214 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 12, 1885. 
stormy night the whole thing was carried away, happily without doing 
much injury. 
It is possible now to get a large number of some of the finest 
kinds at as low a figure as Hyacinths, and for a five-pound note a very 
fine collection may be had of some of the very best flowers. Those who 
go in for exhibiting will, of course, buy the more expensive varieties in 
Mr. Kelway’s or the foreign lists ; but for one’s own gratification there are 
a large number which may be had for a small sum at 6d. or Is. apiece. I 
have written about spawn, but it must be remembered that some varie¬ 
ties give much more than others, and this leads to a great difference as 
to the sorts that are cheapened. Thus Meyerbeer came out in the same 
year as Madame Desportes, but while the former can be had for about 4d. 
the latter is still about 2s. Horace Vernet, again, produces abundance of 
spawn, and is now cheaper than Adolphe Brongniart, which came out 
years before it. Sometimes Horace Vernet literally swarms with comlets 
of all sizes, while I rarely get any off Adolphe Brongniart. 
I have already in my notes on Fontainbleau written of the character 
of the newer varieties. Let me here add a list of some of the older ones 
which are cheap and will he sure to give satisfaction :—Meyerbeer, 
Dalila, Murillo, Adolphe Brongniart, Horace Vernet, Africaine, Sylvie 
Anna, Hcsperide, Baroness Burdett Coutts, La Perle, Leandre, Shakespeare, 
Pasquin, Norma, Camille Schiller, and Orphee. These are all low-priced 
and all really good varieties, such as are found in the winning stands of 
exhibitors. As I have often said, the Gladiolus fares badly as an exhi¬ 
bition flower around the metropolis. Except at the Crystal Palace there 
is no place to exhibit them, and there amateurs get but little encourage¬ 
ment, only one class being devoted to them ; the exhibitions which used 
to be held in the south-eastern part of this country have been abandoned, 
and yet at Dover and Deal I have seen as good exhibitions of this flower 
as anywhere. It is in the north and west that we alone see the flower 
encouraged as it ought to be. Personally, I did not send one spike from 
my garden to any exhibition last year. In writing as I have done of the 
French varieties, I do so became I have known them best. No one who 
has seen the collections exhibited by Mr. Kelway can fail to have observed 
how grand are some of the varieties that he has raised—indeed, I question 
whether any variety for size or leng f h of spike has equalled his Duchess 
of Edinburgh ; and as to his exhibits at the Crystal Palace, which were, 
it was said (I did not see them), behind Mr. Campbell’s, it must be 
remembered that the latter grows for competition, while the former does 
not, and only takes his flowers to the shows as they may be at the time— 
indeed, with such an immense stock as he possesses it would be impossible 
for him to grow for competition. He has done much to popularise the 
flower, for which, I believe, he has a real love.—D., Deal. 
AMONGST THE ORCHIDS. 
MESSRS. J. YEITCH & SONS, CHELSEA. 
DURING the past half century Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons have, first at 
Exeter and subsequently at Chelsea, given much attention to the great 
Orchid family, and this now constitutes one of the principal departments 
of their wonderful business. In the introduction of new and beautiful 
species or varieties from their native homes, in raising hybrids of distinct 
character, and in improving the methods of cultivation, this firm has 
undoubtedly contributed in a remarkable degree to the present popularity 
of Orchids. Hundreds of useful and handsome plants have been added 
to collections by the two former means, and meritorious novelties are 
brought into notice every season in surprising numbers, while some of the 
earlier productions are now seen in all the leading collections throughout 
the kingdom ; and it is only necessary to particularise one of these— 
Calanthe Veitchii—as a striking instance. This lovely Orchid is now 
indispensable in many gardens, and with the old Dendrobium nobile it 
finds a place in thousands of gardens where no other members of the 
family are grown—abundant evidence of its usefulness. Especial success 
has indeed attended the efforts cf this firm to obtain hybrid Orchids. 
Mr. John Dominy commenced the work with Calanthe Dominii, the first 
hybrid Orchid known, and this was followed by many others, such as 
Cattleya exoniensis, Cattleya Dominiana, Dendrbbium Dominii, Calanthe 
Yeitchi, and Cypripedium Harrisianum, until nearly thirty really valuable 
plants had been raised—most commendable results. Following such an 
admirable leader Mr. Seden has worked well and successfully, very largely 
increasing the number of hybrid Orchids, and scarcely a year passes without 
some notable addition being exhibited and honoured with certificates. 
The productions of these two skilled orchidists alone would render the 
Yeitchian collections highly interesting and unique ; but beautiful and 
wonderful as they are, there is something more to be seen under the acre 
of glass at Chelsea devoted to these plants. 
Those who frequently visit the great London nurseries are so accus¬ 
tomed to the vast stocks of plants there seen that they occasion little 
surprise. Upon a stranger, however, the effect is very different, and the 
extent to which the trade in plants has developed appears almost marvel¬ 
lous. As an example of this a country gardener of long experience, who 
seldom visits the metropolis, writes, “ Having an hour or two at my dis¬ 
posal when in London recently I called at ‘ Veitch’s ’ with the special 
object of seeing the Orchids. It is many years since I have seen this 
great collection, and as I spent some time in the Exeter Nursery at the 
time when Mr. Dominy was making his fame in Orchid-raising, I feel a 
special interest in it. It had, however, quite outgrown my ideas. We 
passed through house after house filled with plants which at a moderate 
estimate must be worth some thousands of pounds. In several the 
plants were loaded with brilliantly coloured flowers, producing an effect 
which could scarcely be imagined by those who are unfamiliar with these 
displays, and in all the plants were marked by that health which a grower 
only can fully appreciate. During a long experience I have never seen a 
collection of Orchids which so strongly impressed me, and they alone well 
repaid me for my visit.” 
Very few of those who are conducted through the Veitchian Orchid 
collections obtain a clear idea of the number of houses occupied with 
these plants, and many do not see the whole of the department. There 
are, however, twenty-six houses thus filled, and those vary in length from 
20 feet to 132 feet; but if the divisions in all the ranges were counted the 
number would be still further increased. Not the least interesting of 
these is the house of seedlings, of which at least three thousand are to be 
seen in various stages of development, from microscopic plantlets to 
those approaching the flowering stage, and still others which have ex¬ 
panded their long-looked-for flowers, and have at last satisfied their 
foster-parent that his care has not been misplaced. One hybrid that has 
recently flowered in this house— i.e., Cypripedium leucorrhodum—has 
been grown for nine years without an opportunity being afforded until 
early this year of determining the character of the plant. It is the result 
of a cross between C. Roezlii and C. Schlimi album, the former being 
the seed parent, and it presents an interesting combination of the charac¬ 
ters distinguishing these two species. The flowers are of a soft rose tint, 
exquisitely delicate, and the habit of the plant is remarkably vigorous. 
Another charming hybrid is Cypripedium Sedeni candidibulum, a near 
approach to a white C. Sedeni, and which is certain to become a great 
favourite, as it possesses the free-growing and flowering characters of that 
well-known hybrid. It was obtained from a cross between C. longifolium 
and C. Schlimi album, and resembles C. Sedeni in the form of the flower, 
but the sepals and petals are white, the lip being of a pale delicate rose 
tint. This has been much admired, and is a particular favourite with the 
ladies. The lovely Cypripedium Leeanum superbum is still flowering, 
and, with the rosy-streaked or “ tessellated ” C. tessellatum porphyreum 
and the very dark C. Harrisianum superbum, constitute the chief attrac¬ 
tion in that department just now. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM HOUSE. 
Visitors who wish to see Messrs. Veitch’s Orchids are usually first con¬ 
ducted into a range leading off the centre avenue, from which all the houses 
can be readily reached. In the porch, that most useful adjunct to an Orchid 
house, miscellaneous plants, are arranged together with a few Orchids, 
of which the most notable is a fine example of Cymbidium eburneum 
showing a number of flowers, one specimen having had sixteen. The 
useful Laelia albida, the interesting hybrid Chysis Chelsoni, and the white- 
lipped Miltonia cuneata are also flowering, and with several others possess 
more or less interest. Adjoining this, however, is the Odontoglossum or 
cool house, in which there is now a very pleasing and varied display. 
Largely predominating are numbers of handsome varieties of O. Alexandra, 
differing considerably in the size and form of the flowers ; some also are 
pure white, some heavily spotted, and others beautifully tinted with 
crimson. 0. Pescatorei is in abundance, 0. Halli, O. luteopurpureum, 
and O Iriumphans are similarly noteworthy ; 0. Rossi majus is beauti¬ 
fully represented; 0. Wilckeanum, O. gloriosum, the charming little 
O. blandum, the delicately marked 0. Cervantesi', O. cirrhosum, large 
and finely marked, with its pure white counterpart, O. Hrubyanum, all 
impart attractions in no mean degree to this house. Very conspicuous 
amongst the numerous light-coloured Odontoglots is 0. Edwardi, which has 
very dark purplish flowers, almost of a violet tinge, with a yellow lip, and 
being produced in large panicles, the effect is particularly striking. This 
Orchid will become a favourite in the cool house, as for contrast with the 
others it is unrivalled. Some superbly marked varieties of the O. 
polyxanthum type are notable ; one in particular, which is regarded as an 
improved polyxanthum, but which is at present unnamed, has finely 
formed flowers with a bright yellow ground and bold chocolate blotches, 
most effective. A welcome brightness of colour is afforded by numerous 
plants of a Sophronitis grandtfiora suspended from the roof, while large 
plants of Ada aurantiaca furnish a rich orange tint amongst the plants 
upon the stages. Of Oncidiums, the bright clear yellow 0. concolor is 
freely and tastefully employed ; the constantly flowering 0. cacullatum, the 
peculiar darkly tinted O. nigratum, the distinct but little known O. 
unguiculatum with a yellow lip and dark sepals and petals, are all in good 
condition. There will shortly be a remarkably good display of O. 
macranthum, the numerous plants of which are producing their large 
panicles freely. 
ANGRiECUM HOUSE. 
Especially notable in this house is a large batch of Angraecum 
sesquipedale, which, with their large wax-like flowers and extremely long 
spurs, always attract so much attention. “ What purpose do these re¬ 
markable spurs serve P” is the question frequently asked respecting them, 
and inquirers are usually referred to Darwin’s work on the Fertilisation of 
Orchids, where he observed that “ in Madagascar there must be moths 
with proboscides capable of extension to a length of 10 and 11 inches ” to 
enable them to reach the nectar and fertilise the fl 'wers, that this 
opinion was ridiculed by some entomologists, but rts probability was 
afforded a partial corroboration by the discovery in Brazil of a moth having 
a proboscis of the requisite length. Independent of the interest attached 
to such a plant, A. sesquipedale is a really handsome Orchid, and 
one which amply repays for the little good attention it requires. 
A species of Angraecum which is fast becoming an established favourite 
is A. citratum, which produces its compact spikes of small pale 
primrose-coloured flowers most liberally, when growing in tiny pans 
2 or 3 inches in diameter. Suspended from the roof its graceful spikes 
, dwarf slightly round the pan and have a very pleasing appearance. 
