THE ORCHID WORLD. 



37 



this season it carried twelve of its beautiful 

 flowers. 



Coelogyne fuscescens is a beautiful species 

 from North India ; and Coelogyne Micholitzii 

 with over sixty bulbs, carries a seed pod the 

 result of crossing with C. speciosa alba, of 

 which there is a large plant. Isochilus 

 linearis, a Tropical American species, is a 

 pretty Orchid which grows about a foot in 

 height and produces rose-red flowers in the 

 spring and summer. Lockhartia elegans, from 

 Trinidad, bears pretty yellow flowers with a 

 fleshy lip spotted with purple. 



The numerous species of Pleurothallis, 

 varying considerably in their inflorescences, 

 receive their share of attention, but many of 

 the flowers are so small that a magnifying 

 glass is required to observe their plan of con- 

 struction. Many of the Stanhopeas are grand 

 specimens growing in suspended baskets ; 

 their curious wax-like flowers have been freely 

 produced during the present year. Of other 

 interesting Orchids mention must be made of 

 a large specimen of Scuticaria Hadweni, w.th 

 its long sub-terete leaves ; Zygopetalum .San- 

 derianum, with its broad blue lip ; and 

 Eulophia guineensis, a summer flowering 

 plant from West Tropical Africa. 



Megaclinium Bufo with its extremely 

 interesting flowers, reminding one of numerous 

 small frogs sitting on a flattened snake, is a 

 great rarity. yErides Houlletiana, an elegant 

 species from Cochin China, Angrascum Eich- 

 lerianum from West Africa, and Angrascum 

 Scottianum with its pure-white flowers must 

 also be noted. 



The Dendrobium house contains a large 

 selection of well-known and rare species. 

 At this time of the year the plants are resting, 

 but in the spring a welcome display is pro- 

 duced. Of the many specimens mention must 

 be made of Dendrobium aggregatum, D. 

 Farmeri, the Javan D. mutabile, D. mos- 

 chatum cupreum, a very strong plant of D. 

 Phalaenopsis album, the Australian D. Goldei, 

 and D. Parishii with its rich dark-rose flowers. 



The Cypripedium house is well filled, the 

 great variation in the coloration and markings 

 of the flowers producing a pretty effect at this 

 season of the year. The following forms are 



very distinct : Cypripedium Fletcherianum, 

 Cyp. Daisy Barclay, figured on page lo, Cyp. 

 Stonei, and Cyp. caudatum with its peculiar 

 long petals. 



There are also good plants of La^lia 

 Fmckeniana alba, a part of the original Catt- 

 leya Hardyana, Cattleya Bowringiana Low's 

 var., a hugh specimen of Cattleya Mantinii, 

 the beautiful L:elia purpurata Russelliana, 

 Platyclinis filiformis with its numerous slender 

 spikes of golden flowers, the spider-like 

 Brassia maculata, and Cattleya Luddeman- 

 niana alba with thirteen bulbs. 



This large and valuable collection contains 

 a vast amount of material of great interest to 

 those studying the many various species and 

 varieties of this wonderful order of plants. 

 Mr. Fletcher has now been growing Orchids 

 for more than twenty years, and to find his 

 equal as an enthusiast would indeed be a 

 difficult task. 



G. W. 



SEASONABLE NOTES. 



In this country we are now at a season of 

 the year when the days are at their shortest 

 and the growin,g conditions at their minimum. 

 Every advantage must, therefore, be taken of 

 the few hours of sunshine which we may 

 receive. In large towns only a moderate 

 light can be obtained, the sun's rays being 

 almost obscured by the thick haze of smoke 

 and fog which so frequently overhangs a large 

 populous district. 



Light is of very great importance to plant 

 i'lfe, without a certain amount growth soon 

 stops and the existence of the plant is endan- 

 gered. Orchids when deprived for any length 

 of time of their normal seasonable amount of 

 bright light soon turn yellow, lose their leaves, 

 and ultimately die. 



The leaves of plants are arranged in such a 

 manner that a correct or suitable amount of 

 sunlight may be received by them. This 

 arrangement is designed during their forma- 

 tion, and may often be noticed in plants which 

 have been grown near a wall and have in con- 

 sequence only received the light from one 

 direction 



