148 



TME orchid WORLt). 



MILTONIA VEXILLARIA " MEMORIA G. D. OWEN." 



BEAUTIFUL as all the varieties of 

 Miltonia vexillaria are, not one equals 

 the celebrated M. v. " Memoria G. D. 

 Owen." The very remarkable blotch of 

 colour in the centre of each bloom gives one 

 the impression that a butterfly with out- 

 stretched wings has just alighted on the 

 flower. This singularity is, in a lesser 

 degree, also seen m the variety Leopoldii. 

 Sir Frederick Wigan first exhibited M. v. 

 " Memoria G. D. Owen " at the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society, June gth, i8g6, when it 

 received a First-class Certificate. When 

 shown by him on subsequent occasions it 

 always received considerable attention. At 

 the disposal by auction of Sir Frederick's 

 collection in May, 1907, a plant, consisting of 

 three bulbs and a strong growtli, made the 



large sum of 420 guineas ; a second plant, of 

 two bulbs and a new growth, made 390 

 guineas ; and the remaining portion, two bulbs 

 and a strong lead, made the remarkable 

 figure of 500 guineas. The above illustra- 

 tion is one of four ]>lants flowering in the 

 establishment of Messrs. Duchesne and 

 Lanthoine, Watermael, Brussels. 



Miltonia vexillaria, and its varieties, require 

 an even temperature in which to grow, this 

 being best attained by placing the plants in 

 the cool house during the summer months, 

 and in a cool Cattleya house during the winter 

 time. They arc very liable to produce spot 

 on the leaves if the atmosphere is over- 

 charged with moisture. Careful attention 

 must, therefore, be taken when applying 

 water to the plants. 



