12 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
use, but it can be easily replaced by a fibrous heather earth mixed with 
half-decomposed leaves. 
It is added that many of the plants thus cultivated were in a state 
of remarkable prosperity, particularly Cattleyas, Phaius, Cypripediums, 
Oncidiums, especially the Mexican ones, Lelia purpurata (superb), and 
many species of Dendrobium. 
It would be interesting to have the experience of those in this country 
who have tried similar experiments. 
NOTES ON ZYGOCOLAX. 
THE receipt of three charming little hybrids from the collection of 
Sir Frederick Wigan, Bart., Clare Lawn, East Sheen (gr. Mr. Young), 
furnishes an opportunity of calling attention to a small group for which our 
gardens are entirely indebted to the skill of the hybridist, and which is 
known under the generic name, Zygocolax. Originally established to 
distinguish a hybrid between Zygopetalum crinitum and Colax jugosus 
(Rolfe in Gard. Chron., 1887, i., p. 765), it now contains at least three 
different forms, and seems likely to take a still more prominent place in our 
collections in future. The forms hitherto known are as follows :— 
ZYGOCOLAX X VeITcHI (Rolfe in Gard. Chron., 1887, i., p. 765). This 
is the earliest member of the group, and was raised by Messrs. James 
Veitch & Sons, from Zygopetalum crinitum ? and Colaxjugosus 3, from 
seed sown in September, 1882. It flowered for the first time in March, 1887, 
when about 44 years old, and received a First-class Certificate from the 
Royal Horticultural Society. It is a beautiful hybrid, combining the good 
qualities of both parents. A flower from the collection of Sir Frederick 
Wigan is apparently a form of the same, being substantially identical in 
character. It was raised by Messrs. F. Sander and Co., St. Albans, 
though a slight doubt exists as to whether the seed-parent was Z. crinitum 
or the allied Z. intermedium. The sepals and petals are green, closely 
blotched with dark brown, and the lip white with numerous violet-purple 
spots, arranged more or less in radiating lines. 
ZYGOCOLAX X LEOPARDINUS (Veitch Man. Orch., ix., p. 66) was also 
raised by Messrs. Veitch, and is believed to be a hybrid between 
Zygopetalum maxillare and Colax jugosus. It flowered for the first time in 
1886, and was described by Reichenbach as Zygopetalum x leopardinum 
(Gard. Chron., 1886, xxvi., p. 199). At this time the parentage was 
doubtful, the author remarking that ‘‘the certificat d’origin was not to be 
had, in spite of the careful Sedenian habits.” There was, however, little 
doubt that Zygopetalum maxillare was one parent, though the other was 
doubtful. Subsequent events, however, have shown conclusively that it 
was Colax jugosus. It received a First-class Certificate from the Royal 
