Fcbrujii v, 1913- 1 
'IHK ORCHID WOKIJ). 
"5 
the soil. Young and valuable seedlnij^s arc 
much sal'er, and, in fact, grow quicker in a 
sweet, open mixture. 
The success so far obtained with the flower- 
ing of these hybrids has been very encour- 
aging, and judging by some of the parents 
which have been used, the results of plants as 
yet unflowered are eagerly awaited. Of 
those which have already flowered mention 
must be made of Cymbidium Gottianuin 
(eburneum x insigne), C. Alexanderi 
(eburneo-Lowianum x insigne), C. Schlegelii 
(Wiganianum x insigne), C. Pauwelsii (Lowi- 
anum x insigne), C. Wiganianum (eburneum 
X Tracyanum), and there is a good plant of 
the elegant C. rosefieldiense. A pretty hybrid 
may be seen in C. eburneum x Lowianum 
concolor, and also in C. eburneum x Lowi- 
anum auriferum. 
Odontoglossum crispum has always been a 
speciality, and Cooksbridge has long been 
noted for the excellent forms of this ever- 
popular species. With the advent of Odonto- 
glossum hybrids interest in this species 
certainly waned for a short period, but 
amateurs are again fully appreciating the 
merits of crispums. It is no unusual event 
to see a branching spike of twenty, or more, 
flowers fully open at Christmas time, while 
others, by the successive opening of fresh 
buds, will last in flower for the long period 
of six and seven weeks. It is Impossible to 
state the exact number of crispums in this 
establishment ; their total is expressed in 
tens of thousands, while their numerous flower- 
spikes maintain a constant and abundant 
supply of bloom. 
More than one spacious house is entirely 
filled with Odontoglossum hybrids, plants in 
all sizes, from minute seedlings to flowering 
specimens, manifesting the best of good health. 
Odontoglossum pulchellum x Od. Edwardii 
is worthy of special notice in being one of 
the very few cases in which the latter species 
has been successful as a pollen parent. 
Odontiodas are equally well represented, and 
an interesting plant is to be seen in Oncidioda 
Cooksonias (C. Noezliana x On. macranthum). 
Cattleya species are really remarkable in 
the vigour of their growth. Words fail to 
give a fair idea of the immense bulbs formed 
by many of the plants. The follovving exact 
measurements are well worthy of being placed 
on record. Cattleya Schrodera^, a giand 
specimen, has the largest bulb, 0 inches in 
circumference, with a flower-sheath 0 inches 
high and 2 inches wide, and the leaves v' 
inches across. Many Schroderae plants are to 
be seen with bulbs of 5-^ inches circumference. 
A very distinct looking plant of C. Mendelii 
has a leading bulb 45 inches in circumference, 
the flower-sheath 2 inches wide, and the leaves 
The large Cattleya House . 
3i inches across. Many fine plants of C. 
Warscewiczii have leaves similarly propor- 
tioned. C. Mossiae is equally well cultivated, 
one large plant having leaves 14 inches in 
length, the flower-sheath 6J inches high, and 
the leading bulb 4-0 inches in circumference. 
With such excellent results as the foregoing, 
it IS not surprising to see the hybrids from 
these and other species also growing with 
considerable vigour. Several spacious houses 
are devoted to the culture of a vast assemblage 
of various crosses. ]\Iany very fine hy brids 
have already been produced, and it will not 
