THE ORCHID REVIEW. 139 
INDIAN NOTES: CALCUTTA FLOWER SHOW. 
Ir may be interesting to readers of the Orchid Review to hear how the 
cultivation of our favourites is carried on out here, and also what could be 
seen at the last Calcutta Flower Show, organised by the Agri-Horticultural 
Society of India, and held on the 17th and 18th of February. 
Although very early in the year, Orchids were fairly well represented, 
and it was only regrettable that the Show was not held a month later, so 
as to enable the exhibitors to have a finer display. It must be borne in mind 
that the Orchids which thrive successfully under our Calcutta climate 
are limited in number, and that nearly all flower during the first part of the 
year. We are not so well off as many Orchid growers at home would 
think, and we cannot so easily obtain Orchids in bloom all the year round. 
Only one or two small groups were shown separately, the others were 
dispersed amongst foliage plants, etc. Cypripediee were represented by 
four distinct species, amongst them being a splendid form of C. callosum, 
which attracted many people, two well-flowered specimens of C. concolor 
and niveum, as well as a very valuable form of C. Exul. 
Several well-known Phalznopsis were to be seen, and we may remark 
that they seem to be great favourites with Calcutta amateurs, P. 
Schilleriana especially, bearing spikes with twenty flowers and buds, 
and leaves measuring from 18 to 20 inches long by nearly four wide, which 
would do credit to a European grower. P. amabilis were also good. 
Among Cattleyas, which are extremely difficult to cultivate here, we 
noticed some of our old friends, C. Triane, C. Percivaliana, and a pretty 
good specimen of C. Lueddemanniana. Dendrobes were represented by a 
few varieties, among which several good forms of D. nobile, primulinum, 
as well as the dwarf D. aggregatum, etc., were noticed. 
We also found a poor specimen of Angraecum sesquipedale, bearing a 
good-sized flower, and we heard that in the case of well-grown plants, 
they do not flower here. Oncidium ampliatum majus was the only 
representative of that new world genus, so rich in species. A tew forms of 
Hzmaria Dawsoniana were also exhibited. 
This, unfortunately, ends our little description, but we ought to mention 
that the cultivation of Orchids here only now begins to attract much 
attention, and we shall probably be able now to notice every year their 
improvement. 
In conclusion, if some of the plants exhibited were not what they might 
have been, it may be mentioned that the general climatic conditions of 
the two preceding months partly account for it, for January was pretty 
cold and many were the plants which suffered besides Orchids. 
We sincerely congratulate Mr. Lancaster, the Secretary, and Mr. 
