﻿THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



Orchids the same as I do. I am situated in the midst of a large town, shut 

 in by house-ends and walls, and I have been told by several gardeners who 

 have seen my plants that they don't know how I keep them in such good 

 health, and looking so well. I have been growing Orchids now for over 

 three years, and have gained a very good idea of what they need. I am a 

 member of the Horticultural Society here, and have taken plants to the 

 meetings when I have had any in bloom, and in this way have induced 

 another member to try his hand. He sent for three plants last week, and I 

 think I shall induce two others to try before the year is out. Amateur 

 Gardening first gave me the Orchid fever, and then I sent for Mr. 

 Burberry's book, which has taught me all I know. 



"After reading the article on Orchid Hybridisation in your issue for 

 February, 1903, when I had Odontoglossum Rossii and O. Cervantesii in 

 bloom, I removed the pollen from a flower of the latter, and then placed 

 the pollen from O. Rossii on the stigma, which adhered at once. Four 

 days later the column wings had folded over, leaving the point of the 

 anther just showing. It is my first attempt at hybridising, and I feel rather 

 proud of it." T. W. 



[Odontoglossums are rather difficult plants for a beginner in 

 hybridising, and it would be rather a feat to bring this particular cross 

 through to the flowering stage. We do not remember if it has previously 

 been attempted, but it should yield a very pretty little hybrid, The 

 difficulty generally begins when the seeds are sown. We shall hope to hear 

 of any further progress. — Ed. 



SOBRALIA RUCKERI. 



To many Orchidists Sobralia Ruckeri is little more than a name, yet it is a 

 very handsome species, as may be inferred from the fact that it received a 

 First-class Certificate from the R. H. S. on May 17th last, when exhibited 

 by Sir Trevor Lawrence. The same exhibitor also received an Award 

 of Merit for it in May, 1901 (O.R.,\x., p. 182). The species is a native 

 of Colombia, and was discovered by Schlim, in the Province of Ocana, 

 between 5,000 and 6,000 feet elevation, and described in 1S54 (Lind. and 

 Rchb. f. in Bonpl., ii., p. 278), and afterwards figured (Xcn. Orch., i., p. 108, 

 t. 44). It was dedicated to the late S. Rucker, Esq., of Wandsworth, 

 When first introduced to cultivation is uncertain, but a figure appeared in 

 1878 (Warn. Sd. Orch., iii., t. 19) which presumably flowered in Mr. 

 Warner's collection, at Chelmsford, as its source is not mentioned. It 

 belongs to a quite distinct section from the majority of cultivated species, 

 for, instead of the rachis being extremely short, so that the flowers appear 

 to push out of a cone of imbricating bracts, it is elongated, and flexicose, 



