November 10, 1870. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



365 



Fig. 16. — To Construct the Pentagon, abcde, as described 

 in fig. 12. — With the radius ao, which is half the side of the 

 pentagon, draw arcs /, g, ft, i, k. 



Fig. 10. Fig. 17. 



Fig. 17 ia an application of fig. 13, in the came way as fig. 16 

 ie au application of fig. 12. 



A Hexagon may be formed by describing a circle, and apply- 

 ing the radios of the circle fix times to the circumference, 

 which will give the sides of the hexagon as nearly as need be. 

 — M. O'Donneli, Gardener to E. Leeming, Esq., Spring Grove, 

 Richmond. 



WINTER-BLOOMING ORCHIDS.— No. 10. 



CALANTHE. 



The section of this genus which I here introduce consists 

 of deciduous plants, producing their charming flowers during 

 the winter months. They have been established as a distinct 

 genus (Preptanthe), by Professor Reicbenbacb, a course which 

 I consider correct, and which I adopt myself, but in conse- 

 quence of very few Orchid growers in this country having 

 adopted it, I have in this place retained the original name. 

 These plants are very ornamental, and as they easily form 

 good specimens and are very reasonable in price, they should 

 be largely grown for winter decoration by everyone having a 

 stove. The objection made to them by some is their deciduous 

 character, and it is ssi 1 the faot of the flowers being produced 

 when the plants tn hafless robB them of half their beauty, 

 which is undeniably an objection, bnt still one that may be 

 easily remedied by grouping them with such plants as Dra- 

 caenas, CrotonB, and Ferns. Besides the cheerful appearance 

 the flowers of these plants produce duiing the dull months in 

 the plant house, they are also extremely valuable for cutting 

 either the entire spike for placing io vases in the drawing-room, 

 or the single flowers for bouquet-making. To produce good 

 flowering plants they should be pot'ed in sound fibrous peat, 

 leaf mould, well-decomposed cow manure, and sand in about 

 equal proportions. The pots, be it remembered, should have 

 been previously well drained. This operation should take 

 plaoe about the beginning of March, or earlier if the least sign 

 of growth appears, for as these plants lose roots as well as 

 leaves every season, the old soil will require taking away every 

 spring ; hence the necessity of putting them into new soil 

 before the fresh roots start into the worn-out oompost of the 

 previous season. During the growing season water liberally, 

 and I have always been most successful with them when I 

 continued giving moderate supplies after the leaves had fallen 

 until the flowering season was over, after which they should be 

 kept quite dry for some time. Some growers of these plants 

 fall into the error of drying them as soon as the leaves begin 

 to decay, a system, however, which I have found very detri- 

 mental to the flowers. TheBe Calanthes should not be grown 

 in the East Indian house, but amongst the Cattleyas or Odon- 

 toglossums ; when grown in strong heat they are very liable to 

 disease both in the leaves and pseudo-bulbs. 



C. vestita. — Pseudo-bulbs broadly ovate and obtuse, and 

 silvery grey in colour. The leaves are borne on the apex, and 

 are from 1 to 2 feet in length, membranoun, plaited, and 

 broadly lanceolate, tapering to a point. The scape rises from 

 the base of the pseudo-bulb, growing erect for half its length, 

 and then becoming pendulous and producing a profusion of 

 flowers, which continue in full beauty for several months. The 

 sepals and petals are about the same size, spreading, broadly- 

 lanceolate, and sharp-pointed. The lip is spreading, deeply 



three-cleft, with a spur at the base, middle lobe cuneated ; the 

 lateral ones oblong obtuse. The whole flower is of a pure 

 white, in some forms the sepals and petals are creamy instead 

 of pure white. Native of Burmab. 



C. vestita rubro-oculata. — This resembles the preceding in 

 habit of growth, but is, perhaps, somewhat more robust. The 

 flowers are more showy in consequence of their having a large, 

 rich, crimson blotch at the base of the lip. Native of Burmah. 



G. vestita fiavo-oc^.lata. — An exact counterpart of the pre- 

 vious variety in general appearance, except in regard to the 

 flowers, which are stained at the base of the lip with orange 

 yellow inBtead of crimson, which produces a beautiful contrast. 

 Native of Burmah. 



C. vestita Turnerii. — This is a distinct variety, but I am 

 qnite ignorant of its origin. It blooms later than the other 

 forms, and the base of the lip or eye is deep rose colour. 



C Veitchii. — A most lovely winter-blooming plant, for which 

 we have to thank Mr. Dominy, it being one of his hybrids. It 

 is the result of a cross between Limatodes rosea and Calanthe 

 vestita rubro-ooulata. The pseudo-bulbB taper more to a neok 

 than any of the Calanthes, and in this respect it resembles 

 Limatodes. It is deciduous, and produces long, half-pendulous 

 spikes of rich rose-coloured flowers, with a white eye. The 

 shape of these blooms is longer than in any of the other kinds. 

 It is a superb plant, and one which should be absent from no 

 collection however small. 



LIMATODES. 



This genus is nearly allied to Calanthe, the principal points 

 of distinction being a lip quite detached from the column, not 

 united with it, and in the much longer column. The same 

 treatment as recommended for Calanthe also suits this ad- 

 mirably. 



L. eosea. — The psendo-bulbs of this plant are fusiform, con- 

 tracted about the middle, with a narrow neck. The leaves aTe 

 produced from the apex, and are oblong-lanceolate, smooth, 

 and plaited. S^ape erect and proceeding from the base of the 

 pseudo-bulb. Flowers pink or rose saving at the base of the 

 lip, and there they are white ; lip larger the.n the sepals and 

 pelals, oblong, flut, and retuse ; spur straight and blunt. This 

 very handsome species blooms during midwinter, and continues 

 long in full beauty. Native of Moulmein. 



L. rosea vestalis. — A variety of the above, producing pure 

 white flowers. It is very elegant, and a charming contrast to 

 the various shadeB of rose and pink of the species. Native of 

 Moulmein. 



EPIDENDETJ1I. 



As regards this extensive genus I purpose confining my 

 remarks to two species only, and they both well deserve general 

 attention for the ease with which they may be grown, the cool 

 treatment under which they thrive, and the rich and rare colour 

 of their flowers, which are produced during midwinter, and last 

 S'ich a long time in full beauty if ordinary care be taken to keep 

 tbem from being wetted. There are many other species of 

 Epidendrum which bloom at this particular season, but the 

 majority of them are small and unattractive, and, therefore, it 

 is only reasonable that amateurs and gardeners, especially 

 those with limited space, should prefer the most attractive 

 kinds, or those yielding the greatest number of charms. 



E. yitellinum. — The pseudo-bulbs of this elegant species 

 are ovate acuminate, and bear two leaves, which are oblong 

 and acute. The many-flowered raceme is produced from the 

 apex of the bulb and from between the leaves ; sepals and 

 petals ovate-lanceolate, acute, and rich orange scarlet in colour. 

 The lip iB linear, narrowed below, becoming suddenly acute and 

 bright yellow. This plant is a native of Oalaca, where it grows 

 at elevations of some 9000 feet above the Bea level. This fact 

 being known, it is natural to infer that the plant succeeds only 

 in cool places. I have had the greatest success with it treated 

 as a block-plant, using a little moss for the roots to penetrate, 

 by keeping it in the coolest place I could find in the Odonto- 

 glossum house, and by never at any Eeason depriving it entirely 

 of water. I have seen a plant tn variouB collections called 

 E. vitellinnm, but which has caused much disappointment to 

 the possessors when in flower. It is E. virgatum, which very 

 much resembles the former plant, but the leaves are more 

 glaucous, and it produces a long spike of Email, dirty greenish- 

 brown flowers. 



E. ieaguense. — The thin stem-like pseudo-bulbs of this 

 plant are furnished with oblong, obtuse, fleshy dark green 

 leaves. The flowers are produced in a terminal cluster, and are 

 orange-scarlet in colour. It is easily grown, dwarf in habit. 

 and an abundant bloomer, qualities which should recommend 



