. - - Oncidium speciosum, _Reichenbach fil._, _MSS._; _Id._, _Walpers’ - Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi. 761. - - -This genus of Orchids is not a very extensive one, but among the species -which are known there are some beautiful plants of distinct and striking -character. The species which we now represent is a very pretty one, -which we are pleased to have the opportunity of introducing to the -notice of our readers. The specimen figured was grown in the fine -collection of W. Cobb, Esq., of Sydenham, who is a great lover of -Orchids, and makes it a study to procure the best kinds and cultivate -them in the best possible manner. - -_Miltonia cuneata_ was introduced by the Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting, -about the year 1843, and first flowered with them in the spring of 1844. -It is a free-growing plant, with light green foliage, which grows about -a foot in height, and produces its flowers in erect racemes, seven or -often more together. The sepals and petals are chestnut-brown, tipped -with greenish yellow, and the lip is broad and of a creamy white colour. -The flowers are produced in February and March, and last for several -weeks in beauty. - -This _Miltonia_ requires the heat of the Cattleya house, and thrives in -good fibrous peat; it must be well drained in order that the superfluous -moisture may pass off, as the plant dislikes stagnant water about the -roots. In the growing season a moderate supply of water may be given at -the roots, but less will suffice when the growth is completed. We find -the Miltonias to require more shade than most Orchids. Their leaves are -thin in texture, and consequently are soon injured, which makes it -necessary to pay strict attention to the requirements of the plants, as -while too much sun would dry up the foliage, too much moisture about it -would cause it to go spotted. - -They are propagated by dividing the bulbs, leaving two old ones and a -growth in front. These divided portions should be potted in small pots -until they get well established, and always at all times be kept free -from insects. The white scale will sometimes attack them, and do much -injury if not promptly removed. - - -Lælia elegans prasiata.—From E. Harvey, Esq., Aigburth, Liverpool, comes -a spike of a grand form of this fine _Lælia_. The flowers are six inches -across, the sepals and petals purplish rose, the lip rich magenta. This -is quite a distinct form, and worthy of a place in every collection. -Accompanying this was a spike of _Scuticaria Hadweni_, var. _pardalina_, -described some time ago in the _Gardeners’ Chronicle_.—B. S. W. - - -Dendrobium nobile (three-lipped).—Mr. Knight, Gardener to the Right Hon. -W. H. Smith, M.P., Greenlands, Henley-on-Thames, sends us a curious form -of this grand old Orchid, with three lips, two of the lips taking the -place of the petals of the normal flowers, and being marked and coloured -in a similar manner to the ordinary lip. In addition, the flower was -deliciously scented. We do not suppose that this variation will be -constant, being more probably a malformation.—B. S. W. - - -Bollea cœlestis as a block plant.—When visiting the establishment of -Messrs. Vervaet et Cie., of Gand, Belgium, in April last, we were -surprised to see this lovely Orchid quite at home on a block, growing -luxuriantly, and rooting in all directions; the growths were very -strong, and as healthy as any we have seen. Is it possible that this may -be the secret of success with this Orchid? Being an epiphyte, found -growing on the limbs of trees, we should imagine this treatment would be -the most natural for it. It is evident that pot culture does not suit -it, as it frequently dies off after two or three years.—H. W. - - [Illustration: PL. 47. - ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ.] - - - - - ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ. - [Plate 47.] - Native of Bogota, New Grenada. - - - Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ oblong-ovate, compressed, often stained - brownish purple, two-leaved. _Leaves_ ligulate-oblong, acute, - channelled toward the base, of a pleasing light green colour. _Scape_ - radical, supporting a many-flowered raceme, or in the more vigorous - plants a panicle equalling or exceeding the leaves, and having small - acute bracts at the base of the pedicels. _Flowers_ exquisitely chaste - and beautiful, white, tinted with rose, and variously spotted, fully - three inches across; _sepals_ ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, entire or - toothed, white, suffused more or less with a delicate tint of - rose-pink; _petals_ in the best forms, broadly ovate and much - undulated, entire or toothed, white, rather less deeply tinted with - pink; _lip_ shorter than the petals, oblong-ovate, the margin much - crisped and the shortly acuminate apex recurved, white, with a rich - yellow stain down the centre, and marked with reddish brown radiating - lines on the disk, and with one or two (or in some forms many) rich - red-brown spots or blotches half-way down, the disk also bearing a - bilamellate crest. _Column_ arcuate, club-shaped, chestnut-red. - - Odontoglossum Alexandræ, _Bateman_, in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, 1864, - 1083; _Id._, _Proceedings of the Royal Horticultural Society_, iv., - 186; _Id._, _Monograph of Odontoglossum_, t.t. 14, 19; _Hooker_, - _Botanical Magazine_, t. 5691 (var. _Trianæ_), t. 5697 (var. - _guttatum_); _Jennings_, _Orchids_, t. 26; _Warner_, _Select - Orchidaceous Plants_, 2 ser., t. 23 (var. _Warneri_); _Floral - Magazine_, t. 343; _Williams_, _Orchid Grower’s Manual_, 5 ed., 228. - - Odontoglossum Bluntii, _Reichenbach, fil._, in _Mohl and - Schlechtendal’s Botanische Zeitung_, “n. 53, Dec. 64;” _Van Houtte_, - _Flore des Serres_, t. 1652. - - Odontoglossum crispum, _Lindley_, in _Annals of Natural History_, xv., - 256; _Id._, _Folia Orchidacea_, art. _Odontoglossum_, No. 57; - _Reichenbach fil._, in _Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi., - 845. - - -The Princess of Wales’ Odontoglossum, one of the most beautiful and one -of the most useful of Orchids, was found in the province of Bogota, in -New Grenada, at an altitude of from 7,000 to 8,000 feet, growing in -great profusion on the branches of trees in the forests of that elevated -region. It was introduced to this country in 1864 by Mr. Weir, when -collecting for the Royal Horticultural Society, and was described in -that year by Mr. Bateman as above quoted. There cannot be two opinions -respecting its beauty, as it is one of the best Orchids in cultivation; -and though there are amongst the imported plants great diversities in -the form and colour of the flowers, yet all are beautiful. Some have the -flowers of a pure white, in others they are variously suffused with a -delicate rosy hue; some are spotted with crimson, and there are those -with yellow flowers, but the most chaste and beautiful of them all are -the pure white varieties, tinted with rose colour, which are mostly -sought after by cultivators, though the many beautifully spotted forms -produce a fine contrast when intermixed with the others. - -The figure we now publish was taken from a well-grown specimen in the -collection of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, at Sandringham, and, as this -species is named in honour of the Princess of Wales, who is a great -lover of flowers, and especially of the Orchidaceæ, we are proud to be -able to announce that our artist has been permitted to prepare an -illustration of this charming plant from such a source. There is a very -fine collection of these plants at Sandringham, and among them are some -very fine specimens, the accomplished gardener, Mr. C. Penny, being most -successful in flowering them with grand spikes of bloom. There are also -numerous varieties in the collection, but the one we have figured is a -good example of the typical form. - -_Odontoglossum Alexandræ_ is a compact-growing plant, attaining about a -foot in height; it is furnished with lively green foliage, and produces -its blossoms after the growth is completed on a drooping spike which, as -it overhangs the green foliage, has a most graceful appearance. The -sepals are white, slightly tinged with pale rose colour, the petals are -pure white, and the lip is white, with reddish-brown spots upon it, and -a patch of bright orange-yellow at the base. The plants bloom at -different times of the year, according to the period of the completion -of their growth, and, therefore, by having a good quantity of plants, a -succession may be kept flowering all the year round. We are never -without a good show of these plants in bloom, and it is the same in all -collections where they are grown in considerable numbers. The individual -flowers will last many weeks in beauty. They are extremely useful for -cutting, as they keep for a long time in water. - -As this species requires what is called cool treatment very little -expense need be incurred in its cultivation. Indeed, any one having a -small house where a temperature can be kept up in winter of from 45° to -50°, with as little fire-heat as possible, can grow a great quantity of -them, since they occupy but little space. In summer no fire-heat is -required, unless the nights are cold, which is seldom the case at that -season, but no draughts should be allowed to reach them, as draughts are -as deleterious to them as to all other plants grown in glass houses. -They require shading from the scorching rays of the sun, but like to -have all the light that can be given them. Under this treatment they -will grow stronger and stronger, and flower more and more freely. - -The potting material which we find most suitable for them is good -fibrous peat, with the finer earthy particles shaken out; they must have -good drainage, in fact the pots must be three-parts filled with drainage -material, and the plants well elevated above the pot rim. They are -naturally free-rooting plants, but we find a little live sphagnum moss -on the top of the peat causes them to root more freely, and as they -require a good deal of moisture at the roots during their period of -growth, the moss, if kept in a growing condition, will help to supply -their wants. - - [Illustration: PL. 48. - VANDA CŒRULESCENS.] - - - - - VANDA CŒRULESCENS. - [Plate 48.] - Native of Burmah. - - - Epiphytal. _Stem_ one to two feet high or more, producing long stout - flexuous roots from the leaf bases. _Leaves_ close set, distichous, - linear-ligulate, truncately-bilobed, coriaceous, channelled, five to - seven inches long, of a deep green colour, carinate, the keel forming - an angular projection at the tip. _Scapes_ or _Peduncles_ slender, - distantly vaginate, with small appressed sheaths, axillary, erect, - bearing a ten to twenty flowered raceme longer than the leaves. - _Flowers_ neat and very pleasing, pale mauve-blue; _sepals_ incurved, - cuneate-ovate, obtuse, clawed, of a pale greyish blue; _petals_ - similar in size, form, and colour, twisted at the base, with the two - lateral lobes tawny-yellow, and adnate to the column, the middle or - front lobe obcuneate dilated and emarginate at the apex, the margins - deflexed, of a rich violet-blue, with a pair of keel-shaped deep - violet calli and a short intermediate one on the disk, the spur - straight or incurved, conical, tipped with green. _Column_ small, - blue. - - Vanda cœrulescens, _Griffith_, _Notulæ_, 352; _Id._, _Icones_, t. 331; - _Lindley_, _Folia Orchidacea_, art. _Vanda_, No. 19; _Reichenbach - fil._, in _Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ_, vi., 868; _Id._, - in _Gardeners’ Chronicle_, 1869, 498; 1870, 529, fig. 97; _Hooker - fil._, _Botanical Magazine_, t. 5834 (colour faulty); _Williams_, - _Orchid Grower’s Manual_, ed. 5, 305. - - -The Vandas are a most noble family of Orchids, including amongst them -many beautiful species, such as _V. suavis_, _V. tricolor_, _V. -Batemanni_, and others. They are well furnished with leaves, and make -splendid specimens, requiring considerable space in which to grow them, -but they are plants of great beauty, and when not in bloom make grand -objects of attraction. No collection should be without them, as they -flower at all times of the year. Where a number of these Orchids are -grown, as at Chatsworth, we have seen as many as 193 spikes in blossom -at one time, presenting a most glorious sight. - -The Vandas are of easy cultivation. The species which we now figure is a -small, elegant-growing, free-blooming plant, and also very distinct in -character, as will be seen from the plate, which gives a good -representation of it. Our drawing was taken from a beautiful specimen -growing in the splendid collection of C. Dorman, Esq., The Firs, Laurie -Park, Sydenham, who has one of the best grown collections of Orchids we -have seen, and one which does great credit to Mr. Coningsby, the -gardener. - -_Vanda cœrulescens_ is a compact growing species, as may be seen from -our plate. In this instance it produced a flower spike of a drooping -habit fifteen inches long, which is quite an exception, as the flower -spikes are generally more or less erect or ascending. The sepals and -petals are of a bluish-mauve, the lip of a deep blue. It is altogether -most distinct in colour, and a plant that is greatly required in a -collection of Orchids for the sake of the charming contrasts it yields. -It blooms at different times of the year, and continues for several -weeks in beauty. We find the heat of the East India house is congenial -to it. It grows well in sphagnum moss, and must have good drainage, -because it must be kept moist during the growing season; when at rest -less moisture is required. The plant thrives either in a pot or in a -basket suspended from the roof, so that it may get plenty of light, but -must be shaded from the sun. - - -Odontoglossum Alexandræ reginæ.—F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Oldfield, -Bickley, has sent us two fine spikes of this grand variety, the white -flowers of which are of good form and profusely blotched, both on the -sepals and petals, with reddish crimson. It is one of the finest spotted -forms of this valuable species.—B. S. W. - - -Orchids from Perth, N.B.—We have received from W. Macdonald, Esq., -Woodlands, Perth, a nice spike of _Scuticaria Steelii_, with three -flowers. This is a curious growing Orchid, and one seldom sees it in -blossom. The flowers are produced from the base of the reed-like leaves, -and are yellow, distinctly spotted with crimson. The plant makes a fine -specimen for a block, and when suspended from the roof shows off its -leaves and flowers to advantage. Accompanying this was a spike of a fine -variety of _Odontoglossum Pescatorei_, with flowers measuring three and -a half inches across. Mr. Macdonald informs us that this spike was -produced from a plant with small bulbs, and he expects, as the plant -gets stronger, that it will produce larger flowers. There was also in -flower at The Woodlands a grand specimen of _Camarotis purpurea_, with -about 100 spikes of its pretty rosy pink flowers fully open.—B. S. W. - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - -—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook - is public-domain in the country of publication. - -—Silently corrected a few palpable typos. - -—Added arabic page numbers to non-plate pages. - -—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by - _underscores_. - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Orchid Album, Volume 1, by -Robert Warner and Benjamin Samuel Williams and Thomas Moore - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ORCHID ALBUM, VOLUME 1 *** - -***** This file should be named 55145-0.txt or 55145-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/1/4/55145/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Carol Spears and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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