400 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 14, 1885, 
tlie magnificent Y. Sanderiana of recent introduction the flowers are much 
larger, somewhat the same difference as there is between the small-flowered 
Odontoglossums and 0. vexillarium. Y. Cathcarti has yellowish flowers 
closely barred with horizontal concentric lines of rich brown, which have 
a peculiar effect. Y. Hookeri and Y. teres are very handsome species ; and 
another that is seldom seen is V. undulata (fig. 103), which has white flowers, 
the margins undulated, and not unlike a small Coelogyne cristata. This is 
a native of Assam, where it has been found growing at great elevations in 
forests of Pinuses, and occasionally exposed to snow. 
Saccolabiums are charming plants of similar habit but not quite so tall, 
and they produce their small crimson, purple, and white flowers in dense 
racemes sometimes over a foot in length, and very fragrant. S. giganteum, 
S. Blumei, S. guttatum, and S. ampullaceum are the chief species, all very 
: ree and handsome. 
Aerides are well-known useful Orchids, especially A. odoratum, which 
has been grown in British gardens for nearly eighty years, and is invaluable 
in many establishments. A. crispum, A. Fieldingii, A. maculosum, • A. 
quinquevulnerum, and A. suavissimum are some of the best species, and 
may be advantageously included in any collection of Orchids. 
Stanhopeas are not very much grown now, and except in a few old 
gardens they are rarely seen. Yet they are very remarkable plants, and 
with their strong spikes of yellow-and-white flowers spotted with red and 
brown, they have a most striking appearance suspended from the roof of 
a large house like the great conservatory at Chatsworth, where a fine 
collection is grown. S. Bucephalus, orange-red; S. devoniensis, similar; 
S. grandiflora, white; S. oculata, pale yellow and purple; and S. tigrina, pale 
yellow and chocolate, are the best of the species. The three first-named 
genera—Vanda, Saccolabium, and Aerides—are Old World Orchids, being 
found chiefly in the East Indies ; but for Stanhopeas we return to the 
New World—Mexico, Brazil, and Guatemala furnishing most of Ihe species. 
In addition to those already noted in the groups, W. E. Brymer, Esq., had 
several plants of Vandas and Saccolabiums, of which the most deserving of 
attention were Y. tricolor, with six spikes ; Y. teres, very fine variety ; 
Saccolabium ampullaceum ; and S. retusum. The curious V. cristata 
mentioned amongst Mr. Roberts’ plants, while Y. suavis and Y. tricolor, 
with Aerides of several species were notable in all the larger groups. 
SINGLE SPECIMEN ORCHIDS. 
Two specimens of the old D. nobile were the most remarkable plants in 
this class, one from the Hon. Mrs. Portman, Buxted Park, Sussex (gardener, 
Mr. Prinsep), and the other from the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth. 
(gardener, Mr. Owen Thomas). The first-named was an extraordinary 
plant, one of those so ably cultivated by Mr. Prinsep on the non-pruning 
system, and had about three dozen growths from 2 to 3 feet high bearing 
500 flowers, one growth having forty-two and another forty-one flowers. 
Beautiful as was the specimen recently shown from Buxted, in the opinion 
of many this was even superior ; certainly it was a magnificent plant, and 
Mr. Prinsep deserves great praise for his success. The Chatsworth plant 
was of great size, 5 feet in diameter, and loaded with flowers, and was 
greatly admired. Also from Chatsworth came a large Renanthera coccinea 
10 feet high but not bearing any flowers. Mr. W. Gordon, Twickenham, 
sent a pretty variety of Odontoglossum Alexandra. The Rev. J. B. Norman 
had a plant of Oncidium Kienastianum with brown and yellow undulated 
sepals and petals. Mr. M. E. Yervaet & Cie, Ghent, had several Laelia 
purpuratas, Odontoglossums, and Lrelia Schroderi. B. D. Knox, Esq., 
Ardmullan, showed Dendrobium cruentum, white with an orange lip. Mr. 
John Laing, Forest Hill, sent a distinct Cypripedium. Mr. W. Martin, 
Blackstone, Hurstpierpoint, had a plant of Odontoglossum Wilckeanum 
with two spikes of sixteen to eighteen flowers each. W. MacDonald, 
Esq., Woodlands, Perth, exhibited a plant of Phalrenopsis Stuartiana with 
adventitious growths upon the roots such as has been referred to recently. 
The new Plant and Bulb Company, Colchester, exhibited several Odontoglos¬ 
sums and Cattleyas with imported plants in various stages, from those just 
arrived to those fully established. W. Cobb, Esq., Silverdale, contributed 
a plant of Chysis bractescens with a dozen wax-like flowers. R. Ewing, Esq., 
Cheshunt, had a beautiful little plant of the white-flowered Dendrobium 
Fytchianum bearing thirty spikes; and E. H. Adcock, Esq., We3t View, 
showed a pretty Phalasnopsis Luddemanniana with three spikes of its rose, 
purple, and brown-barred flowers. 
From the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Curator, Mr. J. Smith), an interest¬ 
ing group of rare and beautiful Orchids was contributed, but the time of the 
Conference was rather too early to command the full riches of the Kew col¬ 
lection. A few weeks later and some handsome specimens of Satyriums, Disas, 
and other terrestrial Orchids would have added greatly to the beauty of the 
collection. In few gardens can representatives of 150 genera and over 1000 
species be seen, and yet that is the number grown at Kew ; and though no 
. attempt is made to produce a great display at one time, a visit can never be 
paid to the houses devoted to them without finding several of more or less 
beauty and interest in flower. At Kensington the following were shown :— 
Epidendrumbicornutum,very handsome, with numerous spikes, and a dozen 
or two flowers. Oncidium insculptum with brownish flowers and undu¬ 
lated sepals and petals, in two spikes each 12 feet long. Cattleya Skin- 
neri alba, a healthy plant, with six of its pure white flowers. Masde- 
vallia Benedict® in a basket, and bearing over fifty flowers. Ponthieva 
maculata, a very peculiar and distinct Orchid, in which the flower is 
apparently twisted round, so that the two sepals are uppermost, white 
spotted with green, and the lower greenish and small yellow lip. Oncidium 
heteranthum (O. abortivum), a most interesting plant with a panicle 2 feet 
long, each branch terminating in a solitary yellow and brown flower 
similar to many other Oncidiums and about half an inch in diameter, 
The other flowers on the branch below the terminal one are quite different, 
very small, dull yellow, and composed of fivelinear equal spreading segments. 
Only the terminal flower is perfect, and the others are abortive, as the 
synonym given indicates, the accepted name signifying “ diverse-flowered.” 
The pretty Leptotes bicolor, now assigned to the genus Tetramicra, was 
represented by a well-flowered plant, the white sepals and petals contrasting 
very markedly with the violet purple lips. Other noteworthy plants were 
Maxillaria luteo-alba with sixty flowers; M. triangularis, Masdevallia 
ochtliodes, M. trichmte, Oncidium luridum, Thunia alba in capital condition, 
Oncidium luridum, Yanda suavis, Coelia Boweriana, Polystachya pubescens 
with small yellowish flowers streaked with red; Saccolabium gemmatum, 
flowers white and purplish, very diminutive in slender spikes; Ena excavata, 
peculiar dull yellow, possessing a strong odour ; Phalsenopsis Parishi, white 
with purple lip and dots on the column ; and Masdevallia Chelsoni, the first 
hybrid raised in that genus, a cross between M. Yeitchiana and M. amabilis. 
ORCHID FRUITS AND HYBRID ORCHIDS. 
An interesting collection of Orchids in fruit was staged by Mr. A. H. Smee, 
showing their diversity in form, and in several cases the injurious effects 
fruit-bearing produces upon Orchids, the leaves turning yellow and the 
whole plant evidently suffering. Some of these plants had been grown out 
of doors last summer, like those already noted. W. J. Cookson, Esq., 
Worksop Manor, Notts (gardener, Mr. Sutton), exhibited a dish of very fine 
Vanilla fruits, for which the Floral Committee awarded a cultural com¬ 
mendation. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, exhibited a group of 
Orchids in fruit, Angraecums, Odontoglossums, Vanillas, Phalaenopses, and 
Dendrobiums, the fruits differing much in form—some large egg-shaped or 
strongly ribbed, and others narrow and cylindrical, like the Vanilla, with 
several intermediate stages. 
Hybrid Orchids were shown by several exhibitors, but in very few cases 
could the parents be staged in flower with them, so that little opportunity 
of comparison was afforded. Sir Trevor Lawrence had the following six 
Cypripediums, all thoroughly good and well-known forms :—Cypripedium 
grande, parents C. Roezlii and C. caudatum ; C. Harrisiannm, parents C.*bar- 
batum and C. villosum ; C. marmorophyllum, parents C. Hookerii and C.bar- 
batum ; C. Selligerum, parents C. barbatum and C. lsevigatum ; C. Swanianum, 
parents C. barbatum and C. Dayanum. 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons also contributed a collection in which Cypri¬ 
pediums predominated as follows :—Chysis Chelsonii, parents C. bractes¬ 
cens andC. aurea ; Chysis Sedenii, parents C. bractescens and C. Limminghii; 
Cypripedium calurum, parents C. longifolium and C. Sedenii; Cypripedium 
grande, parents C. Roezlii and C. caudatum ; Cypripedium marmorophyllum, 
parents C. Hookerii and C. barbatum ; Cypripedium microchilum, parents 
C. niveum and C. Druryii; Cypripedium Sedenii candidibulum, parents C. 
Schlimii albiflorum and* C. longifolium; Cypripedium superciliare, parents 
C. barbatum and C. Veitchii; Cypripedium tessellatum porphyreum, parents 
C. concolor and C. barbatum; Cypripedium vernixium, parents C. Argus and 
