330 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTIOULTUBB AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ May 8, 1877. 



but, on the contrary, an intermediate house during the winter 

 where a temperature of about 50° can be maintained, and a 

 vinery during the summer afforded (structurally) are all that is 

 really neoeeeary for these plants. After the rest in winter — 

 not drying-off — the plants will start freely in the regularly ad- 

 vancing heat suitable for Vines, and the shade of the foliage 

 of the Vines is suitable for the then growing Orchids. Orchids 

 generally thrive better in houses wholly devoted to them, be- 

 cause the plants then receive special attention ; but with or- 

 dinary care they flourish well, and none better than the Odon- 

 toglossums, in a well-managed vinery. It is probable that 

 many having glass structures deny themselves the pleasure of 

 cultivating Orchid?, fearing that the plants would not flourish 

 because they were not placed in an " Orchid house." But a 

 vinery becomes an Orchid house if filled with Orchids, and the 



plants prosper as well as if the house were called by any other 

 name. 



Very choice Orchids, however, such as the one figured, re- 

 quire and are worthy of particular care, and grow more freely 

 with a somewhat higher range of temperature than mentioned 

 above. Of great importance to these plants are pxire air, a 

 moist atmosphere, and a very open compost. The potting 

 material should be composed of sphagnum, rough fibrous peat, 

 lumps of charcoal, and crocks. The pots should be nearly 

 filled with croclss, and the plant should be potted well up above 

 the surface of the pot, the compost forming a mound which 

 should be covered with live sphagnum. This should be en- 

 couraged to grow freely, which is highly conducive to the 

 health of the Orchids. 



Odontoglossum Eoezlii, which ia one of the most beautiful 



Fig. 41.— ODOXTOGLOSSrM ROEZLn. 



Orchids in cultivation, was discovered by Mr. Koezl in New 

 Grenada, and first flowered in England in 1873. Plants have 

 been frequently exhibited by Messrs. Veitch, Williams, and 

 Bull in several varieties, some being pure white and others 

 more or less deeply coloured with reddish purple at the base 

 of the petals, forming a fine contrast with the pearly white- 

 ness of the petals and lip. One of the finest of the coloured 

 varieties, also the fiuest plant that has been exhibited, is the 

 one now figured. It was staged at the Koyal Horticultural 

 Society's exhibition on April 4th by Mr. Loveland, gardener 

 to J. Hepburn, Esq., Sidcup Place, Kent, when a cultural com- 

 mendation was worthily awarded for the specimen. Mr. 

 Hepburn has favoured us with the following details of cul- 

 ture : — " The treatment of theOdontoglosanm Eoezlii has been 

 very simple. It was potted in fibrous peat and sphagnum 

 niixtd with small lumps of charcoal and crocks, the pot 

 three-parts filled with crocks for drainage, and the plant well 

 set up 2 or 3 inches above the brim. It has been grown in the 

 Cattltya house suspended about a foot from the glass, tem- 

 perature about 55'' at night in winter, never under 52°. In 

 wateiing the pot has always been dipped in tepid soft water 



10' to 15" above the temperature of the house, taking especial 

 care that the bulbs were not wetted at the base. The leaves 

 have been often carefully sponged with tepid water. I find 

 that the same^treatment suits Odontoglossum vexUlarinm very 

 well." 



The two Orchids named by Mr. Hepburn as flourishing under 

 the treatment he has described so clearly and concisely, are 

 recommended to all who possess the means of growing them, 

 as two of the most beautiful representatives of a beautiful 

 family of plants. 



PRIMULA AMffiNA. 

 Amonust this charming family of spring-flowering plants 

 are many beautiful species and varieties which are not so 

 well known as they deserve to be. The species of which an 

 outline is given is one of them. It is the purple Caucasian 

 Primrose, and is highly attractive. The name of ama>na as 

 usually applied by modern growers is in connection with 

 Primula cortusoides amoina. which is extensively and deservedly 

 cultivated for greenhouse and conservatory decoration. The 



