Marcu, 1G06.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 93 
ORCHID CULTURE IN JAVA. 
ORCHID-GROWING seems to be a world-wide occupation. We have received 
along and interesting letter from Mr. E. Connell, manager of a coffee, tea, 
and cinchona estate at Loemadjang, East Java, who grows a large collec- 
tion of native Orchids, as well as some South American species, which he 
is trying to establish. He remarks:—‘‘I have a few Odontoglossums, 
Lelias, Cattleyas, Oncidiums, Lycastes, all growing in the open. I am 
experimenting with these South American roots, growing some on blocks, 
and tying the blocks to a tree where the plant has to stand the heavy 
monsoon rains now on, though sheltered from direct downpour and sun. 
They show signs of making new growths, so I am hopeful of acclimatising 
them. My elevation is 2,700 feet above sea level, and temperature varies 
from 57° to 81° F. All my Orchids are growing under living shade, which 
I grow specially for the purpose, bringing those that bloom into the 
verandah, and I keep a list of the varieties that bloom monthly. Perhaps 
it would be of interest to you if I wrote you an account of the modus operandi 
employed on my Orchid farm, and the materials and methods I employ to 
keep about 8,000 plants growing, scattered about all over my garden, with 
the aid of one Javanese so-called gardener.” We hope to receive the 
promised account, and feel sure it will be read with interest by many who, 
unlike Mr. Connell, have to manufacture a climate before attempting the 
culture of these beautiful plants. 
AN EARLY ORCHIS. 
Ir is rather surprising to find an Orchis flowering in Norfolk, in the open 
air, as early as the end of February, but Dr. Gunther has brought to Kew a 
fine inflorescence of Orchis longibracteata, bearing eighteen expanded 
flowers, with such a history. The bulb was brought from the Riviera some 
time ago. On looking the matter up I find that Barla, who figures the 
species under the name of Barlia longibracteata, Parl. (Ic. Orch. Alpes- 
marit, p. 39, t. 25), gives the time of flowering in its native home as 
January to March. Lindley, who figured the plant in 1819 (Bot. Reg., 
t. 357), calls it the Winter Orchid of Sicily, and remarks that Mr. Swainson, 
of Liverpool, who introduced it to cultivation, observed that in its native 
home it is the first that flowers among the many little-known species found 
in Sicily, generally opening its blossoms in the beginning of February, the 
depth of a Mediterranean winter. The plant is also known under Reichen- 
bach’s name of Aceras longibracteata. The plant may be briefly described 
as a stout Orchis, about a foot high, with a spike of large flowers, having 
green sepals and petals, spotted with brown on the lateral sepals, and a 
four lobed lip, of a peculiar shade of lilac-blue, becoming dull purple-blue 
