JUNE. 



REVIEW. 



133 



The Orchid- Grower s Manual. By B. S. Williams. 8vo. pp. 108. 

 Chapman and Hall. 



As far as the mere cultivation of Orchids is concerned, this is perhaps 

 the most really useful hook that has ever yet issued from the press, 

 embodying as it does the practice of one of our very best cultivators 

 of this, in some respects, difficult class of plants to manage. In ad- 

 dition to twenty-five pages of excellent introductory matter, it con- 

 tains a list of upwards of 260 of the best Orchids we at present 

 possess, each of which is treated like the following example : 



" Cattleya Skinnerii. — A beautiful and free-flowering plant from 

 Guatemala, grows about a foot high, and blooms in March, April, and 

 May; the blossoms are rose-purple, which remain three weeks in per- 

 fection if the flowers are kept dry. This fine species of Cattleya, 

 when grown strong, will produce as many as nine or ten flowers on a 

 spike. It is one of the finest Orchids that can be grown for any of 

 the exhibitions in May, the colour being distinct, and diff'erent from 

 any of the other Cattleyas. 



" Dendrobium nohile. — A magnificent Orchid from India; a free- 

 flowering evergreen species, of upright growth ; the blossoms, which 

 are pink and white, with a spot of crimson in the centre of the lip, 

 are formed along the sides of the stems. It blooms during the win- 

 ter and spring months, lasting three or four weeks in good condition, 

 if kept in a cool house. It wall grow either in a pot or basket with 

 moss or peat. This is one of the finest exhibition-plants we have. 

 I have shewn it in the month of May with three hundred flowers on 

 one single plant : a truly splendid object. 



" Oncidium divaricaium. — A small but abundantly -flowering 

 species from Brazil ; its yellow, orange, and brown-coloured flowers 

 are produced on long branching spikes during the summer months : 

 continues in perfection a long time. This is a useful plant for 

 exhibition, when well grown : pot-culture is the best. 



" Cypripedium barhatum (Bearded Lady's Shpper). — A handsome 

 species, with beautifully spotted foliage ; the colour of the flowers 

 brownish purple and w^hite ; it produces its solitary flowers at dif- 

 ferent times of the year, lasting six weeks in bloom. There are two 

 varieties of this plant, one being much brighter in colour than the 

 other." 



As so many Orchids are now being brought to this country and 

 sold by auction — it may be, in some cases, to persons ill-acquainted 

 with their nature, — perhaps the following paragraph respecting the 

 treatment of fresh-imported plants may be found useful. 



" When unpacked, these should be sponged over every leaf and 

 bulb, and all the old decayed parts taken away. There are many 

 insects that will harbour in them, such as the cockroach, and the 

 diff'erent kinds of scale, which are great enemies. When they are 

 clean, they should be laid on dry moss and placed in some shady part 

 of the house, where it is rather cool and dry. Too much light, heat, 



