I)oc(jinl)t'r, 1914.] 



Tin-: ORCHID world. 



61 



across, are milk-whitc, with an orange-yellow 

 disc on the labelluni, at the liase of which 

 are two maroon spots that are sometimes 

 confluent, althous4h in rare instances they are 

 no larp,er than small peas. In the variety 

 called xanthinum these spots are completely 

 absent. The flowering season is during the 

 months of May and June, sometimes a little 

 later. 



The original type came from the Arracan 

 Hilis, but a geographical variety from the 

 Kareeii Hills is distinguished by its more 

 rolnist stems. ]]oth forms have long been 

 cultivated in gardens on account of their 

 decorative white flowers and l)y reason of the 

 manner in which they extend the Dendrobium 

 season until the commencement of summer. 



The cultivation of Dendrobiums has of late 

 years undergone considerable improvement, 

 so much so that they are now amongst the 

 easiest of Orchids to grow. In place of the 

 excessive temperature and extremely humid 

 atmosphere formerly employed, it is now the 

 custom to give less artificial heat and to 

 maintain a buoyant atmosphere whenever 

 possible. The results achieved by this 

 method are eminently satisfactory, the plants 

 having a healthier appearance and being less 

 susceptible to disease during the trying winter 

 months. 



It is not suggested that anything approach- 

 ing the cool-house treatment should be 

 adopted, for this would bring about a severe 

 check ; but a house such as is often described 

 as a warm Cattleya house will answer the 

 purpose admirably during the summer months. 

 During bright sunshine the inside tempera- 

 ture is bound to rise considerably, but as this 

 occurs during a proportionate increase of light 

 it will prove beneficial in more ways than one. 

 It is only when a very high temperature exists 

 ill company with deficient light that the 

 weekly and unsatisfactory bulbs are produced. 

 The days of attempting the cultivation of 

 Orchids in hot vapour baths have almost 

 vanished, and the few instances in which this 

 unpleasant treatment still seems necessary 

 may even yet give place to methods entailing 

 a more genial and healthier atmosphere. 



ALBINO CATTLEYAS AT VALE 

 BRIDGE, HAYWARDS HEATH. 



DURING the last few weeks many of 

 the finest albino varieties of Cattleya 

 labiata have been in flower in the 

 Orchid houses of Mr. lidward V. Low, Vale 

 Bridge, Ilaywards Heath, where choice 

 species and varieties are s])ecially cultivated. 

 Although opinions may differ as to which 

 species produces the most attractive flowers, 

 tliere is but little doubt that white \arieties 

 of C. labiata, flowering as they do in the flull 

 autumnal months, will always hold their dwii 

 and continue to receive the praise so long 

 bestowed u]ion them. 



In common with other species, C. lal)iata 

 produces various varieties of albino flowers, 

 and, although in these the sepals and petals 

 are pure white in every example, it is the 

 labellum which shows the chief distinguishing- 

 characteristics. The term alba has often 

 been incorrectly applied to any variety of a 

 flower which shows a deficiency of colour in 

 one or more of its segments, but in its true 

 scientific meaning it should only be used to 

 describe varieties in which the purple 

 pigment is entirely eliminated from the 

 labellum as well as the sepals and petals. 



The true C. labiata alba is very rarely 

 discovered ; in fact, so scarce is it in its 

 native country that many importations are 

 received without a single specimen being 

 detected. In the Vale Bridge collection a 

 particularly fine form, distinguished by the 

 varietal name Lord Kitchener, has this season 

 produced a flower measuring 7 inches in 

 width, and the same distance from tip of 

 dorsal sepal to the foremost part of the 

 labellum. Even the yellowish colour in the 

 throat has almost disappeared, all that 

 remains being a few greenish-yellow lines. 

 Another rarity in this class is the variety 

 Purit)', which once carried the unusual 

 number of five well-developed flowers on a 

 single spike. Needless to remark all the 

 segments are pure w^hite. 



The varieties with coloured labellums are 

 numerous and considerably more attractive, 

 possibly owing to the contrast of the purple 



