September, 1915-] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



267 



Odonloglossum eximium King of the Belgians. 



Odontoglossum eximium King of the 

 Belgians. — This unusually fine variety of 

 eximium, with rich crimson-purple blotches, 

 has been raised by Messrs. J. and A. McBean, 

 of Cooksbridge, who have always made a 

 speciality of choice Odontoglossums. In 

 the production of ardentissimum a heavily 

 blotched variety of crispum was mated with 

 Pescatorei, and the marked manner in which 

 the blotching was accentuated in the resulting 

 progeny incited the raisers to produce still 

 finer flowers by increasing the proportion of 

 crispum, this being effectually earned out in 

 the production of O. eximium (ardentissimum 

 X crispum). Although Pescatorei is respon- 

 sible for a minor share of the parentage its 

 influence is still to be seen in the pandurate 

 shape of the labellum, and the violet tinge 

 imparted to certain portions of the flower. 



1^ 



Orchids in France. — Messrs. Vacherot 

 and Lecoufle, of Boissy-St,-Leger (Seine et 



Oise), France, send us a photograph of an 

 artistic group of Orchids exhibited by them 

 at Paris only a few weeks before the war 

 commenced. In order to produce as natural 

 an effect as possible, the plants were displayed 

 upon trunks of trees, the Miltonias and 

 Phalaenopses thus showing to advantage. 

 The centre was occupied with excellent 

 varieties of Laelio-Cattleya Lucia (cinnabarina 

 X Mendelii), and on each side various Brasso- 

 Cattleyas and specimen Cypripediums were 

 tastefully arranged. On other occasions 

 interesting Odontiodas of attractive colour, 

 and Odontoglossums, both species and 

 hybrids, were exhibited. Among the choice 

 Orchids is L.-C. King Edward VII., with a 

 large and richly-coloured labellum, a beautiful 

 variety of Odontoglossum Fascinator 

 (crispum x Adrianae), and O. Eldorado, noted 

 for its immense lip. Messrs. Vacherot and 

 Lecoufle have published a catalogue contain- 

 ing a selection of their best species and 

 hybrids, as well as Carnations, in which they 

 also specialise. 



