5-! 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[DtcembL-r, 1915. 



CaTTLEYA LABIATA. — Albino varieties of 

 C. labiata are one of the specialities to be 

 seen at Mr. Edward V. Low's establishment 

 at Vale Bridge, Haywards Heath. This 

 season they have fully maintained their 

 excellence, and thereby created an interesting 

 display of bloom, for each variety has its own 

 distinguishing features, which remain constant 

 year after year. On a recent visit the 

 following varieties were among those in 

 flower : — Amesiana, Mrs. E. Ashworth, Lady 

 Duff, R. I. Measures, fulshawensis, reedley- 

 ensis, and a new one bearing the name Sir 

 John Jellicoe. The best is undoubtedly an 

 alba variety called the King, now flowering 

 for the first time in this country ; it is of 

 ■exceptionally fine form, with a long, flat 

 labellum of the purest white. There are also 

 two other very promising white varieties, as 

 yet unnamed, and not previously seen in 

 England. A novel flower is to be seen in 

 labiata Arnoldiana, in which the sepals and 

 petals are white, though the latter have a 

 suffusion of rose colour through the midrib ; 

 it has been styled labiata Arnoldiana, since in 

 coloration it resembles the well-known C. 

 Mossias Arnoldiana. 



iti 1^ II 



Epidendrum vitellinum autumnale. 

 — But few Orchids excel this Central 

 American species for decorative utility, not 

 only is the orange-red colour of an attractive 

 nature, but the long time the flowers remain 

 open is a noteworthy point ; when removed 

 from the plant and placed m water they 

 usually keep fresh for a month or even more. 

 Like all Orchids, good cultivation is essential 

 to the best effect being produced. It has 

 been our pleasure to receive some unusually 

 fine examples from Mr. O. O. Wrigley's 

 collection, Bridge Hall, Bury. The average 

 height of these spikes is about 2 feet, and 

 the number of flowers on each from 25 — 30. 

 When about 30 of these plants were exhibited 

 at the Manchester Orchid Society, Nov. 4th, 

 1915, a First-class Cultural Certificate was 

 awarded to Mr. E. Rogers in recognition of 

 his successful cultivation. A descriptive note 

 on this species will be found in Vol. IV., 

 page 2;. 



Orchid Propagation. — Although the 

 propagation of Lselias and Cattleyas by 

 division of the rhizome is now an everyday 

 event, it is questionable whether the originator 

 of this useful method will ever be made 

 known. The following note, taken from 

 tlie Horticultural Society's T ransnctions of 

 1835-41, and which must rank amongst the 

 very earl}', if not the earliest, accounts, 

 describes how Mr. Perrin, then gardener to 

 Mr. Richd. Harrison, succeeded with his 

 experiment. " My first trial was on a large 

 plant of L. crispa, which had eight old shoots, 

 and two young shoots gone over the side of 

 the pot. I took a sharp penknife and cut the 

 plant through carefully in three places, taking- 

 care not to disturb the plant, or to cut any of 

 the roots. To my great surprise, in a short 

 time I had two fine young shoots at the side 

 of each old one where I had cut. I have 

 now eight young shoots, and, I believe, had I 

 cut it through at the side of all the old 

 shoots, I should have had 16 young shoots. 

 I intend to cut the remainder of the shoots 

 through next season. I should say in this 

 place that the two young shoots that were on 

 the plant, before I cut it through, did not suffer 

 by the wound. I think they grew equally as 

 strong and faster than before, which makes 

 me think that the old part of the plant is of 

 no use to the new shoots after they have 

 made their roots. I have been informed that 

 this method of increasing Orchidaceous 

 epiphytes will not .succeed, excepting on large 

 established plants, but I have tried it on very 

 small plants, and have found it answer as well 

 as on larger ones." It is of interest to note 

 that Mr. Perrin's name is perpetuated m 

 La;l ia Perrinii, while Mr. Harrison's will ever 

 be remembered by Cattleya Harrisoniana. 



% II 



Cattleya Brownl^:. — Referring to the 

 note on page 28, we have a fine plant which 

 this autumn has produced 3 spikes, carrying 

 a total of 20 flowers. All our hybrid 

 Cattleyas have done well, especially the 

 autumn-flowering ones, which have made a 

 continuous show since the beginning of 

 August. — H. Had don, Lynivood Gardens, 

 Pcnartli. 



