us 



JOUENAL OF HOETIGOLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ June 5, 1873. 



temperature suitable for them, to say uothing of the remark- 

 able beauty of their flowers, has deservedly rendered them 

 so. The whole of these plants are natives of lofty mountain 

 ranges, and cannot thrive under cultivation for any length of 

 time in a high temperature. Another great recommendation 

 which this genus possesses is the fact that so many of its 

 species produce theu' flowers during winter, a season when 

 flowers — and such flowers — are especially valuable. 



As a rule, I have not found Odontoglossums thrive well 

 npon blocks, the reason being, probably, that sufficient moisture 

 for them was not maintained in the air when hanging from 

 the roof. In pots, however, there need be no difliculty with 

 their culture. FiU the pots three parts full of drainage, and 

 fiU up with good peat and sphagnum, through which should 

 be scattered a few handfuls 

 of silver sand. 'When potted 

 in this material a very moist 

 atmosphere must be main- 

 tained, and the plants requii'e 

 an abundant supply in the 

 soil, but it must never be 

 allowed to stagnate, or death 

 will speedily follow. At the 

 same time the cultivator must 

 never attempt the drying 

 system with them, or the re- 

 sult will be equally disas- 

 trous, although arising from 

 exactly opposite causes. In 

 the course of my acquaintance 

 with Odontoglossums I have 

 noticed that they are peculi- 

 arly subject to the attacks of 

 a yeUow fly ; to rid myself of 

 this pest I fumigated the 

 house with tobacco, and was 

 rewarded by the death of the 

 depredators. Soon after these 

 operations my plants would 

 lose many of their leaves, 

 and sometimes a young 

 growth in the most inexp'ic- 

 able manner, when all at once 

 it occurred to me it arose 

 from the smoke ; so taking 

 a plant of 0. membranaceum 

 I subjected it to a fumigation 

 in a hand-glass, and the leaves 

 fell shortly afterwards, as be- 

 fore remarked. Having tried 

 this experiment several times, 

 I became fully persuaded that 

 the tobacco had been the 

 cause of my disaster, and 

 consequently I discontinued 

 the application. Since then 

 I have washed off the fly with 

 tepid water, and have never 

 had a repetition of the leaf- 

 falling phenomenon. This 

 fact is patent to many now ; 

 but for the benefit of ama- 

 teurs, especially those com- 

 mencing the culture of these plants, I would say, Never fumi- 

 gate Odontoglossums. 



Beside the kinds here enumerated there are several grand 

 species of recent introduction ; but my readers must bear in 

 mind that, in selecting certain kinds from the vast numbers 

 now in cultivation, some good ones must necessarily be left 

 out, and my object has been to introduce those which are both 

 reasonable in price and beautiful when in flower. 



0. ALEXANDK.E. — Although it has been settled that this is 

 the plant named by Lindley 0. crispum, I cannot find it in 

 my heart to relinquish the name which associates this chaste 

 and beautiful flower with that estimable Princess whom all 

 true Englishmen love to honour. This plant is now too well 

 known to need much description from me ; suflice it to say, if 

 some few plants are grown in a collection, its exquisite flowers 

 wiU charm the cultivator through the dullest six months ef 

 the year, and occasionally a spike will be produced during 

 summer. The scape is many-flowered, each bloom measuring 

 some o inches in diameter, snow white in colour, more or less 



Odontoglossom Alexandras (Bot. Ma; 



spotted with cinnamon brown. They are admirably adapted 

 for bouquet-making, and are charming adjuncts for the decora- 

 tion of a lady's hair. If left on the plant and protected from 

 wet, they last several weeks in fuU beauty. Native of New 

 Grenada, at about 6000 feet altitude. 



0. Pescatorei. — A truly beautiful species, which no collec- 

 tion should lack. Like the preceding, it is dwarf and compact 

 in habit of growth; it produces a long, branched, many- 

 flowered scape from the base of the pseudo-bulb during winter, 

 and continues iu full beauty many weeks. As these plants 

 bloom at various times, by having several of them the beauties 

 of this flne species may be prolonged from autumn into early 

 summer. The sepals and petals are pure white, iu some 

 varieties tinged with rosy purple ; lip white, blotched more or 



less with violet purple, and 

 stained with yellow at the 

 base. Like the preceding, it 

 is found in the high mountain 

 regions of New Grenada. 



0. Rossii MAJTJS. — Another 

 beautiful dwarf species, pro- 

 ducing its flowers at various 

 times during the winter 

 months ; the scape usually 

 bears three flowers, each 

 measuring nearly 3 inches 

 across. Sepals wholly pure 

 white ; petals pure white, 

 beautifully marked with 

 transverse bands of reddish 

 purple; hp large, heart- 

 shaped, and pure white • the 

 column purple or yellow. 

 Native of Mexico. 



0. PULCHELLtIM MA.TUS. 



This is also a winter-bloomer ; 

 the leaves are long, narrow, 

 and, as well as the pseudo- 

 bulbs, rich dark green ; the 

 flowers are pendulous, thick 

 and waxy in substance ; they 

 are borne upon erect spikes, 

 pure white, saving the base 

 of the lip, where they are 

 stained with deep red and 

 yellow. In addition, they 

 are deliciously sweet, and last 

 long in full beauty. Native 

 of Guatemala. 



0. GK.iNCE. — A fine robust- 

 growing plant, which will 

 grow and bloom profusely if 

 kept cool, but which dies 

 rapidly if subjected to strong 

 heat. The scape bears many 

 flowers, each measuring from 

 5 to 7 inches in diameter ; 

 the sepals and petals are 

 bright golden yellow trans- 

 versely banded with chestnut 

 brown, whilst the lip is white, 

 occasionally marked with red- 

 dish purple. There are two 

 varieties or sets of this species, one which blooms during the 

 autumn, and another in midwinter. Both are very desirable. 

 Native of Guatemala. 



O. N.EviuM MAJus. — TMs most elegant plant is, unfortu- 

 nately, still rare, and consequently ranges high in price. Its 

 leaves are narrow, dark green, and some 8 or 10 inches high. 

 The flower-spike is erect, bearing numerous flowers, which are 

 in the sepals and petals much waved, pure white, spotted pro- 

 fusely with rich crimson, whilst the lip is yellow. This is a 

 summer-blooming plant, usually coming in about the begin- 

 ning of June. Native of Mexico. 



0. TKiUMPHAss. — This species is rare, and by no means so 

 well known by amateurs as it deserves to be. The pseudo- 

 bulbs and leaves are bright dark green. The scape is many- 

 flowered, each bloom some 3 inches in diameter; sepals and 

 petals golden yellow, transversely barred and blotched with 

 crimson ; lip white towards the base, rich deep rose in front. 

 It usually blooms during Mai'ch and April. Native of New 

 Grenada. 



