May 8, 1889.] 



Garden and Forest. 



223 



deal more attention from Orchid-growers here than formerly. 

 This is dne partly to the attractiveness of several of the most 

 recently introduced species, and also to the extraordinary in- 

 terest which attaches to the flower-structure of the whole 

 genus. Mr. R. A. Rolfe, of Kew, recently read a paper before 

 the Linnasan Society on the sexual forms of Catasetum, sup- 

 plementing the researches of Schomhurgk and Darwin on the 

 same subject. Mr. Rolfe has succeeded in matching males 

 and females of no less than fourteen species. Lindley appears 

 to have suspected^ that not only would the so-called genera 

 Myanthus and Monacanthus prove to be sexual forms of Cata- 

 setum, but that Cycnoches also would ultimately prove to be 

 another "sport" of that genus. A drawing of a Catasetimi 

 which flowered at Kew last year, and bore a spike of female 

 flowers (Monacanthus) on one side, and a spike of male flow- 

 ers ("true" Catasetum) on the other side of the same pseudo- 

 bulb, was sliown by Mr. Rolfe, and caused a little excitement 

 among the Fellows of the Linnsean Society. He also exhibited 

 a drawing of C. BiingerotJiii, showing one female and two male 

 flowers on the same spike. This particular plant flowered with 

 M. Linden, of Brussels, and is the only known instance of this 

 Catasetum having produced other than male flowers. 

 Kew. W. Watson. 



three and a half to four inches across, the sepals and petals 

 being pure white, the crest of the lip yellow and marketl with 

 a few crimson stripes. It is a deciduous species, and during 

 its growing period should be placed where light and mucli 

 moisture is available. After its bulbs are well matured it can 

 be placed in temperature a few degrees cooler, to enable the 

 newly-made bulbs to ripen well before commencing to l.)loom. 

 A fine specimen of this plant is now flowering with Mr. J. 

 Wallace, at Paterson, New Jersey. A. Dimviock. 



Summit, N.J. 



The Common Primrose {Priiimla acaidis) , which grows wild 

 and abundantly in England and Scotland, has been a favorite 

 with American planters for generations, and I have seen it 

 taking care of itself in old-fashioned gardens for years as far 

 north as Bangor, Maine. I never knew it, however, to estal> 

 lish itself outside of the rich soil and limited competition of 

 the garden where it was given a place by man, until the past 

 season, when I was shown a locality in Massachusetts where 

 it had taken possession of a piece of pasture along the sides 

 of a brook, and among scattered clumps of the Barberry and 

 other sln-ubs. In this heavy, clayey soil it Avas perfectly at 

 home, and thousands of vigorous plants were disputing suc- 

 cessfully with grasses and weeds for a chance to live. This 



The Lyman Place, Waltliam, Massachusetts. — See page 218. 



Dendrobiwn nobile, variety.— There is now in bloom in Sander 

 & Co's Orchid Nursery at Summit, New Jersey, an extraordi- 

 nary variety of this old and well-known species. The plant 

 was imported last year, and is of robust habit, with pseudo- 

 bulbs measuring nearly two feet in length, and from which a 

 dozen large and very rich-colored blossoms have appeared. 

 Each individual flower measm^es fully four inches in diameter 

 and is well shaped, both sepals and petals being very broad and 

 of a rich, amethyst-purple, the petals being one inch across. 

 The most distinctive character of this variety is that the two 

 lower sepals are fiu'nished with a broad, deep maroon stripe 

 extending their entire length. The lip, also, is very large and 

 highly colored. The plant has bloomed for the first time in 

 this country, and it proves to be a valuable addition to the 

 already existing varieties now in cultivation. Its nearest ally 

 is the variety known as Dendrobiwn nobiJe Cooksonii, the same 

 rich maroon color appearing in that variety on the basilar half 

 of the petals. 



Chysis bj'actescens. — The lovely, wax-like blossoms of this 

 fine Orchid have now made their appearance. It is an easy- 

 growing species, and thrives well on blocks or in baskets. Its 

 flowers are produced on short stems, four to six together, 

 with the young growth, and they remain about four weeks in 

 good condition on the plant. Each flower measures' from 



sjiot, in spring, when tliese beautiful blossoms are like a bril- 

 liant carpet of crimson and yellow, covering many square rods 

 with their bloom, and peeping out of the half-shaded nooks 

 among the wild imdergrowth, is a sight to be long remem- 

 bered by anyone who knows and loves this old Primrose. 

 This is tiie only case, as far as I Iviiow, in which the English 

 Primrose has become really established and capal)le of prop- 

 agating itself permanently, so far north, an(_l it is. hoped that 

 this hardv strain of these wholly delightful blossoms mav 

 hereafter provide us with a race of these Primroses which will 

 be I'eally hardy througiiout a considerable part of the North- 

 ern States. 



Cambiidf^e, Mass. i" ■ L. Tonplc. 



Tuberoses. — Two years. ago last fall we had an experience 

 which, I believe, may prove as valuable to others as it did to 

 us. Early in summer a fine lot of Tuberose bull)s were 

 planted in an open frame in a warm, sunny situation. They 

 grew splendidlv, but, unfortunately, did not flower as early 

 as expected. Tiie cold, frosty nights of fall came on them 

 just as they were beginning to expand a flower here antl there. 

 To allow them to perish by frost seemed a sin and a serious 

 loss; and yet we could not house them for want of room. On 

 each side of the frame, therefore, hot-bed sashes were stood 

 on edge, and on top of them others were laid, which formed a 



