SOME ORCHIDS AT KEW. 



159 



orchid will grow well in a compost of pe^t and sphag- 

 num. Pot culture is the most suitable ; the pot should 



Cattleya Walkeriana. 



be drained about one-third of its depth with good clean 

 potsherds and charcoal ; abundance of water may be 

 given while the plants are making their .growth, but 

 the quantity should be gradually diminished as they 

 reach maturity. Thrips are fond of attacking this 

 orchid, as the leaves are of a somewhat soft nature ; 

 their presence may be easily detected, as the leaves 

 become marked. To prevent their attacks the plants 

 should be occasionally washed with a mild mixture 

 of soap and water ; strong insecticides should be 

 avoided in an orchid house. By the use of this wash 

 the pests will soon be effectively routed, and the 

 plants at flowering time will present a very gay ap- 

 pearance. 



Cattleya Walkeriana is rare in orchid collections, 

 perhaps for the reason that it is rare everywhere ; 

 but it deserves a place in any good collection. It is, 

 perhaps, one of the most distinct of the whole cat- 

 tleya family. The pseudo-bulbs are short and thick, 

 being only two inches long and more than an inch 

 in diameter, resembling Broitghtonia sangiiitiea , but 

 not so flat as the latter ; each pseudo-bulb bears a 

 solitary leaf, which is exactly of the shape and size of 

 a hen's egg. The flowers, of a dark mauve, are usu- 

 ally produced in pairs from last year's pseudo-bulbs. 

 The sepals and petals are about two inches long and 

 an inch wide. The lip is darker than the other parts 

 of the flower, which is a pretty rosy-purple, and very 

 nicely shaped. A prominent characteristic is the 

 column, which is half an inch broad and fits closely 

 to the lip ; in fact, it lies on it. The rostellum is yel- 

 low, the only deviation from the colors of the other 



parts This being a very dwarf species, growing it in 

 baskets is recommended ; for then the plants may be 

 suspended nearer the glass, and obtain more light, 

 which is an important factor in the successful cultiva- 

 tion of orchids. This species may be grown in the cat- 

 tleya house with a mixture of peat fibre, sphagnum and 

 charcoal, Is produces its flowers during the resting 

 period ; that is, during October, November and Decem- 

 ber, when it requires no water whatever ; but after 

 growth has commenced, a moderate supply will be wel- 

 comed. 



Cypripediiiin Spicerianuiii . The "Lady's Slipper" 

 tribe of the orchid family varies widely both as regards 

 the habit and beauty of each individual ; for while there 

 is nothing very attractive about the flowers of the North 

 American species {S. puhescens and others of a similar 

 nature) though their forms are quaint, there are far 

 more attractive species from the East Indies, such as C. 

 Spicerainiiii . Many cultivators seek for only the showiest 

 varieties of Cypripedium, while in fact each species has 

 its own charms. C. Spicerianiiiii has not been in cultiva- 

 tion more than ten years, and many collections are still 

 without a specimen. It was first flowered in England by 

 Mr. Herbert Spicer, an orchid amateur of Godalming, in 

 Surrey, who received it amongst other unnamed species 

 from India. Being new, it was named after him by the 

 late Prof. Reichenbach. Shortly afterwards the collect- 

 ors who are employed by English orchid merchants, dis- 

 covered a large quantity of the species, and shipped 

 them for cultivation in England. 



Cypripedium Spicerianum. 



This species produces leaves from six to nine inches 

 in length, slightly wavy at the margins ; the upper.^sur- 



