April 13, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
293 
Odontoglossum n^vium majus. 
This is one of the most beautiful of ail the New Grena'ian 
•species, and it is not difficult of cultivation. Although not a very 
robust grower, yet with ordinary care and attention it may be 
increased in size year by year, and grown into neat little specimens. 
This species enjoys a position as near the roof glass as possible, 
both for the sane of light in winter, and also for an abundance of 
air in summer. It must be closely shaded during the summer, and 
cannot be kept too cool. It requires an abundant supply of mois¬ 
ture, both in the atmosphere and at the root, frequent syringing 
•on bright sunny days being very beneficial. Although it will not 
stand with impunity the same cold in winter as O. crispum and 
other occupants of the very cool houses, yet it must not be coddled, 
a minimum of 45° will suit it admirably. 
It should be potted in the usual peat and sphagnum mixture, 
in the proportion of two to one respectively. Use clean pots and 
fill with about two-thirds drainage, covering this with a layer of 
moss to prevent the earthy particles of the peat being washed down¬ 
wards among the crocks. The plants should be raised fully an inch 
above the pots, which must be only large enough to allow about an 
inch of compost around the plant. Wrap a little of the peat round 
the roots close under the base of the bulbs. The plant may then 
be easily fixed in the exact position required by filling around with 
compost, and pressing it firmly into position, introducing at the 
same time a few small pieces of broken crocks or charcoal. Then 
a few “ points ” of moss should be dibbled in, and all trimmed off 
neatly in the shape of a cone. This will be found a better and 
more expeditious way than any other, because of ease with which 
the plant is secured, and the impossibility of its rocking—a matter 
of great importance in the well - being of any Orchid. — 
H. Richards. 
Culture of Calanthes. 
These plants should be potted at once if not already done. In 
potting Calanthes it is not necessary to elevate the pseudo-bulbs 
above the rim of the pot, indeed they thrive much better when 
they are kept below the rim. Some growers recommend growing 
these plants in sphagnum moss, but after having given ita trial for two 
successive years I h^ave come to the conclusion that they thrive 
much better in a more substantial mixture. The compost I find 
most suitable for them is fibrous loam, lumpy peat, charcoal, cow 
manure, and a little sharp sand. The pots should be half filled 
with crocks, with a layer of moss placed over them to keep the 
soil from washing down amongst the drainage. Fill the pots with 
the compost before mentioned, burying the pseudo-bulbs half an 
inch, or thereabouts, placing three large bulbs or five smaller ones 
into an 8-inch pot, according to their strength. 
Another very good method of growing these plants is to prepare 
a number of 9-inch pots by half filling them with crocks as 
mentioned, and put a 5-inch pot in the centre of each, pi icing 
moss between the pots. When the foliage has died away, which 
generally takes place about the time the flowers commence to open, 
the centre pot may be removed and Adiantum cuneatum or some 
other Fern substituted in its place. Where a variety of plants are 
in request for house decoration this method of cultivation is more 
especially to be recommended on account of the pleasing effect 
thus produced and the great length of time the flowers remain in 
perfection. 
After potting the plants should be placed in a position as near 
the glass as possible, and in the full sunlight in a warm house. 
I grow mine in the early Melon pit, the strong heat and phn'y of 
atmospheric moisture proving beneficial to them. The process of 
watering must be carefully performed ; in fact, a slight syringing 
at closing time would be quite sufficient till the new roots have 
taken well hold of the compost, after which water may be 
administered more freely. After the flower spikes become visible 
liquid manure, such as drainings from the cowsheds, to the extent 
of one part to three of water, may be applied every other day with 
satisfactory results, it being much better to apply it little and often 
than to risk injuring the plants by giving too strong an application. 
The foregoing remarks apply only to the 0. Veitchi and vesiita 
varieties. 
Calanthes are subject to attacks of various insect pests, brown 
.scale being especially troublesome ; scale should therefore be 
diligently and continually sought after and destroyed, otherwise 
the foliage will quickly become disfigured, and present an unsightly 
appearance.— George Parkant, Ashhy Lodge Gardens^ Rnghy. 
Aerides vaxdarum. 
This Aerides has been in cultivation for many years, but is 
still a somewhat rare plant. It was figured in the “ Botanical 
Magazine ” as long ago as 1857 under the synonym A. cylindricum, 
a name under which it is still to be met with. In general appear 
ance it resembles Vanda teres, but has longer and more slender 
leaves. These are terete, about 6 inches long, and are arranged 
alternately on the stem about 1 inch apart. The flowers are 
produced singly or in pairs on short spikes springing from the side 
of the stem opposite the leaves. They are about 2 inches across 
FIG. 56.—AERIDES VANDARUM. 
and of the purest white, except for a slight tinge of rose on the 
inside of the column. The sepals and petals, wbi h are spreading, 
wavy, and crisped at the margin, are nearly unguiculate. The lip 
is three-lobed and rather remarkable. The front lobe is •very 
irregular and twisted ; the side lobes are large and stand straight 
up. The spur is about 2 inches long, of a greenish colour tipped 
with red. 
The plant may be grown in baskets or cylinders or on blocks of 
soft wood, the last being pn ferable. It requires a stove tempera¬ 
ture and moist atmosphere with plenty of water during the 
growing season. In winter it may be kept a little drie'*, but not to 
such an extent as will cause the leaves to shrivel. A. vandarum is 
an Indian species, and flowers during the winter or early spring. 
Fig. 56 represents it.—A. B. 
