﻿May, 1904.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 131 



to mark the spot, but they appeared year after year, and were highly 

 valued. 



I found that my friends' early experiences were not absolutely confined 

 to Orchis mascula, for his father grew a few Orchids, and it was interesting 

 to know what they were. First, Cypripedium insigne, which was generally 

 kept in a vinery, where it grew well and flowered every year. The others 

 were kept at one end of a small stove, facing south. There was a good plant 

 of Phaius grandifolius which frequently flowered, Oncidium sphacelatum 

 and O. flexuosum, which bloomed as regularly as the seasons came round, 

 Dendrobium densiflorum and D. nobile, of which the same might be said. 

 The two plants of the latter were always hung in the vinery during the Autumn 

 to get a good rest. The names of about a dozen others were forgotten, but 

 there was a Schomburgkia which grew well suspended from the roof, but 

 nothing would induce it to flower. Here, then, was my friend's first intro- 

 duction to Orchid growing, and the time was about forty years ago. I 

 suggested that he had considerably improved now, but he said no, not so far 

 as those particular plants were concerned. Those Oncidiums flowered in a 

 way that was impossible to beat, and yet they were not grown in a special 

 Orchid house. The shading consisted of an annual coat of whitewash, which 

 was washed off again in the autumn, and the potting materials consisted 

 of peat and hypnum moss (not sphagnum), which he had frequently collected 

 himself in an old orchard. It was a very interesting visit, and I shall 

 certainly accept my friend's invitation to look in again. 



CALANTHE DISCOLOR. 



Two forms of this pretty little Japanese Orchid were exhibited at the 

 R.H.S. meeting on April 19th, by Messrs. Cutbush, of the Highgate 

 Nurseries, and a Botanical Certificate was awarded. The species was said 

 to be hardy. It has bee 1 known for over sixty years, being originally 

 described in 1838 {Lindl. Sert. Orch., sub. t. 9), at which time its habitat 

 was unknown. It had been sent to Lindley by M. Auguste Mechelinck, of 

 Ghent. It was afterwards figured (Bot. Reg., 1840, t. 55), when Lindley 

 iremarked that it had now blossomed in several places in England, and 

 .probably came from Japan. The form figured had vinous purple sepals and 

 petals and a nearly white lip, but there is a paler one which is less showy. 

 It seems to be a fairly common plant in Japan, being found in numerous 

 localities. The spikes attain a length of five or six inches, and in this 

 condition the numerous flowers are very attractive. It would probably 

 succeed in a cool greenhouse, but we should hardly expect it to stand our 

 •winters unprotected. R.A.R. 



