896 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
[ Mny 14, 1888. 
of small flowers, together with Cattleya Mendeli and Calanthe veratrifolia 
were the chief features of the Cheltenham collection. 
Turning to the classes devoted to particular genera a few of the most 
important plants shown can only be enumerated, and the illustrations, 
together with the outlines of the genera, will serve to convey some idea of 
the character of the display. It should, however, be remarked that the 
entries were not quite so numerous in this section as would have been 
desirable and might have been expected ; but abundant representatives of 
each were to be found in the groups that have just been noticed, and 
undoubtedly added more to the general effect of the Exhibition by being 
so arranged than they would have done if in separate collections of each 
genus. 
CATTLEYAS. 
Of the numerous Central American Orchids which comprise some of the 
most gorgeous and the most peculiar in the family, the Cattleyas hold a 
pre-eminent position, and have rendered the name of Mr. Cattley of Barnet, 
one of the earlier cultivators of Orchids, familiar wherever Orchids are 
known. In recent years especially Cattleyas have become great favourites, 
and to meet the increasing demand for species and varieties of this genus 
collectors have travelled in some of the wildest and least explored regions 
of Brazil and other portions of the great South American continent, 
gathering and transmitting to England shiploads of plants, the total value 
of which would be incalculable. Notwithstanding these large importations, 
Fig. 96.—Cattleya amethystoglossa. 
however, the prices of the best species and varieties still continue high, and 
some hybrids also realise large amounts. A plant of very moderate size of the 
beautiful C. Skinneri alba will fetch 20 guineas, and for many others pro¬ 
portionate prices can be obtained. Some of the largest amounts that have 
been paid for these plants are the following—C. Russelliana, £44; C. Blunti, 
£42 ; C. exoniensis, 48 guineas; Cattleya labiata, 40 guineas; C. Skinneri 
alba, 52 guineas ; and C. Leeana, over 200 guineas. 
Cattleyas possess many qualities which have assisted in rendering them 
favourites. The flowers are very large—they are, indeed, some of the largest 
in. the Orchid family. They are marked by extremely rich shades of rose, 
crimson, and yellow; they are very durable either on the plant or cut, and 
some are most pleasingly fragrant. For producing an effective display they 
cannot be equalled by any other Orchids, and all who have seen the hand¬ 
some houses of Cattleyas at Downside and Chelsea will fully recognise their 
value, in this respect. Such species as C. Trian®, C. Mendeli, C. Mossias, 
C. Skinneri, and C. Warscewiczi are particularly useful. C. gigas and C. 
Sanderiana are magnificent, and the exquisitely fragrant C. citrina is indis¬ 
pensable for a collection of. choice Orchids. Representing another distinct 
type, but equally beautiful in its way, is that of which a flower is shown in 
fig. 9G—namely, C. amethystoglossa, a Brazilian Orchid of moderate height, 
flowering at the present time. The flowers are usually rosy tinted with 
bold deep purple spots upon the sepals and petals, and a bright purple lip, 
hut several varieties have been introduced, some having a yellow ground 
colour instead of that named above. All, however, are extremely pretty. 
About thirty species of Cattleyas are known, but the varieties are innu¬ 
merable, and all are natives of Central America, being found either upon 
the stems and branches of trees or growing upon rocks. Many handsome 
hybrids have been raised within the past twenty years, which have formed 
important additions to the genus. C. Loddigesii was the first introduced 
species, having made its appearance in 1810, and was followed by C. labiata, 
which Mr. Cattley first flowered, and of winch C. Mossim is regarded as a 
variety. The Cattleyas and Lrelias are very cloBely allied, the character 
relied upon to distinguish them being the number of pollen masses—namely, 
four in Cattleya and eight in Laelia, but this has been found variable. 
LiELIAS. 
From Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, and a few other districts in tropical 
and sub-tropical America we have about two dozen species of this charming 
genus, some of which share the honours with the Cattleyas as the grandest 
Orchids in cultivation. Others, from their delicate tints and abundant 
flowers are unsurpassed in the family as useful plants. In one respect several 
of the Laslias are particularly valuable, and that is their character of flowering 
during the winter months, when Orchid flowers are especially welcome. 
L. anceps and its varieties, L. autumnalis, L. superbiens, L. acuminata, and 
several others in this group are favourites with all, and such early-flowering 
species as L. albida similarly receive a large share of attention. Turning to 
the summer-flowering species we have a magnificent Orchid in L. purpurata, 
which with its pure 'white sepals and petals and rich purplish crimson lip is 
entitled to rank with the most handsome of the Cattleyas. Moreover, being 
of free growth and extremely fioriferous, some remarkably handsome speci¬ 
mens are frequently seen in private and trade collections. Of small-flowered 
species L. cinnabarina and L. harpophylla may be taken as examples, and 
the latter with its bright orange-coloured blooms is fast becoming a great 
favourite, as the tint is uncommon amongst Orchids or other plants. One 
extraordinary Lselia—namely, L. bella deserves special notice. It is a 
hybrid between Cattleya labiata and Lselia purpurata, and combines many 
characters of both parents, but possesses an exceedingly large and richly 
coloured lip superior to both. Very few specimens of this Orchid are in 
cultivation and one of these has been valued at over 200 guineas. 
Messrs. Sander & Co., St. Albans, had the principal group of these. A 
fine bank of about sixty large specimens being formed near the centre of the 
conservatory. Lrelia elegans and L. purpurata were represented by a 
number of plants, the varieties remarkable for their richly coloured flowers. 
Some fine forms of C. Mendeli were also staged at another place, one named 
grandis well deserving its title. Several lovely white Cattleyas were much 
admired from the same firm, comprising C. Blunti, C. Trianse alba, C. Wag- 
neriana, a wonderfully fine form (certificated) with enormous flowers and a 
prominent lip yellow in the centre. C. Skinneri alba was similarly beautiful, 
and C. maxima Peru variety (certificated) had broad rose-tinted sepals and 
petals, and a crimson-veined lip. Mr. W. Bull, Chelsea, showed some fine 
varieties of Lselia purpurata ; and H. Little, Esq., contributed C. Mendeli and 
C. Mossiffi in good condition. De B. Crawshay, Esq., exhibited some Lmlias 
and Cattleyas of much merit, amongst the former being L. purpurata alba 
with a dozen handsome flowers, the sepals and petals fine white and the lip 
deep crimson. Of the latter, C. gigas very richly coloured, C. Mossiae 
pulcherrima delicate rose, and C. Mendeli leucoglossum with a yellow lip 
were the best. 
ODONTOGLOSSUMS. 
The cool Orchid house has now become an indispensable structure 
wherever these plants are largely grown, and where there are few it is 
often the only one devoted to them. In such a house the Odontoglossums 
are the principal occupants, their wax-like and durable flowers being pro¬ 
duced freely throughout the greater part of the year, and are exceedingly 
well fitted for employment in bouquets, buttonholes, or general floral deco¬ 
ration. They have accordingly advanced steadily in public favour, until at 
the present time it is probable that far greater numbers of Odontoglossums 
are in cultivation than of any other genus of Orchids. One amateur states 
he has 10,000 plants of O. Alexandra, and a large firm claims to have 100,000 
of the same species, while of the few Orchids grown for market purposes 
this is the principal. Indeed the remark made respecting the number of 
plants of the whole genus in English gardens is equally applicable to 
O. Alexandras, which undoubtedly far outdistances any other Orchid in 
the total numbers, and importations are still arriving. In few other genera 
is there so great a disparity in the value of the varieties as in the Odonto¬ 
glossums, for while ten or twelve guineas have been paid for forms of great 
excellence, a less number of shillings will purchase an ordinary variety, and 
some which twenty years ago would have been readily bought are now 
considered worthless. O. Pescatorei similarly differs considerably in the 
beauty of its varieties, and proportionately in their value, the finest of this 
type being O. Pescatorei Veitchi, which has rich violet purple spots and 
bars upon a pure white ground. O. cirrhosum, O. cordatum, O. gloriosum, 
O. grande, O. Halli, O. maculatum, O. nrevium, O. nebulosum, O. odoratum, 
O. pulchellum, O. Rossi, and O. Cervantesii are well known and beautiful 
species that have much to recommend them. The large-flowered section, 
comprising O. Phalsenopsis, O. vexillarium, and O. Roezli, which require 
warmer quarters than most of the others, are now regarded as Miltonias, 
which they resemble closely in general appearance. 
The Odontoglossums are all American, but they are widely distributed, 
and are found in several districts at great elevations. Mexico, Guatemala, 
and Peru yield the greatest number of species, some as O. Alexandra being 
found upon the mountains at an elevation of 7000 to 8000 feet above 
sea-level. 
The species selected to illustrate the Odontoglossums—viz., O. macu¬ 
latum (fig. 97). on the score of showiness has, perhaps, little claim to notice, 
yet the neat flowers have some attraction, and wherever it is desired to 
form a collection of the best species it should by no means be omitted. One 
recommendation it possesses is that the flowers are produced during the 
winter and early spring, and, as they last well, a few plants are always 
useful in imparting diversity to the display of Orchids. The flowers are of 
a yellowish or brownish colour, with a tinge of purple or crimson in the lip 
that is very pleasing. The regular form and sharply defined outline of the 
floral divisions are also notable characters, and are well shown in the wood- 
cut, which represents a flower of an extremely fine Tariety from Mr. 
Dorman’s collection at Sydenham. 
Several good groups of Odontoglossum were staged, Messrs. Shuttleworth, 
