April, 1915.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



'53 



extended almost to the edge, while in others 

 it has well-nigh disappeared. 



The plants remain in this corridor through- 

 out the whole of the year. As the season 

 advances so the increased temperature causes 

 them to push forth new growths of a vigorous 

 nature, and these, aided by considerable sun 

 heat, assume a robust constitution, for the 

 plants are able to receive ample light and all 

 necessary syringing. When autumn arrives 

 the atmospheric conditions are altered, a 

 lower temperature as well as plenty of light 

 and ventilation soon bring about a well- 

 ripened condition, and thus the plants remain 

 until the return of spring-like weather. 



Since the plants have been in their present 

 position there has been a marked increase in 

 the vigour and size of their bulbs, those made 

 during the last summer being unusually 

 robust, and promising a good supply of 

 bloom. Very much depends on the ripening 

 process, which if not properly carried out is 

 apt to prevent the formation of flower buds 

 on the lower sections of the bulbs, resulting 

 m a diminished quantity of bloom being 

 produced, and a consequent lessening of the 

 general effect at flowering time. With the 

 splendid facilities existing at Brackenhurst 

 there need be no fear of anything of this sort 

 occurring ; not only is there a bracing situa- 

 tion, but there is a good supply of skilled 

 labour, and with these two highly important 

 factors success is certain. 



ODONTOGLOSSUM LACHESIS 



(Fascinator x Vuylstekei). 



This, as naturally would be the case, is 

 much like some forms of Vulcan (crispum x 

 Vuylstekei). Sepals and petals yellow 

 ground, very heavily blotched by deep brown, 

 with a little white area at the base, and 

 having the characteristic marks of brown 

 immediately around tlie column's base, which 

 are inherited from tnumphans. Lip white, 

 almost covered by a great brown blotch and 

 marginal markings. Column and wings 

 heavily "painted" crimson-brown. 



The great preponderance is that of Vuyl- 

 stekei, which has proved one of the strongest 

 hybrids yet used. This is the fifteenth hybrid 

 1 have raised with li. dc B. Crawshay, 

 Rosrfie/(/ , March i^th, I'jij- 



ODONTOGLOSSUM ATROPOS. 



Harryanum tripudians 



I ^1 



I 



crispum roseum Astarte 

 I I 



Atropos. 



It is quite evident that we are going to 

 attain the same results in hybridity by 

 different ways of development. The colour 

 of this secondary hybrid, one of my own 

 experimental lines of coupling an obscure and 

 also a well-known species, has resulted in a 

 most beautiful shade of purple-maroon, almost 

 identical to the shades in illustrissimum, 

 1 hwaitesii and rosefieldiense, in their darkest 

 solid forms. 



The sepals and petals, both front and back, 

 are solid, with the exception of the tips which 

 show the characteristic absence of the ov erlay 

 colour at the extreme end of the segment ; at 

 the base of the petals there is a similar 

 uncoloured mark or two showing the pure 

 white of the under ground colour. I say 

 under ground colour advisedly, as the purple- 

 maroon seems to l)e the third layer of colour, 

 the deep rose stained grt)und forming the 

 second. Ihc hp is large, triangular, and ot 

 white ground, with a broken covering ol 

 purple-maroon forming a triangular area, 

 leaving a white apex ; the sides have a 

 marginal row of spots. Column head very 

 dark, as in a fine crispum. 



Tripudians, be it species or rare hybrid, is 

 ev idently very strong and transmits its quality 

 through Harryanum very plainly, but the 

 brown has entirely disappeared. Of course, 

 the hybrids will vary much, and it will be 

 interesting to see if any revert to the crispum, 

 which was a good roseum. — de B. Crawshay, 

 Roseficld, March i ^th, igiS- 



VOL. V. 



21 



