THI-: ORCHIU WORLD. 
'53 
be had from Cypripedium viUosum ; this has 
the advantage of being free flowering and 
lasting a considerable time in perfection ; the 
darker variety named Boxallii is equally use- 
ful. The very pretty Cypripedium Spiceria- 
num with its pure-white dorsal sepal requires 
a few degrees more heat to grow it at its best, 
but if crossed with Cypripedium insigne we 
obtain one of the finest, most easily grown, 
and lasting Cypripedium hybrids suitable for 
every amateur. This hybrid, known as 
Cypripedium Leeanum, has produced innu- 
merable varieties, and in many of the large 
collections several dozen named forms may be 
seen, so popular is this charming hybrid. 
To speak of Odontoglossums is to mention 
a class of Orchid beloved by all, but it is well 
to remark that they will not put up with quite 
such a rough compost as Cypripediums. An 
open compost consisting of a mixture of good 
fibrous peat or Osmunda, some fresh sphag- 
num moss, and a few clean oak leaves will suit 
them very well. It is not considered an easy 
matter to grow large specimens from small 
pieces, or e\ en to pull round sickly plants, 
therefore every amateur will be well advised 
to purchase only large strong plants in a 
healthy condition, for even if the treatment 
given is not altogether correct, these plants 
will continue to grow and flower for many 
years. 
For a selection of the best, Odontoglossum 
crispum stands easily in the premier position. 
It is interesting to note that the first word of 
the name means tooth-shaped, and the second 
refers to the pretty crisped nature of the parts, 
or to use a more botanical term, the segments 
of the flower. In its native home this plant 
lives at an altitude of several thousand feet 
and enjoys the cool moist mountain atmos- 
phere ; in fact it is sometimes more difficult 
to grow this plant in our excessive summer 
heat than in the coldest time of winter. The 
new growth commences to break out of the 
last made bulb in early autumn, and after 
growing all through the winter makes a large 
bulb from which the beautiful and graceful 
bending spikes are produced in spring. 
It is out of the very large importations of 
these plants that so many varieties have been 
procured. While some Orchid fanciers 
selected the large round flowered type of 
flowers, the majority were attracted by the 
rare spotted forms to such an extent that one 
and all endeavoured to secure the variety 
having the largest amount of spotting. It was 
not unlike a scramble for a box of dominoes, 
each one attempted to secure the double-six. 
Trie majority of Orchid species are without 
any scent, but a few may be selected with an 
appreciable odour. Many amateurs will be 
delighted with the hawthorn-scented Odonto- 
glossum gloriosum, and, although the yellow, 
brow^n spotted flowers are rather small, with 
the neat branching spike which it produces. 
A more robust grower may be selected in 
Odontoglossum luteopurpureum, a species 
with yellow flowers almost covered with 
purplish-brown markings. Although some- 
what curious to look at, it cannot be classed 
as one of the prettiest. 
To speak of Odontoglossum nobile may 
suggest an error, but this is the correct name 
for the plant known in gardens as Odonto- 
glossum Pescatorei. In many ways it is 
similar to O. crispum, but differs in having a 
l)ranching spike of flowers with fiddle-shaped 
hps. 
Amateurs, more than any other, dass of 
Orchid growers, have a tendency to crowd 
their plants together to such an extent as to 
prevent them from obtaining enough light and 
air to ripen the bulbs sufficiently for the pro- 
duction of flower spikes. A few may then 
be well selected for growing in small pans 
suspended from the roof. Odontoglossum 
Cervantesii and O Rossii, both Mexican 
species and rarely exceeding six inches in 
height, and the brilliant-red Sophronitis 
grandiflora, often not more than four inches 
in height, may be specially recommended. A 
word of caution will not be out of place when 
speaking of these last three mentioned plants : 
although so dwarf, they should be suspended 
in such a way as to allow at least a space of 
nine inches between the glass and the highest 
portion of the plant. This distance will prove 
sufficient to prevent the extreme heat and cold 
from having any injurious effect on the leaves 
or blossoms of the plant. 
VOL. I. 
