5^-2 TllK GARDENER. [Dec. 



Here we liave botli forms, and I can corroborate the facts of the case ; 

 as also does Mr H. Kui^'ht (in * Gard. Chron./ Nov. 5, p. 594), now of 

 Greenlands, Henley-on-Thames. Facts of such practical import are 

 especially useful at the present time — indeed at all times — seeing that 

 a good variety is as easily and as cheaply grown as a bad one, the 

 ultimate results being in every way superior ; i.e., one thus by good 

 selection obtains what one may fairly call a heavy additional interest 

 upon the same amount of capital. 



The late Provost RusseFs collection of Orchids seems to have been 

 formed on similar lines — best varieties only being retained. And of 

 all the collections of cultivated Orchids I ever saw, his, as originally 

 formed at Mayfield, near Falkirk, was by far the best in point of 

 culture. 



Of all Orchids now^ in flower, there are but few that can in any way 

 equal the old double-sheathed Cattleya labiata, which generally with 

 us puts in its appearance about the first week in November. This is 

 of course the true old "autumnal flowering" variety, — as superior to all 

 other Cattleyas of the labiata and Warneri sections, as is the true 

 Cypripedium Maulei to our old and ever-welcome friend, C insigne. 

 Our Cattleya labiata, with four enormous rich rose-petalled flowers on 

 each of its stout spikes, is now the gem of our little collection — an 

 excellent form of the Tiger Odontoglot, Odontoglossum grande, 

 serving as a remarkable contrast with it in point of colour. 



Now that selection is the rule, here is a short list of Cattleyas worth 

 having : Cattleya Exoniensis, C. labiata (true), C. Mendelii, C. Dowiana, 

 C. aurea, and C. gigas. Strong pieces of these obtained now, and well 

 grown for ten years, or even less than that terra, would yield a good 

 return on capital and labour if then sold. Orchids are to-day more 

 plentiful than ever, and yet at no period in the history of their culti- 

 vation did really sound specimens of good varieties fetch more money 

 when disposed of. 



Looking over some wonderful dried specimens of big Pitcher-plants 

 (Nepenthes) some time ago in an "upper room" in the Chelsea 

 nurseries of Messrs Veitch, I was not very much surprised when one 

 gentleman present exclaimed, " Why, dear me, the day of really fine 

 Pitcher-plants is yet to come ! " And such, without a doubt, is the 

 fact of the matter. It is not every one who goes into that " upper 

 room." I suppose a blank cheque, all signed and delivered, would 

 not get some people within fifty yards of the stairs, charmed they 

 never so wisely. Ah, my friend, a wonderful place is that "upper 

 room," with its little bales of what Schlieden playfully called " hay 

 for the botanical asses ; " its clusters of big pitchers, of marvellous 

 size and form, to which here and there hang in rustic caligraphy, in 

 black pencil or ink, on curious sun-stained paper, the description of 



