THE ORCHID REVIEW. 3^3 



many persons, like myself, are anxious to cultivate a few of these beautiful 

 •exotics, among a general collection of plants, but the great difficulty appears 

 to be in getting an atmosphere sufficiently moist, without making it too 

 much so for other plants." He then describes how he had long tried the 

 plan of suspending a bottle against the plant which requires to be kept 

 moist, and inserting a piece of common woollen list, one end being in the 

 bottle and the other hanging over the plant, thus acting as a syphon, and 

 discharging water over the plant drop by drop. It was also added that the 

 supply could be increased or diminished by adding to or reducing tin- pieces 

 of list. 



The most remarkable addition of the year 1846 was Brassavola 

 Digbyana, described and figured in the Botanical Register (t. 53). Lindley 

 remarked: — "This very singular plant was introduced from Honduras by 

 Mrs. McDonald, and by that lady given to Edward St. Vincent Digby, 

 Esq., with whom it flowered last July, at Minterne, in Dorsetshire. Its 

 huge yellowish white flowers are as sweet as those of Aerides odoratum, 

 and the largest measure nearly three inches in diameter. The neck of the 

 •ovary, which is cuniculate in a remarkable degree, is full four inches long." 



The Mexican Cypripedium Irapeanum (t. 58) was another remarkable 

 introduction. The plant belonged to Mr. Hugo Finck, but was in the 

 •" temporary possession of the Horticultural Society," when it flowered. 



The genus Ansellia also appeared in cultivation, in the collections of 

 the Rev. John Clowes and of Messrs. Loddiges. The latter exhibited a 

 plant at a meeting of the Horticultural Society in February, which was 

 afterwards figured as A. africana (t. .30), but this plant is now distinguished 

 from the original A. africana (then only known from dried specimens) as 



Other interesting plants were— Vanda lissochiloides (t. 59) from the 

 fine collection of James Bateman, Esq., at Biddulph Grange; Cycnoches 

 Egertonianum var. viride (t. 46) from Messrs. Loddiges (now referred to 

 C. Warscewiczii) ; Ccelogyne ochracea (t. 69), a charming species from T. 

 Brocklehurst, Esq., The Fence, Macclesfield; Pilumna laxa (t. 57) from 

 the Horticultural Society's collection, and Sarcochilus Calceolus (t. 19), 

 a Philippine plant sent by Cuming to Messrs. Loddiges, with whom it 

 flowered. 



One other striking addition of 1846 must be mentioned, namely 

 Odontoglossum hastilabium (Bot. Mag., t. 4272), which first flowered in 

 the Duke of Northumberland's collection at Syon House in August of 

 that year. 



The Gardeners 1 Chronicle for 1846 contains several interesting items, 

 and among them we find it reported (p. 359) that the fine collection of 

 the late Mr. Barker, of Birmingham, had passed into the possession of 



