364 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 10.18M, 
CUCLOGYNE MOSSI^. 
A PLANT of this Dew aod distinct Coelogyne was exhibited by 
J. S. Moss, Esq., Winter’s Hill, Bishops Walthana, Hants, at a 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, on March 13tb, on 
which occasion a first-class certificate was awarded for it. As will 
be seen by referring to the illustration (fig. 59), the flowers are 
borne in racemes. The sepals and petals are white, as is the lip, 
with the exception of a yellow margin in the throat. It is reported 
that this Coelogyne was sent to Mr. Moss from the Neilgherry 
district of India in 1887. A plant flowered in 1890, but it has only 
recently been named. 
Cultural Notes on Orchids. 
The present is a very busy season for Orchid growers, a good 
deal of repotting and re-arranging being necessary. Insects, too, 
must be vigorously attacked at every possible occasion before the 
new growths are far ad'^anced. Thrips, black and yellow, are very 
troublesome enemies, their marvellous fecundity and activity 
rendering them the most difficult pest the Orchid grower has to 
contend with. The black kind is the larger of the two, but the 
yellow is far more destructive. The latter is very partial to Masde- 
vallias, the richly coloured flowers of M. Harryana, M. Veitchi, and 
others of that type being often marred by this insidious little foe. 
If only a few insects are present they may be kept in check by 
sponging, and a little sulphur dusted about the young growths is 
also a deterrent. When, however, they are in strong force more 
drastic measures are needed, and nothing short of repeated fumi¬ 
gations will effectually subdue them. There are several preparations 
now advertised that are much safer in use and more affective for 
this purpose than tobacco paper, and a choice from these can easily 
be made. It is much better to fumigate twice or even three times 
in succession than to give one strong dose. The insects are more 
surely destroyed with less risk of injury to the plants. See that 
the foliage is dry before fumigating, and choose a calm evening for 
the operation. Ventilate and shade early the next morning, and 
after the last fumigating have each plant carefully cleaned as recently 
advised. Woodlice may be trapped in pieces of Potato, or better 
still in pots filled loosely with dry sphagnum moss, placed out of 
sight as much as possible, and examined daily. 
Cattleyas and Laalias that flower in the summer and autumn on 
the current year’s growth, as Cattleyas aurea and Gaskelliana and 
Laelia grandis tenebrosa, must be potted at once if not already done. 
C. Mossiae, C. Mendelli, and others now flowering from the old 
pseudo-bulbs, must be seen to when the blossoms fade. Dendrobiums 
as they go out of flower should have attention, giving less root 
room to such species as D. Wardianum and D. Bensonise, with 
small closely packed roots, than to stronger rooters, as D. nobile 
and D. Brymerianum. When there are strong plants of D. nobile, 
D. Pierardi, and similar species, and it is desired to increase the 
stock, young plants may be easily raised by cutting the pseudo¬ 
bulbs in convenient lengths and laying them in pans or boxes on 
sphagnum moss. Keep this constantly moist in a warm, shady 
position. 
In arranging the plants for their season’s growth give Den¬ 
drobiums the lightest and sunniest place as near to the glass as 
possible. When there are central and side stages use the former 
for large plants of such species as Lselia purpurata, Cattleya 
bicolor, Cymbidiums Lowianum and giganteum, Aerides, Vandas, 
or Saccolabiums. Smaller growing Cattlevas, Coelogynes, and the 
usual pseudo-bulbous section, such as Oncidiums, Brassias, and 
others, can be placed on the side stages. Shady corners may be 
occupied by B illeas and Warcewiczellas, or if these are not grown 
Coelogyne cristata and Cypripediums. Angrsecum sesquipedale will 
flourish in a drier atmosphere than most Orchids if well supplied 
with water at the roots. 
Odontoglossum houses having any but a north aspect will 
require some permanent shading, the ordinary blinds being 
insufficient to keep the temperature down in summer. This can be 
procured cheaply from dealers in horticultural sundries, or if a 
home-made article is desired stiff flour paste mixed with a little 
whiting and tinted green will be serviceable. This may be applied 
with an ordinary brush, and if gone over before it dries with an 
old painters’ stippler or even a half worn sweeping brush, it will 
make the shading more even and improve the appearance. The 
flower spikes on Odontoglossums should not be retained long 
enough to distress the plants. This they will do if left on until 
the blossoms fade, especially in a dry atmosphere, and shrivelled 
bulbs that start weakly will be the consequence. Three weeks are 
quite long enough to keep the spikes on the plants, and they will 
in many cases last for another fortnight if cut and placed in 
water.—H. R. R. 
Orchids at Chelsea. 
As on previous occasions Mr. W. Bull has now on view a fine 
display of Orchids at his nursery. King’s Road, Chelsea, and the 
exhibition will be open until August. Last year there were many 
new, rare, and beautiful species in bloom at the time of our visit, 
but the display could not be placed on a parallel with the show this 
season. At the present time there are thousands of spikes of 
Orchid blooms, comprising many gems of this family ; and in the 
course of a fortnight or so the hundreds of Cattleyas and Lselias, 
which are now developing flowers, will enhance the already striking 
effect with their richly coloured blooms. 
The principal show house is a large span-roof structure, and the 
Orchids are arranged with Palms and other foliage as well as 
flowering plants. As already hinted the Cattleyas are not yet 
expanded in large numbers, but the flowers that are open stand out 
prominently amongst the rest. C. Mossiae Chelsoni is a very fine 
form, and arrests attention by reason of its distinctiveness, the 
same applying to C. Mendelli Alexandra. The last named is a 
splendid flower of a delicate colour, which always commands 
admiration. C. Mendelli superba, too, is deserving of more than a 
passing notice, the flowers of this being unusually large and richly 
coloured. As a contrast to the latter C. Mendelli Venus may be 
noted, the blooms of this being of a charming light sha le, with a 
beautifully crimped lip. Some magnificent fjrms of Las ia purpurata 
are developing blooms, one of the best being L. purpurata gigantea 
purpurea. The flowers of this are large and well coloured, the lip 
being purplish crimson. Cymbidiums are well represented, some 
huge plants of C. Lowianum producing a large number of racemes 
of flowerrJ. A very distinct and rare form is C. Lowianum eximium, 
the petals of this kind having a purplish tint, showing up con¬ 
spicuously against the flowers of the type. 
Among Cypripediums the well-known C. Chamberlainianum is 
in excellent condition, and the charming C. Exul is flowering freely. 
A splendid form is C. caudatum nigrum, the petals of this variety 
being unusually dark coloured, hence its latter appellation. Of 
Oncidiums the beautiful 0. Marshallianum, with huge spikes of its 
bright yellow flowers, made a charming display, plants of this 
species being arranged at each end of the structure, and in close 
proximity to large mirrors. The reflection in the glass adds 
a charm which visitors will readily realise. Oncidium macranthum 
hastiferum is very fine, and the same may be said of O. Schlimi. 
The scarlet Odontoglossum Noezlianum makes itself conspicuous 
by reason of its showy blooms, which can be easily discerned, even 
if rather less in size than many others. Masdevallias, too, are 
numerous, and some exceedingly choice Trichophilias are noticeable. 
Many more Orchids are in bloom in this structure, including some 
fine plants of Thunia alba, and the rare Epidendrum Wallisi, the 
whole, as before remarked, being most effective. 
In another long span-roof house there is a magnificent display 
of Odontoglossums. There are about 500 spikes of bloom, these 
forming a miniature floral forest. Among them, too, are some 
exceptionally fine forms. O. polyxanthum has large racemes of 
yellow flowers, while O. Andersonianum is remat kably good, 
the flowers being large and richly spotted. The popular 0. crispum 
varies considerably, and amongst the scores of spikes are many 
bearing unusually fine flowers, with crisped edges and beautifully 
tinted petals. All are good, and it would be superfluous to 
individualise many, but mention should be made of O. crispum 
purpureum. A plant of 0. luteo-purpureum nobilis, carrying 
seventeen flowers of an extraordinary size, attracted notice ; and 
O. triumphans is represented in various forms. Hundreds of 
flowers on plants of Miltonia vexillaria are also expanding. 
Altogether Mr. Bull has this year eclipsed himself in the matter of 
providing an exhibition of choice Orchids, and admirers of these 
plants should pay a visit during the next few weeks to the well- 
known establishment at Chelsea. 
ENGLISH TULIPS. 
Whether the most brilliant of all the hardy flowers of early 
summer, the florists’ Tulips, as raised chiefly and grown almost 
exclusively in this country, will become popular in the same sense 
as some other florists’ flowers are is more than doubtful ; but there 
is hope that their claims to attention will not be so completely 
ignored in the future as they have been in the comparatively recent 
past. These remarks apply more particularly to the southern parts 
