QO 
24 
L. mesochlaena Rene. F. (often cultivated under the preceding name), L. /ulvescens 
Hoox., L. gigantea Linvu., L. lanipes Linvv., L. linguella Reus. F., and two or 
three other species more rarely met with in gardens. 
Re A ROvrE: 
(Concluded from p. 22.) 
the interest of truth, and because these adventures have been given such prominence in so many 
English papers, that I write you these lines. To me the only valuable fact connected with this 
story is that M. Hame in has discovered a new and interesting Orchid somewhere in Madagascar, - 
probably in the south or south-west, where travelling is somewhat dangerous. 
I -amy;Sir, etc. 
R. Baron. 
Antananarivo, Madagascar, September 12. 
To the above letter, we hardy need to add further comment. 
ORCHID CULTURE IN BELGIUM AND IN ENGLAND. 
The Fournal des Orchidées for October 15 contains an article by M. Lucien LINDEN, in 
which he compares the English and Belgian methods of growing Orchids. He says of us, 
that “ Our neighbours are, as is well known, excellent growers of Orchids. The splendid 
specimens and the admirable show of bloom in the collections of the principal English 
amateurs afford sufficient proof of this. At the same time, I have been struck with certain 
differences from our methods of treatment, which I consider show the superiority of the 
Belgian method of cultivating Orchids. The chief difference seems to me to consist in the 
deficient supply of air and light, and to my mind this is of great importance. In the second 
place, the plants are usually too dry. Many Orchidhouses in England are half-span, 
consequently badly lighted and insufficiently ventilated, even those where Odontoglossums 
from the Cordilleras are grown, though these especially require free circulation of the air. 
The ventilators are too few, too small, and evidently are hardly ever opened. I have some- 
times seen them formed of perforated zinc, through which hardly any air passes, and 
sometimes too little top air is afforded. Almost everywhere I noticed a most objectionable 
custom, that of covering the stages with a thick layer of coke of charcoal, instead of using 
open-work stages, which allow the air to circulate between the pots. I also observed an 
excessive temperature in many houses, especially in those devoted to Odontoglossums and 
Masdevallias. Many growers pay too little attention to the supply of light; their houses 
are darkened, frequently with a rather thick blind. Our lattice-work screens temper the 
light, and are much to be commended. English growers trust entirely to the resting-season 
to ripen their plants, and they attach so much importance tho this period, that they keep 
their Orchids extremely dry even during their growth. In England there is not seen that 
vigorous growth which is shown in plants grown according to the Belgian methods. 
(To be continued on p. 28.) 
i 
