DECEMBER 29. 1S9S. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



107 



Odontoglossum Rossii Ma jus. 



syringing with a fine rose twice a day 

 in summer and once a day in winter 

 on all bright days is very beneficial 

 to them. A temperature of 45 to 50 

 degrees in winter suits them admir- 

 ably, with but few exceptions. They 

 should on no account be over-potted, 

 and must be always well drained. They 

 all flower from the side of the bulb. 

 Watch for slugs and snails, as they 

 eat the tender flower spike very often. 

 Cotton batting placed about the flower 

 spike is a good preventive. They are 

 also subject to thrip if allowed to get 

 dry. 



Odontoglossum ^lexandrae (crisp- 

 um), a most beautiful variety from 

 Bogota, one of the best cool house 

 orchids, has a very graceful spike of 

 pure white flowers, blotched with ir- 

 regular cinnamon spots. The plant 

 blooms in fall and early winter. 



Odontoglossum vexillarium (some- 

 times called Miltonia vexillarium). 

 This grand species grows best in the 

 cattleya house, but should have the 

 direct rays of the sun k«pt from it. 

 Elevate the plant well on the pot and 

 use only the best fibrous peat and 

 good, clean sphagnum, and plenty of 

 drainage. This species comes from 

 Brazil and blooms freely during sum- 

 mer and autumn under proper treat- 

 ment. The flowers are large, rosy 

 pink, and very distinct. They last a 

 long time if kept free from damp. 



Odontoglossum cirrhosum, a mag- 

 nificent species, that is a native of 

 Ecuador, and produces a very fine 

 spike from 12 to 18 inches long of 

 beautifully marked flowers, pure 

 white, with heavy cinnamon spots. It 

 grows best in a cool house and should 

 surely be in every collection. 



Odontoglossum citrosmum, a truly 

 beautiful species that comes from 

 Guatemala, and differs materially from 

 the preceding. It is best grown in a 

 basket, suspended in the cattleya 

 house, as it pi'oduces long, drooping 

 flower spikes of pure white ground, 

 with almost invisible lavender spots; 

 blooms in June or July. 



Odontoglossum maculatum, a charm- 

 ing species that also comes from 

 Guatemala, and produces its beautiful, 

 erect spikes of yellow and crimson 

 flowers during the winter. Grow in a 

 pot in the cool house. 



Odontoglossum Phalaenopsis, one of 

 the best of the genus if properly 

 grown, and should be in every collec- 

 tion. It grows best in the cattleya 

 house and should be grown in a pot 

 well drained. This is a very distinct 

 species, with very large, perfectly flat 

 white and crimson flowers, which are 

 produced during the autumn months. 



Odontoglossum grande, a beautiful, 

 free flowering species, that comes from 

 Guatemala and is commonly known as 

 the "Baby Orchid." It grows best in 

 a pot, blooms in autumn and winter, 

 the flowers lasting a very long time. 

 It produces an upright, stiff stem, with 

 from three to five large tiger-striped 

 yellow and brown flowers. It is sub- 

 ject to thrip if allowed to become dry. 

 Should be grown in the cool house. ; 



Odontoglossum Rossii majus, a sweet i 

 little variety from Mexico. It grows 1 

 best on a block, with a little fibrous 

 peat and abundance of water. It is a 

 very free bloomer, with short spikes 

 of two or three beautifully marked 

 crimson and white flowers. A very 



suitable variety for boutonnieres. It 

 deserves a place in every collection. 



ONCIDIUM.— This interesting genus 

 is perhaps the most useful commer- 

 cially of any for its gracefully delicate 

 spikes of beautifully marked flowers, 

 some of which can be had at all times 

 of the year under proper cultivation. 

 Most of them like the temperature of 

 the cattleya house, but can be grown 

 in cooler quarters if care is observed 

 in watering. Oncidiums do not like 

 much water on the foliage, but require 

 plenty of moisture in the atmosphere 

 as well as free ventlation. Many sorts 

 grow well on blocks, with sphagnum 

 moss or good, fibrous peat at the back 

 of them, and firmly fastened with 

 strong copper wire. All varieties de- 

 light to be suspended as near the 

 glass as practicable, but must be 

 shaded lightly. They like plenty of 

 water at their roots in their gi-owing 

 season, and those grown in pots or 

 baskets require an abundance of drain- 

 age. They can be grown in either peat 

 or sphagnum, or both, but I prefer the 

 latter for most sorts, with some brok- 

 en charcoal. During their resting sea- 

 son water very carefully, but on no 

 account allow them to suffer for warn 

 of it. Most species are subject to the 

 white scale and should therefore be 

 watched. Slugs are very partial to 

 the young, tender flower spikes, and a 

 small piece of cotton batting should 

 be tied around them to save them from 

 the depredations of these pests. 



Oncidium ampliatum majus is, I 

 think, a native of Guatemala, and pro- 

 duces its large, branching spikes of 

 beautiful yellow flowers in spring, and 

 continues blooming for at least six 

 weeks if in robust health. It grows 

 best in a pot or basket, but can be 

 grown on a block if plenty of water is 

 given. 



Oncidium incurvum, a pretty Mexi- 

 can species, blooming very freely in 

 winter, has long spikes of white and 

 brown flowers. Grows best in a pot, 

 with the same treatment as the above. 



Oncidium crispum, a grand dwarf 

 species from Brazil, grows best on a 

 block with a little sphagnum or fibrous 

 peat, loves moisture and does well in 

 the cattleya house or any house main- 

 taining a night temperature of 55 to 

 60 degrees; blooms generally in sum- 

 mer; has a large, branching spike of 

 yellowish copper color; is very at- 

 tractive and lasts about three or four 

 weeks. 



Oncidium reflexum, a fine old species 

 from Mexico, produces numerous 

 spikes of beautiful yellow flowers dur- 

 ing autumn. It is a general favorite 

 with both grower and purchaser and 

 should be grown by all orchid grow- 

 ers. 



Oncidium varicosum is a good spe- 

 cies for all to grow, as it is a very 

 free grower and good bloomer. Grows 

 best in a flat pot or basket, in a warm 

 house, suspended; has a fine spike of 

 canary yellow flowers; very imposing 

 in appearance; is a native of Brazil; 



