Plate 437. 



CATTLEYA MARDELLII. 



We are indebted to Messrs. Veitch and Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, King's Road, 

 Chelsea, for the subject of our illustration — another of the beautiful Orchids raised at that 

 celebrated Nursery by Mr. Seden ; in this instance a Cattleya, and a very rare plant. 



It is thus described by Professor Reichenbach, in the Gardener's Chronicle for June 

 19th last: — "A glorious two-flowered inflorescence at hand shows the indication of a 

 third flower, so that this proves an extraordinary beauty." It will be seen that our plate 

 fully bears out the high praise accorded to it by the learned Orchidologist. 



Cattleya Mardellii is the offspring of C. speciosissima, fertilized with the pollen of C. 

 Devoniensis, itself a hybrid ; it thence acquires an additional interest to the hybridist, as 

 well as in a scientific point of view. It is a plant of neat habit, and grows freely, which 

 lends a hope that Messrs. Veitch and Sons may, at no very distant date, be able to dis- 

 tribute it, sparingly, perhaps, but still it may be destined to adorn other collections than 

 the rich one in which it originated. A Certificate of Merit was awarded it by the Royal 

 Botanic Society on the occasion of its first flowering in June, 1878. 



Plate 438. 

 ABUTILON VESUVIUS. 



When walking through the glass-houses in the Gardens of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society at Chiswick, on Christmas morning, we were particularly struck with the beauty 

 of some of the newer forms of the Abutilon, and their great value as mid-winter decora- 

 tive plants. Young specimens in vigorous health were flowering with remarkable freedom 

 in an intermediate house, and yielding quantities of bright-coloured flowers. 



The fine variety now figured is from Mr. Henry Cannell's collection at the Swanley 

 Nursery, Kent, and we selected it because of its fine form, rich colouring, and free 

 blooming character. The fiery salmon-red of the flowers fully justifies the expressive 

 name, Vesuvius, given to it. 



Mr. B. S. Williams has well remarked, concerning the Abutilon, that it represents a 

 " most useful class of plants for conservatory decoration, and, if planted out, they produce 

 a good succession of flowers, which are useful for cutting ; it also forms a fine object foi 

 planting against a pillar or wall. They are of easy culture, requiring turfy loam and 

 peat, with some coarse river sand, and a good supply of water in their growing season." 



