July 4, 1872 ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



queror, Patroness, Mary Hoyle, Maiden Fair, Pericles, Maid of 

 Honour, Corsair, Warrior, Charles Turner, Exhibition, John 

 Hoyle, Conflagration, Purpureum, Celeste, Mdlle. Patti, and 

 Atalanta. 



There is also under the care of Mr. Ward a very choice and 

 healthy collection of Orchids. Those denominated " cool- 

 house Orchids" are worthy of attention, because they can be 

 grown with little expense, and are as easily managed as stage 

 Pelargoniums. There are a few plants of Masdevallias and 

 Odontoglossum crispum (Alexandra?), under my own care, and 

 having no better accommodation for them they are turned into 

 a cold frame at the back of a north wall in May, and there 

 they will remain until the middle of September. All that 



they require is a sprinkling of water, and the frame to be shut- 

 up about four or five o'clock in the afternoon. These fine 

 Orchids will not succeed in a high temperature, nor do they 

 like too much artificial shading. The house here is a lean-to 

 facing the north, and there is very little pitch to the roof. 

 The temperature in winter falls as low as 35°, although 45" is 

 considered to be the best night temperature. The plants are 

 very healthy, and are making exceedingly fine strong growths. 

 There are numerous fine varieties of Odontoglossum crispum, 

 a name to which all the varieties of 0. Bluntii and 0. Alex- 

 andra? are now referred. One fine form, the ground colour 

 suffused with pnvple and densely spotted, has been named in 

 honour of Mr. Wilkins. I also counted six handsome spikes 



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Oncidium sarcotlos. 



on another which had been imported as a small plant but 

 five years ago. 0. Uro-Skinneri is a strong-growing species 

 and very distinct, in striking contrast to the pretty little 

 0. Rossii, which was also in flower. There is also a very 

 fine mass on a block of Oncidium trifolium majus. Oncidium 

 amentum was likewise throwing-up fine spikes. In contrast 

 to all the others is the Epidendrum vitellinum majus ; this 

 had a spike of its brilliant orange-scarlet flowers. 



In this cool-Orchid house, and under the shelter of a glass 

 screen, are some very luxuriant specimens of the Filmy Ferns, 

 particularly of the New Zealand species, Todea superba and 

 T. pellucida. Passing from this house into that devoted to 

 Orchids from Mexico and the East Indies, we find it in two 

 divisions ; Cattleyas, Lielias, Oncidiurns, and some of the 

 Dendrobes are grown in the cooler end, and some of those 

 requiring a higher temperature are placed here to prolong 

 their bloom. There was a nice specimen of Dendrobium 

 McCarthias, a splendid species from Ceylon, the finest of the 

 genus. It succeeds on a block, and the flowers continue in 

 perfection for two months. D. Bensonia? is also a most lovely 



species, but of this there are many inferior forms. Cypri 

 pedium Stonei had one fine spike. Oncidium crispum on a 

 block had four large flowers. I also saw 0. sarcodes, a hand- 

 some Brazilian species, which succeeds well in baskets. 



In the East India department there are many noticeable 

 species and fine specimens, but to enumerate all will only 

 occupy valuable space. I noticed suspended from the roof 

 some strong examples of Dendrobium taurinum. Mr. Ward 

 had failed with this previously. He used to pot his plants as 

 soon as they started into growth. The present specimens 

 were fixed to blocks of wood, hung with the roots upwards, 

 and syringed with tepid water twice daily. The plants are 

 making good growth, and, though only imported last year, 

 seem well established. This species, which is not often well 

 grown, should be tried in this way. In its native country, as 

 far as one can judge from photographs taken there, it seems 

 to be one of the most noble of Dendrobes. I cannot leave this 

 house without noticing the exceedingly, healthy specimens of 

 Phalffinopsids, particularly of P. grandiflora and P. Schilleri- 

 ana ; they are models of skilful culture. The plants are grown 



