[•'ebruary, igK).] 



IHli ORCHID WORLD. 



lOI 



CYMBIDIUMS. 



SINCE llu- inln clu' tion of C) nib cj;um 

 insigne the whole genus has become 

 exceedingly popular, not only on 

 account of the elegant nature of the plants, 

 with their decorative foliage and graceful 

 spikes, but mainly because their cultivation 

 is SO' easily managed that any amateur with 

 but the slightest knowledge of horticulture 

 IS able to achieve results almost equal to 

 those obtained by the professional grower. 

 In these daj's of hurry and bustle quick 

 results are generally required, and to those 

 who wish to become proficient Orchid 

 cultivators in the shortest period there is no 

 surer way than to try Cymbidiums. 



One of the most extensive collections of 

 Cymbidiums is to be seen at Cooksbridge, 

 where Messrs. J. and A. McBean have for 

 several years been raising a large number 

 of hybrids, ranging in colour from the 

 pure white of C. eburneum to the dark 

 green of C. Tracyanum and C. I^owianum. 

 It is, however, with hybrids of C. insigne 

 that the most beautiful results are obtained, 

 the variety of shades, whether they be pink 

 or rose, is very extensive, and when the dark 

 spotting is neatly and symmetrically arranged 

 the flowers are amongst the prettiest that 

 have yet graced the amateur's greenhouse. 



Concerning the potting compost, of which 

 some Orchids are decidedly particular, 

 nothing can be more simple than the 

 mixture used by Messrs. McBean, which 

 consists of a good loam rendered porous 

 by the addition of a small percentage of 

 fibre. In this the plants make vigorous 

 growth, and in a long" span-roof house, the 

 leaves are so luxuriant as to completely hide 

 the pots, while the flower spikes are every- 

 where to be seen, carrying, in the majority 

 of cases, as many as 25 — 30 large blooms. 

 Week after week these stately flower spikes 

 remain in perfection, and even when severed 

 from the plant and placed in water their 

 duration of freshness does not appear to be 

 shortened. It would, indeed, be difficult for 

 an amateur to find such accommodating and 

 useful plants. 



C. insigne and C. eburneum produce erect 

 spikes, thus differing from the well-known 

 habit o{ Lowianum, Tracj'anum, grandiflorum 

 and giganteum ; in the hybrids between 

 these two sections there is a more or less 

 intermediate habit to be observed. At 

 present, there is a difference of opinion on 

 this matter, for while some admirers of the 

 genus consider that the spike is most effective 

 when in an upright position, there are others 

 who much prefer the graceful, arching style. 

 But so far, the genus is adapting itself to 

 both parties. It strongly favours the one 

 side in C. Gottianum (eburneum x insigne), 

 in which both parents produce erect spikes ; 

 and the other side in C. Pauwelsii (insigne x 

 Lowianum) and Holfordianum (eburneum x 

 grandiflorum), where the erect flowering 

 species are only responsible for half the 

 parentage. 



Among the largest plants to be seen at 

 Cooksbridge are C. Doris (insigne x 

 Tracyanum), raised by Messrs. McBean in 

 iyi2 ; some choice varieties of C. eburneo- 

 Lowianum, which differ mainly in the 

 intensity of the coloured blotch on the front 

 of the hibellum ; and Schlegelii (insigne x 

 Wiganianum), in which much diversity is seen, 

 the latter parent being composed of eburneum 

 and Tracyanum, hence some inherit the ivory- 

 white nature of eburneum, while others 

 more closely resemble the Tracyanum 

 species, but all are beautiful. 



A'nother species whidii fields an erect 

 spike is C. erythrostylum, so named on 

 account of the reddish colour on the column. 

 Till now, it is the parent of four hybrids, 

 these being Florinda (erythrostylum x 

 giganteum), raised by Sir John Edw^ards- 

 Moss, Bart. ; Hanburyanum (erythrostylum x 

 Tracyanum), raised by Mr. F. J. Hanbury ; 

 sandhurstiense (Wiganianum x erythrostylum), 

 raised by Messrs. Armstrong- and Brown ; 

 and albanense (erythrostylum x insigne), 

 raised by Messrs. Sander and Sons. 



Reference must also be made to C. 

 Parishii, which, like the last mentioned 

 species, has been used in the making of 

 four hybrids. They are Dryad (insigne x 

 Parishii) ; Garnet (Lowianum x Parishii) ; 



VUL. VI. 



