256 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Marcli 31,1881. 
made an interesting and useful discovery—how to preserve plants 
in a perfectly vigorous state without any earth. Since November, 
1880, the date at which his researches proved successful, he has, 
with the exception of a six-weeks stay in Paris, been continually 
taking plants from the ground and applying his process to them. 
Has never found the least interruption in their vegetative func¬ 
tions ; on the contrary, winter and spring plants have blossomed 
with a vigour which, as an experienced horticulturist, he has never 
seen in his garden. With the shelter of a glass, Hellebores taken 
up at the end of November and the middle of December have 
remained from two and a half to three months in blossom. Other 
plants—Primroses, Daisies, Violets, Auriculas, &c.—have not only 
been in bloom for three months but have thrown out new buds. 
Bulbous roots, small shrubs, exotic plants, such as Azaleas and 
Cyclamens, take equally well to the process. M. Dumesnil exhi¬ 
bited some specimens of plants blooming without earth in the 
Square, Solverino in Itouen, last December; and at his home at 
Vascoeuil, about fourteen miles from that city, anyone may have 
ocular demonstration of the results he has obtained.” 
THE MOTH ORCHIDS. 
(Continued from page 230.) 
Before describing the other chief species of this beautiful 
genus there are two modes of culture differing from those already 
noted which are worth attention. The first is employed almost 
exclusively for the Phalsenopses and Aerides in Mr. Day’s col¬ 
lection of Orchids, and in a few other gardens and nurseries, with 
very good results. A peculiar kind of cylindrical basket is used, 
constructed of small bars of teak a foot or more in length and an 
inch in diameter, connected by wires passed through them, and 
fixed at a regular distance apart—about a quarter of an inch, by 
small pieces of metal piping or other suitable material. An open 
cylindrical erect basket is thus formed ; and to render it capable 
of holding the plants two bars of wood are secured about 4 or 5 
inches from the base inside, crossing each other at light angles ; 
upon these large potsherds are placed, filling up with smaller 
pieces to within 2 or 3 inches of the upper part of the basket. 
Sphagnum moss with a few small potsherds constitutes the 
medium in which the plants are grown, and as far as the Phalm- 
nopsids are concerned in the collection named above appears to 
be very satisfactory, for it could scarcely be desired to have 
plants in better condition or with finer flowers. The chief merits 
of these baskets are that there cannot be the slightest approach 
to stagnation about the roots of the plants, and they can be 
placed on a stage like pots or suspended from the roof. The 
former is, however, the better position, as they can be constructed 
of any height so as to raise the plants to the requisite distance 
from the glass. Plentiful supplies of water are needed, especially 
in the growing season, when it is not easy to give too much, as it 
passes away so readily ; and if a suitable temperature and moisture 
are maintained the roots grow vigorously, clinging to the bars with 
considerable tenacity. Where these Orchids are thriving under 
any other system I would not advise a change, but if much diffi¬ 
culty is experienced with them the plan is well worth a trial, for 
it is very simple and has proved satisfactory wherever I have 
seen it employed. The second mode has not so much to recom¬ 
mend it, though it has been employed by a few experienced 
Orchid growers, but not with very encouraging results. The 
plants are secured to the side of a porous earthenware pot, which 
is kept filled with water, a small aperture near the bottom that is 
plugged with a cork permitting the ready changing of the water 
when needful. These pots are made with a flat side, so that they 
can be placed against a beam in any suitable position ; but though 
the plants continue in most cases moderately healthy they are 
rather weak and flower very poorly. 
Returning to the enumeration of principal species the first de¬ 
serving attention is 
P. grandijiora .—This is a remarkably handsome plant, and holds 
a foremost place in the estimation of all Orchid lovers. It 
resembles the beautiful P. amabile in the shape of the flowers, 
but they far surpass those of that species in size, and the lip is 
marked with yellow, whereas the same organ in T. amabile is 
tinged with rosy pink. The leaves, too, are of greater length and 
a lighter shade of green. It was, however, for a long time con¬ 
sidered as merely a fine variety of P. amabile, and it was not until 
1848 that Lindley separated it under the name now given. A 
good specimen of the plant exhibited by J. H. Schroder, Esq., of 
Stratford Green, at a September meeting of the Royal Horticultural 
Society in the preceding year, and for which a silver Banksian 
medal was awarded, attracted much attention, and thus led to a 
more critical examination than had been previously accorded it. 
By some it is considered as the P. amabile first mentioned by 
Blume, for the species now known under the name is believed to 
be distinct from that originally referred to by him. It varies 
considerably in the size of the flowers and the depth of the yellow 
tint in the lip. The largest-flowered variety that I have seen was 
an extremely handsome plant, bearing fine branching spikes or 
panicles with blooms exceeding 5 inches in diameter ; the sepals 
and petals of great substance, pure white and rounded ; the lip 
having a few bright yellow streaks. One variety is named aurca, 
owing to the colouring of the lip being much darker and richer 
than usual. The species is a native of Java. 
P. intermedia. — One of Mr. T. Lobb’s introductions, and con¬ 
sidered as intermediate between P. amabile and P. rosea, possibly 
what is termed a natural hybrid, several of which occur in the 
genus. It is not one of the most handsome, yet possesses an 
elegance of habit and contrast of rose and white in the flowers 
that render it a favourite with most growers. The leaves are 
light green ; the flowers being of moderate size with neat white 
sepals and petals tinted with rose, and a small lip of a deep rosy 
purple hue. It is found in Manilla. One very beautiful variety 
is named Portci, which surpasses the species in the fine branching 
spikes bearing more numerous larger flowers, the colouring being 
similar, but the contrast of tint between the lip and other portion 
of the flower is more distinctly marked. It continues a long time 
in good condition, and is further noticeable for its large daik 
green handsome leaves, which have a purplish tinge on the lower 
surface, suggestive of P. amabilis. It is a native of the Philip¬ 
pines, whence it is said only two plants were first imported to 
this country several years ago, both of which were at one time in 
the Broomfield collection, and the plant is still rare both in 
cultivation and in a wild state. Another delicate pretty form is 
known as Brymeriana, and is chiefly distinguished by the lip 
being white and marked with crimson. It also is very rare. 
P. IAiddemanniana. —This is an extremely distinct and beauti¬ 
ful species from the Philippines, which appeared in this country 
about fifteen years ago, but had been previously known on the 
continent, where the flowers were first produced on a plant in the 
possession of M. Liiddemann at Paris. With regard to its intro¬ 
duction to English cultivators, it appears to have been sent out 
from the Clapton nursery, where, owing to tho general resemblance 
the plant bears to P. rosea, it was mistaken for that species, and 
sold under that name. Plants consequently came into the posses¬ 
sion of several Orchid growers about the same time ; and at the 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on May 2nd, 1865, no 
less than four specimens were exhibited in flower, for which cer¬ 
tificates were awarded—namely, by Dr. Pattison ; Mr. Charles, 
gardener to Robert Burnett, Esq. ; Mr. Pilcher, gardener to 
S. Rucker, Esq.; and Messrs. Low. The leaves are about 8 inches 
long, bright green ; the flower spike often exceeding a foot in 
length, bearing neat compact flowers of medium size ; the sepals 
and petals white barred transversely with brown towards the 
points, the lower portion being barred with violet purple ; the lip 
rather long, and of a similar tint to the last-named. The markings 
remind one of the singular Vanda Cathcarti. It is unquestionably 
one of the most distinct and beautiful Phalsenopsids, and, like 
others of its relatives, the flowers last for a long time. It is more 
readily increased than most of the genus, as young plants are 
frequently produced upon the old flower stems—a peculiar charac¬ 
ter which some other forms also possess, but not in such a marked 
degree. 
P. rosea. —Another of Mr. T. Lobb’s introductions from Manilla. 
A pretty species with rather small flowers, the sepals and petals 
white with a tinge of rose, the central lobe of the lip being purple, 
and the side lobes often tinted with dark yellow. The leaves are 
bright green, slightly tapering from the apex to the base, and the 
habit of the plant resembles some of the larger-flowered species, 
though not quite so vigorous. It is not often seen, and cannot by 
any means take a position with such forms as P. amabilis, P. Schil- 
leriana, and P. grandiflora as regards beauty, though it has the 
excellent quality of remaining in bloom during many weeks. 
P. Mannii. —This is well entitled to the attention of growers, 
as it is one of the best small-flowered Phalsenopsids at present in 
cultivation. It is also remarkable for extending the geographical 
range of the genus into Assam, where it was found by M. Gustav 
Mann in 1868. Plants were subsequently introduced to England, 
but there are now very few specimens in cultivation, only being 
represented in some of the largest collections. The engraving 
was prepared from a plant in Mr. B. S. Williams's nursery, Upper 
Holloway, which flowered in one of the houses a few weeks since, 
