January, 1914.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



75 



of the flower, and the stigma completely 

 covered and hidden from view." While of 

 Disa neglecta he has written: — "The early 

 closing of the flowers by the falling inwards 

 of the lip and the erection of the side sepals 

 is very curious, and I have not observed it in 

 any other species." 



MasdevalliaS. — Interesting and valuable 

 as these plants once were to many growers, 

 both trade and private, it is difficult to realise 

 the full extent to which they were esteemed. 

 About thirty years ago an Orchid collector 

 named Maw visited Colombia, where he saw 

 several thousand plants of Masdevallia 



Odontoglossum crispum F. McE can. 



Odontoglossum crispum F. McBean. — 

 The adjoining illustration shows this very 

 handsome blotched variety which appeared in 

 an importation of the species several years 

 ago. The width and rich colour of the 

 segments make it one of the finest forms of 

 these highly interesting flowers, and although 

 the hybridist has been at work producing 

 somewhat similar results, there is never quite 

 the same amount of surprise attached to their 

 flowering as when a really good blotched 

 variety appears in an importation of the plants 



Harryana in flower. Instead of collecting 

 them in a careless manner, he selected only 

 the finest varieties, taking care on each 

 occasion to affix a dried flower of the same 

 to the prepared plant. Some 400 plants were 

 thus consigned to London, where, at an 

 auction sale, the best realised from four to six 

 guineas each. The whole importation made 

 about £^00. Masdevallias comprise some of 

 the brightest coloured flowers, and their 

 popularity may once again return. There is 

 fashion in all thines. 



