November, 1914.] 



■mi-: oRciiii) w'ORij). 



35 



One of the most interesting features of tins 

 establishment is the large batch of Cattleya 

 Maggie Raphael (Trianas alba x aurea). The 

 plants are a picture of good health, while the 

 immense number of flower sheaths is 

 astonishing, even small plants showing signs 

 of bloom. This hybrid commences its 

 flowering season in the early part of 

 December and continues until the latter part 

 of January, thus furnishing an abundance of 

 bloom during the Christmas season and 

 during what would otherwise be the dullest 

 eight weeks in the year. There is, as one 

 would expect, a certain amount of variation 

 in the flowers, some being of broader dimen- 

 sions than others, and having brighter purple 

 on the labellum. In the majority of cases the 

 sepals and petals are pure white. These 

 plants possess a remarkable amount of vigour; 

 no matter how small may be the back bulb 

 that is severed from the plant, it quickly 

 commences to make a new growth and 

 rapidly increases in size. 



It may here be worth while to mention the 

 compost that is almost always used for 

 Cattleyas and allied species and hybrids. It 

 consists of a mixture of A.i and Osmunda 

 fibres in about equal parts, to which is added 

 a little sphagnum moss, some finely broken 

 crocks, and a small quantity of clean oak 

 leaves. Although it is not advisable to repot 

 plants during the winter months whenever 

 the collection is situated near a large town, 

 with a consequent loss of bright light and 

 growing conditions, this remark does not 

 apply to Tunbridge Wells, where repotting 

 may be carried out right through the winter 

 months. The large batch of Cattleya Maggie 

 Raphael is always attended to directly the 

 flowers have been removed, a time when root 

 action is dormant, and consequently when 

 little or no harm can be done to the plant's 

 constitution. By the time the last plant has 

 been attended to there is abundant sign of 

 root action, and before many more weeks 

 have elapsed new roots can be seen pushing 

 forth in every part of the new compost. 

 Some of the plants have made two succeeding 

 bulbs in one season, and although they are 

 of almost normal size the flowering results do 



not appear to be in any way more satisfactory 

 than when only one growth is made during 

 the season. Still, if a rapid increase of the 

 stock is required this vigorous habit is much 

 to be desired. 



Miltonias include many choice varieties of 

 vexillaria, which grow very satisfactorily in a 

 span-roof house wherein a regular tempera- 

 ture of 60-65 degrees is maintained. Two 

 very meritorious Miltonias with large hand- 

 somely-blotched labellums bear the names 

 J. Gurney Fowler and Miss Louisa Fowler. 

 Odontonia brugensis, an interesting hybrid 

 between M. vexillaria and O. Edwardii, will 

 soon be in flower once again. 



ODONTOGLOSSUM AMONILLA. 



cristatum Kegeljani 



cristatellum Harryanum nobile crispiim 



|_ I ! J (blotched) 



, I I 

 Amonasro armainvillierense 



! I (Theodora) 



Amonilla. 



This plant bloomed upon the " eve of the 

 War," hence the delay in its description 

 appearing. Being one of my secondary 

 hybrids from cristatellum it has, perhaps, 

 more interest to me than anyone else, as the 

 preponderance of " expression " in the bloom 

 13 easily seen to come from that parent. 



The massive coloration derived from 

 Harryanum in all its power is very strongly 

 marked. Sepals light yellow, almost entirely 

 covered by deep brown having a slight shade 

 of slate colour in it, the tips, margins, and 

 two bars across the brown being the only part 

 unbrowned. Petals have less heavy brown 

 areas, marbled pretty much, as is usual in 

 Harryanum hybrids. Lip pure white and 

 very large, having one immense arrow-head 

 blotch of bluish-sheened brown. 



This should make a fine parent, and being 

 crossed from a z'ery lilac crispum and verj' 

 purple Thompsonianum ought to bring the 

 " blue " a step further. This is the second 

 plant of this cross to bloom. 



de B. Craws hay, Rosefield, October ^th, 



