January 11,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
31 
LyELIO-CATTLEYA NySA. 
This beautiful bigeneric hybrid was raised by Messrs. J. Veitcb 
and Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, and was exhibited on 
several occasions last year. It is the result of a cross between Laelia 
crispa and Cattleya Warscewiczi, the latter being the pollen parent. 
The sepals and petals are rosy mauve, while the lip is 
large and of a rich purplish crimson hue, the throat 
being pale yellow. It is a beautiful flower when seen 
at its best, and usually attracts attention. The engraving 
(fig. 5) has been prepared from a bloom exhibited by 
will even exist without that, and thrive better upon bare blocks of 
wood than in any other way, as will be indicated later on. 
No substance has yet been found to equal good peat for such 
I epiphytal Orchids as are most conveniently grown in pots, pans, or 
j baskets, and a few words must be devoted to a consideration of this 
: material. Peat differs greatly in character and composition. It can 
be used for a variety of purposes, but as it must be selected with 
care for the plants we are dealing with in these notes, it may be 
‘ well to review its origin, qualities, and uses. Wherever we find a 
i low vegetation which produces an annual vigorous growth from 
perennial fibrous roots, there is the approach to the formation of 
I a substance analogous to peat, which consists of a netted mass of 
I roots with a proportion of humus derived from decayed leaves or 
stems more or less completely reduced. For cultural 
purposes, therefore, peat can be divided into three 
classes ; first. Orchid peat, consisting of durable fibre 
with but little decayed substance ; secondly. Fern 
peat, comprising less lasting fibre and more humus ; 
Fig. 5 .—L^LIO-CATTLEYA NYSA. 
Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egham, at the meeting of the Royal 
Horticultural Society on December 12th, 1893, and for which a 
first-class certificate was awarded. 
ORCHID LESSONS FOR YOUNG GARDENERS. 
Roots and their Requirements. 
{Continuedfrom page 573 last vol.) 
Having considered the peculiarities of Orchid roots we may 
next proceed to briefly describe what is needed as a soil or sub¬ 
stitute. As regards epiphytal Orchids, this acts chiefly as a medium 
for the retention of moisture, and the more durable the substance 
employed the more valuible it is for the purpose in view. A little 
support is derived from it, no doubt, but it is extremely small 
compared with that yielded by the soils used for the majority of 
plants grown in pots. We have an example of this in the fact that 
many Orchids need nothing but moss about their roots, and some 
thirdly, bog or heath peat, which is formed of fine roots and a 
proportion of much-reduced humus, often hav ing the appearance 
of a fine black soil, and with the addition of sand. These are 
adapted for very widely differing plants, from the rapidly growing, 
soft-textured inhabitants of tropical regions to the slow-growing, 
hard-wooded natives of more temperate regions, such as the Heath 
and Azalea family, and it is obvious that in selecting peat we 
must keep the kind of plants we are about to place in it distinctly 
in view. 
It is a frequent error to regard peat as of a uniform character, 
whereas, even with that suitable for Orchids, the difference in 
quality and value is surprising, and the large dealers find no mean 
difficulty in securing a constant and reliable supply. The best 
Orchid peat is found where the common Bracken flourishes, and 
is practically formed of the rhizomes and roots of this Fern. 
It is always, therefore, near the surface, and rarely extends to a 
