THE ORCHID RE VIEW. 137 
ORCHIDS AT HEATON MERSEY. 
‘One of the Orchid collections of the Manchester district which has come 
_rapidly to the front is that of John Leemann, Esq., of Heaton Mersey, from 
which so many fine things have appeared at the meetings of the Manchester 
and North of England Orchid Society. Five ranges of houses, of modern 
construction, and with the latest improvements, afford the varied conditions 
so necessary for the well-being of a large and varied collection of plants, 
and, under the skilful attention of Mr. Edge and his assistants, everything 
appears to be in thriving condition. 
Odontoglossums, we found, were splendidly grown on the open stage 
; system. In the first house entered was a fine collection of O. crispum. 
Selection is systematically practised, the poorer forms being taken out as 
they flower, and many choice ones obtained from other sources. The 
majority, however, were still in bud. We noted here- splendid forms of 
O. triumphans and O. xX Andersonianum. 
An adjoining house was devoted to Cypripediums with Cattleyas and 
-Lelias suspended from the roof, all being in good condition. Many of the 
former were in flower, among those noted being good forms of C. 
| Lawrenceanum, villosum, and its variety aureum, the latter very richly 
coloured, C. Mastersianum, exul, barbatum, Mastersianum, Argus, 
Hookerz Volonteanum, X Harrisianum superbum, X Creon, X Gowerl, X 
selligerum, &c. Hybridising is carried on, for we noticed some good 
_ capsules, and of others the seeds had been sown. 
A Cattleya range in two divisions contains a good representative 
collection in good condition, and. many choice varieties and hybrids. 
- Among those noted were many fine C. Mossiz, a splendid C. M. 
Reineckeana, C. M. Mrs. E. Ashworth, with pretty slate-blue veining on 
_ the front lobe of the lip, C. Skinneri, a: good series of Lelia purpurata, 
including a very fine L.p. pretexta with the apex of the front lobe white, a 
Superb form of Lzlio-cattleya Xx Canhamiana, and Epidendrum X 
? O’Brienianum. Of choice forms not in flower Mr. Edge pointed out eight 
- good plants of C. x Hardyana in thriving condition, C. Lueddemanniana 
Princess of Wales, C. labiata Peetersiana, Cx Octave Doin, Lelia X 
nigrescens, Lzlio-cattleya X Wellsiana with a fine sheath, a very strong 
_L.-c. x callistoglossa, and a lot of choice seedlings from VATOUR sources. 
Mr. Edge keeps the compost moderately dry, but gives plenty of 
- atmospheric moisture throughout the growing season, a method of treatment 
which seems most suitable for this group of Orchids. | 
4 _A third range is divided into an Intermediate house, and a Dendrobium 
house, the former of which contains a fine batch of Cymbidium Tracyanum, 
_ which is highly prized. There were also some good Lycastes, Anguloa 
rs : 
