Jane 12, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
4G1 
similarly well represented by most carefully selected varieties 
and well-grown plants, tbeir wax-like exquisite flowers being 
very abundant. Scarcely less noticeable are some magnificent 
varieties of Odontoglossum citrosmum with mauve flowers and 
fine rosy purple lips, while the lovely mauve-purple flowers of 
Laclia majalis aie seen suspended on blocks amongst the others 
with charming effect. Rich shades of colour are furnished by 
the Masdevallias, such as Lindeni and Harryana, of which several 
magnificent varieties are represented. The fine orange-scarlet 
hues of Epidendrum vitellinum enliven the display greatly, 
whilst scores of panicles of Oncidium ampliatum majus supply 
the brightest shades of yellow. Suspended from brackets at the 
sides of the house numbers of healthy plants of Phalsenopsis 
grandillora bearing handsome pure white substantial blooms 
have a most pleasing appearance, their panicles, as in the case 
of the Oncidiums and some of the Odontoglossums, gracefully 
arching over the plants beneath them. The general effect, from 
whatever point the house is viewed, is admirable in the extreme, 
and in arrangement all that could be desired. 
In addition to the principal features above indicated there are 
many curiosities and rarities that attract attention on every side. 
Especially noteworthy is a grand specimen of Brassia verrucosa 
with nineteen spikes, or considerably over 200 of its peculiar 
yellow and green flowers. Then two plants of Lycaste Deppei, 
each with thirty or forty flowers, are seen, and near them some 
curious Masdevallias, such as M. macrura, with yellowish dark- 
spotted flowers 11 inches across; M. cucullata, with its strange 
dark maroon flowers and light centre, and many others are 
equally worthy of note. The interesting slipperless Uropedium 
Lindeni, the large yellow Anguloa Clowesi, and the dark-streaked 
A. Ruckeri are similarly prominent. Yery brilliant also, asso¬ 
ciated with the Orchids, are the Phyllocactuses and Cereuses, of 
which a fine collection is grown at Sudbury House, and many of 
the plants are now flowering profusely. Phyllocactus Imperator 
and multiflorus, the former with superb crimson-scarlet blooms 
of great size, and the latter with smaller but neat reddish flowers, 
are effective. Cereus J. T. Peacock, which is in the way of 
0. M. Hovey, is also a lovely variety of rich colour. 
The exhibition will remain open for ten or twelve days, and 
no doubt a large number of persons will avail themselves of this 
opportunity to see one of the finest private collections of Orchids 
in the vicinity of London. 
Dendrobium Devonianum. — I send a bloom of D. Devoni- 
anum, the colour of which I think must have been caused by 
outdoor treatment last season. I have noticed several of the 
Masdevallias, especially of the M. ignea section, much brighter 
this year than before. The smaller bloom, for comparison, is 
from a plant which has not been outside with us yet.—G. W. 
Cummins. 
[The colour was much deeper than is usual in this species, 
and there is little doubt that the difference has been occasioned by. 
its stay out of doors. It is probable, however, that it will not 
prove permanent unless the treatment is repeated. | 
Vanda tricolor—Oncidium crispum. — I enclose a flower 
of Vanda tricolor, and I should like your opinion of its merits. 
It is from a single-stem plant which has borne three spikes, two 
of seven flowers, and one of six. I also send two samples of 
Oncidium crispum. The smaller one came named O. crispum 
spectabile. I am much pleased with your Orchid notes. I hope 
they will be continued. They are very interesting and useful 
for comparison with one’s own productions. For instance, some¬ 
one asked whether plants of twin-flowered Lycaste Skinneri 
were uncommon. I had one at the same time, and desired 
information on the same point. Then the number of flowers 
on Dendrobium nobile and D. Wardianum were given. My best 
D. nobile had twenty-six on one stem of last year’s growth, 
and D. Wardianum twenty-four. Such items give an oppor¬ 
tunity of judging of our success when we cannot make com¬ 
parisons by personal inspection.—J. J., Lancashire. 
[The Vanda tricolor is one of the finest we have seen, both in 
colour and size. The flower is 2^ inches in diameter, with 
a clear bright yellow ground and heavy spots, blotches and marb¬ 
ling of red and brown. The Oncidium crispum is also a beau¬ 
tiful variety, the flowers being inches from tip to tip of the 
petals, and the lip inch in diameter. We have, however, seen 
darker-coloured forms. It is much like the variety usually sold 
as O. crispum grandiflorum. The flower named O. c. spectabile 
does not merit its name. It is small, the petals narrow, the 
brown colour is dull, and the few yellow lines or spots are pale’ 
Far more beautiful is a variety named marginatum, which has 
a border of yellow round the petals and lip.] 
Aspasias. —There are three or four Orchids in cultivation 
under the name of Aspasia, which, though less beautiful than 
many of their relatives, are curious and interesting. A good 
example of these plants is A. variegata, shown in fig. 107, which 
has fragrant green and yellow flowers, somewhat suggestive of 
the Miltonias. Another pretty species is A. lunata, of which 
there is a finer variety named superba, with chocolate-barred 
sepals and petals, and a white lip having a dark central blotch 
of violet. A yellow-flowered species, A. lutea, is also known 
but it is not very common. They are all inhabitants of South 
America, and succeed well in the Cattleya house. 
Cattleya Mossier —From a gardener’s point of view this old 
inhabitant iof our gardens is still one of the best and most useful 
Cattleyas that can be grown in quantity. When a good quantity of 
flowers are out at one time they are simply gorgeous, for they possess 
a great variety of colour, scarcely any two being exactly alike. With 
a number of plants a long succession of bloom can be obtained which 
often proves of greater service in gardens than a large quantity 
at one time. There is no Cattleya easier of cultivation or one that 
will flower with greater freedom on weak small-sized pseudo-bulbs, 
Pig. 107.—Aspasia variegata. 
if only they are produced under the influence of light and air to ripen 
and solidify the growth. When in flower this variety may safely be 
used in rooms where gas is not employed, or in the conservatory, 
where the flowers will last much longer than in the moist atmosphere 
of the house in which they are growm, provided they are watered 
with care, protected from cold draughts, or not crowded in the last 
position amongst other flowering plants. The admission of cold [air 
directly upon the plants is the most detiimental, for they may fail to 
grow satisfactorily when returned to the heated structure. If the 
plants remain in the house in which they are growm while in flower 
remove them to the coolest and driest position. The material upon 
which they stand and their surroundings should be kept a little drier. 
Care should also be taken that water does not reach the flow'ers when 
syringing, or they will be spotted, and their freshness and beauty 
consequently spoiled. 
Cattleya intermedia. —This variety is not so gorgeous as either 
the varieties of C. Trianse or C. Mossise ; it is, nevertheless, worthy 
of a place where these plants are grown. Its flowers are delicate 
with its rich dark lip and narrow pure white sepals, and petals. . Jn 
some varieties the two latter are lightly shaded with pink, and it ii 
difficult to determine which are the most lovely, the shaded or the 
white varieties. This Cattleya is the more useful because it blooms 
just after the varieties of C. Trianse are going over, and before many 
of the flowers of C. Mossice are expanded ; this at least is its character 
