﻿THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



[March, 1904. 



about their roots ; but that this is to be taken as evidence that leaf mould 

 dug from the ground is demanded by the Orchid seems to us to be 

 assuming altogether too much. Debris of one sort and another will 

 naturally collect about the roots in a state of nature ; its presence is 

 accidental and its service, if any, but very slight. 



Some remarkable successes with leaf mould are reported by European 

 growers ; so far our cultivators have not found any special merit in the use 

 of the article. It is possible that the conditions of culture on the different 

 sides of the Atlantic, and the different methods of watering which are 

 followed on account of different climatic conditions, will account for these 

 varying reports. On the admission of those who advocate the use of leaf 

 mould here drainage has to be specially provided for and even sterilizing by 



From a purely practical standpoint, therefore, is the game worth the 

 candle ? Is there any necessity of making a new Orchid culture for the 

 sole purpose of saying that we can grow Orchids in leaf mould? — American 

 Gardening. 



Mr. E. W. Davy, gardener to J. J. Neale, Esq., of Penarth, writes:— 

 " Oncidium tigrinum has benefited more than any other Orchid we have 

 through using a leaf compost. They have been flowering in succession for 

 over six months, bulbs only half the size of those in the old compost throw 

 stronger spikes, and twice as freely. The pots are as small as possible, 

 and the compost half peat and half leaves, with a little sand and sphagnum, 

 and made as firm as possible. When potted the flowers of all species last 

 well. I find some potted in larger pots and looser compost do not last 

 as long." 



SACCOLABIUM VIOLACEUM VAR. HARRISON IAN UM. 



A plant of this rare and pretty variety of Saccolabium violaceum has just 

 flowered with Messrs. Stanley Ashton & Co., Chase Side, Southgate. It 

 originally appeared with Messrs. Hugh Low & Co. in 1863, and was figured 

 in the Botanical Magazine (t. 5433) under the name of Saccolabium 

 Harrisonianum, but afterwards proved to be an albino of S. violaceum, and 

 was figured under the above name in the Orchid Album (v., t. 236). It 

 differs from the type in the complete absence of the purple spotting from 

 the sepals and petals, and the puiple suffusion from the lip, leaving the 

 flowers white, with the column light green. It is a very pretty little plant 

 when well grown. 



R. A. R. 



