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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 15, 1892. 
Sopiiro-Cattleya Yeitchi. 
An interesting and brilliant trigeneric hybrid was placed before 
the Orchid Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society on 
September Gth by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, and was awarded 
a first-class certificate. It is the result of a cross between a variety 
of Lselia elegans (Lmlio-Cattleya) and Sophronitis grandiflora. 
The plant was only about 4 inches high. The flowers are of a 
beautiful rosy carmine hue, the lip deeper, inclining to magenta, and 
the throat tinged with yellow. The woodcut (fig. 34, see page 245) 
accurately pourtrays the form of the flower. This hybrid is 
remarkably attractive and naturally evoked considerable interest. 
Cattleya Oweniana. 
Rich as our store of imposing Cattleyas now is the time has 
not come, and is probably far distant, for any meritorious novelty 
to lack appreciation. All are welcomed with almost as much 
interest as though no other good member of the genus were pos¬ 
sessed. C. Rex, C. Alexandra, and C. Victoria Regina have, each 
in its turn, passed before the search-light of expert criticism and 
received judgment. They are followed by another very fine and 
distinct form, which made its bow to the public on September the 
6th, when it was submitted to the Orchid Committee of the Royal 
Horticultural Society by Messrs. Sander & Co., and received a first- 
class certificate. The new comer is named Oweniana, and is of 
exceptional beauty. The flowers are of great size, and are very 
richly marked. The lip is very long, broad, and somewhat flattened 
at the apex, which is very rich velvety crimson. It narrows some¬ 
what towards the throat, and the basal portion, together with the 
side lobes, which close without folding, are deeply veined with 
gold. This combination is unquestionably a very striking one, and 
there can be no hesitation in classing Oweniana as one of the most 
beautiful Cattleyas yet seen. 
The mystery in which dealers consider it necessary, for trade 
purposes, to enshroud their novelties precludes the possibility of 
acquiring any definite information about the plant, and we are left 
with an abundant crop of conjectures to quench our thirst for 
knowledge. It is hinted more or less vaguely that it may be a 
natural hybrid. Exactly, it may be. Then it is further suggested 
that C. gigas and C. aurea may have had something to do with its 
production. This may be true also. There is much similarity to 
C. aurea about it, and there is a C. gigas habit of growth. Specialists 
must draw their own conclusions from an observation of the points 
of the novelty, and a comparison with those of other known species. 
We give an engraving (fig. 33) of the new Cattleya for the benefit 
of those who missed seeing it at the Drill Hall. 
Odontoglossum Harryanum. 
This very fine and distinct species is one of the most welcome 
of the comparatively recent additions to a genus already well 
represented in our glass houses, and runs 0. grande hard for the 
first place among the late summer and early autumn-flowering 
Odontoglossums. The pseudo-bulbs are more or less oblong, 
deeply compressed, 3 inches long, sometimes longer. The oblong, 
obtuse leaves are of good substance, reminding one of O. grande, 
but longer. The scape is 14 to 16 inches long, stout, almost erect, 
many flowered. The flowers are 3 to 3^ inches across ; the sepals 
oblong, acute, reflexed at their apex in some examples, while others 
have a decided tendency to curve inwards, basal half traversed the 
remaining length with closely set broad lines of mauve-purple on 
a white ground ; central area a fine brown, tip dull yellow. The 
lip is oblong, more or less oval, three-lobed, side lobes turning 
upwards ; they have the same colour and markings as the lower 
half of the sepals, and are sometimes of a lighter tint ; the anterior 
lobe sub cordate, acute, white or pale yellow ; the crest is fine 
yellow, fimbriate ; column pale yellow, merging to white, winged. 
Capital examples of this species have been in fine flower in 
the collection of John F. Hall, Esq., Sharcombe, Wells, Somerset, 
for some time past, and are still fresh.—W. R. W. 
Angr.ecums. 
Although some genera of Orchids produce more showy flowers 
and more glowing colours than the Angracums do, yet there are 
hardly any which attract so much attention from the general public 
when they have the opportunity of seeing them. The purity of 
the white in most species, the peculiar long tail or spur dependent 
from each flower, and the delicate fragrance emitted, all tend to 
make Angracums favourites with horticulturists and lovers of 
flowers. The size of the plants varies considerably, from A. 
eburneum, 3 to 4 feet high, with long stiff leaves, to A. falcatum 
1 to 2 inches high, and from the large prominent flowers 
of A. sesquipedale to the tiny ones of the little known 
A. distichum. 
Being natives of Madagascar, South Africa, and the Gold 
Coast, it will be readily seen that to insure good cultivation a high 
and moist temperature is required. The East Indian house suits 
them well. The stronger species may be grown in pots and the 
smaller ones in baskets, using only sphagnum and crocks. They 
should never be allowed to get dry. 
The following species are about the best in the genus : — 
A. articulatum has thick, light green leaves, about 4 inches long. 
The plants are seldom more than 6 to 8 inches high. The pendulous 
racemes are about 15 inches long, with two rows of pure white 
flowers, each 1 inch across ; spurs 3 inches long. It was introduced 
from Madagascar by the Rev. W. Ellis. 
A. caudatum grows about a foot high ; the leaves are about 
the same length, broad, close together, and divided at their apices. 
Racemes four to six flowered, 18 inches long; the flowers are 
2 to 3 inches across. Sepals and petals narrow, green ; lip white 
and pointed ; the tail often measures 9 inches in length, and is 
pale green. Introduced from Sierra Leone by Messrs. Loddiges 
in 1834. 
A. citratum is a dwarf species, very interesting and pretty. 
The leaves are more ovate than most species, about 4 inches long 
by 1 broad. The racemes are 12 to 18 inches long, pendulous and 
crowded with small straw coloured flowers ; the spur is short, 
thickened and transparent at the end. Native of Madagascar. 
A. eburneum is a strong growing species, with leaves 2 feet in 
length. The racemes are stiff, erect and often 3 feet high, bearing 
about a dozen flowers each 3 inches across ; sepals and petals 
green, the lip ivory white, the spur is about 3 inches long. It is 
supposed to have first flowered in Europe at the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society’s Garden at Chiswick in 1832, being introduced from 
Madagascar. 
A. fastuosum is a beautiful little plant with dark green leaves 
about 2 inches long ; the flowers are pure white and deliciously 
fragrant, each about 1£ inch across. It was discovered by M. 
Leon Humblot, and introduced by Messrs. Sander & Co. in 1881. 
A. Kotschyi prefers to grow on blocks, and produces very long 
roots freely. The leaves vary in size, and are dark green. The 
quite pendulous racemes produce several pure white flowers, each 
about an inch across ; the spur is particularly noticeable, being 
about 8 inches long, twisted and reddish. Native of Zanzibar. 
Discovered in 1838. 
A. Leonis was described and figured in the Journal of June 2nd. 
A. Scottianum was introduced from the Comoro Islands in 1878 : , 
and first flowered in the collection of Mr. Scott of Walthamstow, 
after whom it was named. The stems are slender, terete, and dark 
green ; leaves 6 inches long, recurved, grooved on the upper surface. 
The flowers are usually solitary, though sometimes produced in 
pairs ; the sepals are greenish, petals white, lip large and white, spur 
pale yellow green, 5 inches long. 
A. sesquipedale was introduced from Madagascar by the Rev. 
W. Ellis in 1855. The leaves are close set and thick, dark green, 
and divided at the apex. The flowers are about a foot across, 
ivory white, with a tail about 12 inches long. They are produced 
during the winter months, and are exceedingly attractive. 
A. Sanderianum is a charming plant, flowering regularly every 
spring. The drooping racemes are 1 foot long, and bear many of 
the pure white flowers each 1£ inch across ; the spur is about 
3 inches long. Native of Madagascar.—C. K. 
JOTTINGS ABOUT LONDON PARKS. 
Battersea Park. 
This is recognised as being the most picturesque park within the 
metropolitan area, and it is here one naturally expects to see good flower 
gardening. There are sufficient contrasts and harmonies of colour and 
form to suit everyone. Here we find carpet beds—prim, formal, and 
fantastic in design; there a bed rugged in outline. In addition to 
these features there are the sheltered nooks filled with sub-tropical 
plants, the beautiful borders of mixed flowers, the bold masses of shrubs, 
winding walks, and a splendid lake, in which Water Lilies are now 
flowering profusely. 
It is, however, the summer bedding that interests us most at present. 
Although, on the whole, a fair summer, this has not been a particularly 
favourable season for tender bedding plants. In some places the plants 
have done well, whilst in others the display is below the average. This 
is noticeable in Battersea Park. Two of the carpet beds in the sub¬ 
tropical garden are exceedingly good this year, the Alternantheras being 
