March, 1914] 



THK ORCHID \\ORLD. 



137 



them shown. Orchid growers appear to have 

 forgotten this noble class of plants, and man\' 

 beginners think that they are difficult to 

 cultivate, but we ourselves have never found 

 them to be so, and together with other 

 nurserymen we are growmg and selling 

 specimens every year. Where can the greater 

 part of these go to ? Why, they are purchased 

 by foreigners, who seem to have a greater 

 taste than we have in this country for these 

 most wonderful of all Orchids which, even 

 when not m bloom, are objects of attraction 

 from their noble aspect and graceful foliage. 

 S. giganteum is a slow growing plant, and 

 makes about three leaves a year. We were 

 surprised three years ago to receive amongst 

 some imported masses one which stood three 

 feet high, forming quite a pyramid of young 

 growths, and carrying from 20-30 spikes ; 

 other masses were also of great size." 



Messrs. Sander and Sons state in their 

 Reichenbachia : — "It is found wild along the 

 whole coast line of the Malayan Archipelago, 

 Siam, and Cambodia, and in Cochin China, 

 and this wide geographical range has given 

 rise to several distinct varieties, one of the 

 most remarkable being that known as illustre, 

 which differs from the type in having longer 

 and broader leaves, a longer flower raceme, 

 and more brilliantly coloured blossoms. This 

 variety occurs in Cambodia, but even the 

 plants collected in other localities vary 

 considerably as regards the intensity of the 

 colour, some forms being very much darker 

 and finer than others. There is also a pure 

 albino, but this, like other white varieties, is 

 extremely rare. Like other Orchids of a 

 similar nature, it has a season of growth, and 

 afterwards a season of rest, corresponding 

 with the hot and cool seasons in its native 

 habitat. The cool season occurs from 

 November till March, when a period of dr)- 

 heat sets in, followed by the rainy season, 

 beginning in June and lasting several weeks. 

 During the rainy season these epiphytic 

 Orchids are in active growth, and b\- the time 

 the new foliage is matured the cool season 

 recurs. Tt is easy to imitate these conditions 

 in cultivation. In Juno and throughout the 

 summer the ])lants must have abundance of 



heat and moisture. The resting season occurs 

 after flowering, when the plants must have a 

 cooler and drier treatment until the spring. 

 A dry atmosphere during the cooler treatment 

 is most essential. This species grows 

 naturall)' in low places, but in rather dry 

 situations, very often on trees in paddy and 

 other cultivated fields, and generally upon 

 the trunks below the branches." 



Some forty years ago high prices were paid 

 for specimens of Saccolabiums ; no less than 

 was given for S. giganteum and ^5^65 for 

 S. guttatum. At the dispersal of Dr. Butler's 

 collection, in 1861, S. guttatum sold for £'^2 

 and S. giganteum for ^^46. Since then the 

 prices have gradually fallen, largely owing to 

 easier means for collecting and despatching 

 plants from their native home, until amateurs 

 can now purchase decent plants for a very 

 few shillings apiece. 



A peculiarity of Saccolabiums is the small 

 amount of root that they make inside the pot. 

 Most of their root action is confined to one 

 or two strong roots produced from the portion 

 of the stem above the top of the pot or basket 

 in which it is growing. These aerial roots 

 frequently attain the length of three feet. 



ODONTOGLOSSUM NOX. 



Edwardii X waltoniense (crispum x Kegeljani). 



The extraordinary power of Edwardii in 

 transmitting its colour and size to all its 

 progeny is further exemplified in their 

 addition to the already long list of small 

 flowered hybrids raised from it. The whole 

 flower is of a dusky crimson-purple, only 

 relieved by the usual small orange patch 

 around the crest of the lip. 



In form it is much above the rest of its 

 congeners, for the petals lap over the sepals 

 as in a good Thompsonianum. The waltoni- 

 ense was " roseficldiense," hence the broad 

 petals in this liN'brid, but the bright )-ellow of 

 the parent has failed to weaken the 

 Edwardii purple. 1 raised the plant, and it 

 first bloomed in lanuary. 



de B. Crawshay, t'ehriiary r6lk, i()i4. 



