THE ORCHID WORLD. 



Cattleya Bowringiana. — This very 

 useful autumn-flowering Cattleya is closely 

 allied to Cattleya Skinneri, the bulbs are 

 somewhat similar, but differ in being swollen 

 at the base. It is a native of Central America, 

 where it obtains an abundance of moisture 

 and a free circulation of air. Some splendid 

 specimens of this species have recently been 

 m flower in the collection of F. J. O. Mon- 

 tague, Esq., J. P., Lyndford Hall, Mundford, 

 Norfolk. Some of these spikes have been 

 sent by Mr. E. Hill, under whose care the 

 plants have given such floriferous results. 

 The flowers vary m colour from a delicate 

 mauve to almost purple, the labellum of every 

 flower having- a darker blotch of colour on the 

 front lobe. On account of the number of 

 flowers produced on a spike, and also the 

 round form of the petals, this species has been 

 much used for hybridising purposes, one of 

 the best results being Cattleya Mantinii 

 (Bowringiana x aurea), a flne spike of which 

 has also been sent by Mr. Hill. The \'ery 

 remarkable rich colour is probably due to the 

 influence of the yellow colour of Cattleya 

 aurea, the gold veining on the labellum of the 

 hybrid being also indicative of this elegant 

 species. 



iS ?J 



VaNDA KiMBALLIAiNA ALBA. — This rare 

 variety, probably the first albino form of the 

 species to be recorded, has recently flowered 

 m the establishment of Messrs. Mansell and 

 Hatcher. The sepals and petals, which are 

 usually slightly suffused with a delicate rose, 

 are pure-white ; the labellum, normally of an 

 amethyst-purple, is also pure-white, the only 

 colour being in the small side lobes which are 

 bright-yellow, but without the usual brownish 

 spots. An Award of Merit was given to the 

 plant when exhibited at the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society, October 24th, 191 1. This 

 species was originally discovered by Boxall m 

 Upper Burmah, where it was found growing 

 in clusters mostly on the bare rocks, and 

 generally in the full blaze of the sun. The 

 plants are of slender habit, but may be grown 

 three or four together in a pan with the usual 

 compost. They will also succeed well if 



nothing else but broken crocks are placed 

 around the roots ; in this condition they have 

 been grown for several years and produced 

 an abundance of bloom in the autumn months. 

 The species was named in honour of Mr. W. S. 

 Kimball, Rochester, U.S.A., an ardent grower 

 of Burmese plants. 



SEASONABLE NOTES. 



Plants pushing their flower buds will 

 require slightly more water at this time of 

 the year than others which do not flower until 

 the spring or early summer months. If the 

 plants can be arranged in batches according 

 to their flowering season considerable trouble 

 will be saved, and the watering can be done 

 with greater correctness. Of course, when 

 the plants have opened their flowers they 

 may be removed to different positions in the 

 house, and thus make a better floral display. 



Many flower spikes, especially those pro- 

 duced without a sheath, are liable, in the 

 early stages, to be eaten by slugs. This is 

 a great disappointment, and although many 

 may be caught at night-time, the only really 

 successful way is to suspend the plants directly 

 the tip of the spike can be seen. Another 

 excellent plan is to place cotton-wool round 

 the stem, slugs and other insects are unable 

 to get over this. 



Care must be exercised when watering 

 suspended plants ; they should be dipped in 

 a tank or bucket, and allowed to thoroughly 

 dram before being hung up again, much 

 damage is likely to occur by allowing water 

 to drip on to the plants below. 



During the winter-time valuable plants are 

 frequently suspended from the roof, an advan- 

 tage to them, for the amount of extra light 

 which they thus receive is considerable, but a 

 disadvantage to any plants that remain 

 beneath, for their amount of light is thereby 

 still further decreased. Unless, therefore, 

 sufficient room over the pathways will allow 

 plants to be suspended, it will be found much 

 the better way to either place the valuable 

 plants on inverted pots or else arrange them 

 in a separate part of the house where extra 

 attention may be devoted to them. 



