1873.] WINTER-FLOWERING ORCHIDS. 115 



numerous, and are disposed in clusters at irregular intervals on the 

 branches. In summer he branchlets are of a light green colour 

 changing in winter to a dark brown. 



B. Japonica {tlie Jajjcin Arborvitce). — As its name implies, this species 

 is a native of Japan, where it forms a bushy shrub rarely exceeding 

 ten feet in height. It was first sent home to this country in 1860> 

 and has proved itself to be quite hardy, and to grow freely under 

 similar circumstances to Orientalis and its varieties, which it so much 

 resembles that some have doubted its claim to rank as a distinct species. 

 Whether a species or variety however, there can be no question of its 

 being a great acquisition to our hardy Biotas, and of its worthiness of 

 admission to the most choice collection of ornamental Conifers. In 

 habit of growth it is more broadly conical than Orientalis, but equally 

 dense, the branchlets more compressed and fan-like, and makes a 

 neat symmetrical specimen plant. 



B. Meldensis {the French hylrid ArhorvHcp). — This distinct and in- 

 teresting plant originated some years ago in IMeaux, in France, from 

 whence it was distributed as a hybrid between the Arborvitse and Red 

 Cedar. Its hybrid origin has been doubted by some of the highest 

 authorities on suck subjects, and it is now generally believed to be a 

 seminal sport from some of the Biotas. It is quite hardy in Britain, 

 if planted in a sheltered situation, and forms an erect, somewhat 

 dwarf, bushy shrub, with slender, slightly drooping branches, disposed 

 irregularly, but very abundantly, upon the stem. In summer it is 

 of a light, slightly glaucous-green colour, changing in winter to red, 

 orreddish brown. It is a pretty plant for a shrubbery or small lawn. 



Hugh Eraser. 



WIJ^TTER-FLOWERIISrG ORCHIDS. 



C^LAGGNE CRISTATA. 



This effective plant comes from the mountains of Nepal and 

 Sylhet, where it flourishes at an altitude of several thousand feet. 

 It is one of the best winter and early spring flowering species we have ; 

 nor can it be considered a novelty, since it has been in cultivation for the 

 last thirty-six years. Its pseudo-bulbs, when fully grown, are about the 

 size of bantam's eggs, and each bears two lanceolate, deep green leaves. 

 Its flower-spikes bear from three to eight flowers — one, and occasionally 

 two, being produced from each flowering bulb. These flowers are 

 three to four inches across, and of the purest snowy whiteness, with 

 the exception of the lip, which has five rows of yellow fringes down 

 its disc. A good specimen plant is very effective when in flower, 

 bearing from twenty to a hundred spikes. A plant from Chatsworth 



