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Vanda Sanderiana flowering in the garden of D. Schaap, Etq., Madioen, Java. 



Vanda Sanderiana. — The accompanying- 

 illustration is of a remarkably fine specimen 

 of this Philippine species as it flowered in 

 the garden of Mr. D. Schaap, Kandangan, 

 Madioen, Java, in April, 191 5. Some idea 

 of its real beauty may be obtained from 

 the fact that it carried three spikes with the 

 unusually large number of 32 flowers. 

 When John Dominy, the father of Orchid 

 hybridisation, first saw this species in flower 

 he exclaimed, " Thank goodness, I have lived 

 to see this marvel among Vandas." The 

 credit of discovering it is due to Messrs. 

 -Sander and .Sons' collector M. Roebelen, 

 who procured plants towards the end of the 

 year 1881 at a place called Davao, in the 

 Philippine Islands. M. Roebelen found some 

 difficulty in obtaining porters to carry his 



luggage, but ultimately achieved success by 

 making a bargain with the chief of a native 

 tribe, the principal condition being the 

 handing over of his umbrella, which was 

 particularly wanted for the adornment of 

 his wife. Vanda Sanderiana first flowered 

 in England in the summer of 1883, and the 

 amount of interest it aroused may best be 

 judged from the fact that within a few 

 months the large sum of ^200 was paid 

 for a single plant. The climate of 

 European countries is not very suitable for 

 the cultivation of this beautiful species, 

 and the few instances where it has been 

 grown and flowered for many successive 

 years seem to prove that a high temperature 

 and abundance of atmospheric moisture are 

 necessary. 



VOL. V. 



27 



