386 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
May 17, 1894. 
Dendrobium Dellense, 
This is a beautiful hybrid Dendrobium, and when exhibited 
by Baron Schriider, The Dell, Kgham, at the meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society on the 8th inst., a first-class certi¬ 
ficate was awarded for it. The parents are D. nobile Schroder- 
ianum and D. splendidissimum, the former being the seed bearer, 
The flowers resemble those of D. n. Schroderianum in colour, 
but favour the other parent in form. The sepals and petals are 
white, faintly tinted purple at the points, the lip being character¬ 
ised by a maroon-coloured blotch. Fig. 61 on page 379 represents 
this Dendrobium. 
Cypripediuji macrochilum giganteum. 
At the Drill Hall, Westminster, on the 8th inst., Messrs. 
J. Veitch & Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, exhibited a plant 
of Cypripedium macrochilum giganteum, and for which the Orchid 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society awarded a first- 
class certificate. This Cypripedium is a hybrid, the result of a 
cross between C. caudatum Lindeni, and C. grande, and is one of 
the finest kinds in cultivation. In some respects the flowers 
resemble those of C. macrochilum, but are larger and better 
coloured. The sepals are pale yellow veined and tinted green, 
while the petals are purplish bronze, white and green at the base, 
and have tail-like appendages nearly 18 inches in length. The lip, 
as depicted in the illustration (fig. 62) is very fine, being broad 
and well rounded. The exterior of the lip is a bronzy green shade, 
while the inside is white spotted purplish crimson. 
Orchid Jottings. 
Orchids were not very extensively shown at the Drill Hall on 
the 10th inst., but the few exhibited included some exceedingly 
choice species, varieties, and hybrids. Foremost amongst the 
latter must be placed the beautiful Dendrobium Dellense, shown 
by Baron Schriider. This, as remarked elsewhere, was obtained by 
crossing D. nobile Schroderianum and D. splendidissimum, and may 
prove suggestive to hybridists. Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons sent a 
number of their special Orchids, including the splendid Cypri¬ 
pedium macrochilum giganteum, which is described and illustrated 
in this issue A beautiful hybrid Disa, named D. langleyensis, 
staged on the above-mentioned occasion by the same firm also 
attracted notice. This is the result of a cross between D. racemosa 
and D. tripetaloides. The flowers are pale rose in colour, borne on 
tall slender spikes, and when a mass is grown in a pan make a 
charming display. __ 
As may be expected at this period of the year Odontoglossums 
contributed their share towards the display. Mr. Welbore Ellis, 
Hazelbourne, Dorking, sent a splendid form of O. Pescatorei, the 
sepals and petals being very broad, and the latter were covered 
with purplish spots. Mr. De Barri Crawshay, Rosefield, Seven- 
oaks, had a grand variety of 0. triumphans which has been named 
Lionel Crawshay. The flowers on the plant exhibited were large 
and richly coloured. The beautiful (). crispum apiculatum, shown 
in splendid condition by Messrs. Charlesworth, Shuttleworth & Co., 
was much admired by visitors. Other rare Orchids were staged at 
the meeting referred to, but orchidists generally reserve their best 
plants for the Temple Gardens Show, which opens on Wednesday 
next. Here we may expect to see a magnificent display of Orchids, 
and one which, it is hoped, will eclipse all former efforts. 
A correspondent informs me that fairly good prices were 
realised at the sale of the Pickering Lodge Orchids, which took 
place last week. He says, “ On the first day the sale was brisker 
than I have seen on any previous occasion, at least for several 
years. The best price was given for Cattleya Mossim Reineckiana 
by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., 160 guineas. This Cattleya was bought 
two years ago by the late Mr. Hardy at the Ho wick House sale 
for 55 guineas. The next best price given by Messrs. Hugh Low 
and Co. for Cattleya Mendeli Firthi, was 70 guineas, and many 
plants realised from 20 to 50 guineas.” 
New Orchids have so continually been brought before the 
notice of the public that they create but little sensation unless of 
exceptional merit, and then only amongst enthusiasts. This is 
the case of Grammatorbyllum Guilelmi II. This species was, I 
believe, introduced by Messrs. F. Sander & Co. from New Guinea, 
and was recently described in the “ Gartenflora ” as follows :— 
“ Grammatophyllum Guilelmi II., habit of G. Fenzlianum, but 
larger, with massive stems and leaves 2 feet long by 4 inches in 
width. Raceme abont 3 feet long, bearing from twenty to thirty- 
five handsome flowers, each over 3 inches in diameter, and coloured 
purplish brown margined with greenish yellow, the lip white with 
purple stripes.” The same firm also introduced a new Dendrobium 
which has been named D. Augustas Victoriae, and described in the 
above-mentioned journal as “ a large growing species in the way of 
D. Mirbelianum, bearing at the apex of stout pseudo-bulbs racemes 
1 ^ foot long, clothed with numerous handsome flowers, each over 
1 inch in diameter ; sepals white, petals pale yellow with purplish 
markings, and the lips rose purple.” 
Everyone who has grown, or frequently seen, a large collection 
of Cypripediums will have occasionally noticed a bloom with two 
lips. Such instances are generally passed by without comment, 
although specimens have been brought to the meetings of the 
Royal Horticultural Society. However common, though, these 
abnormal Cypripedium flowers are, those with three lips may be 
considered a novelty. At a gathering of the Scientific Committee 
of the above-mentioned Society held last month, the St. Albans 
Orcbid firm had a specimen of C. niveum with three lips, which 
had been received from M. Joly of Vienna. The peculiarity con¬ 
sisted in the fact that the lateral petals had assumed the form 
ordinarily confined to the lip. It was stated the plant produces 
such flowers regularly. _ 
Some years ago I saw a very fine plant of Epidendrum nemorale 
majus at an exhibition, and it presented a charming appearance. 
According to my experience, however, this Orchid is not so 
frequently seen nowadays as was formerly the case, though for 
what reason it would be difficult to say. E. nemorale majus is a 
most beautiful Orchid, and can easily be grown in a house with 
Cattleyas. In some gardens it is established on blocks of wood, 
whilst other cultivators prefer growing it in a hanging basket or 
pot. The flowers, when expanded, are nearly 4 inches in diameter, 
and they last for several weeks in good condition if the plant is 
placed in a moderately cool dry atmosphere. The colour of the 
petals and sepals is mauve or rosy violet, and the lip whitish lined 
with red, having a margin of a dark rose shade. As a rule the 
blooms are borne in great profusion on spikes from 2 to 3 feet in 
height. One of the principal points as regards the culture of this 
Epidendrum is to never allow the pseudo-bulbs to shrivel. If this 
once occurs it is no easy task to restore the plant to its normal 
health. 
Writing about Epidendrums brings to my mind the beautiful 
old E. radicans, a specimen of which was exhibited by Messrs. 
B. S. Williams & Son at a recent meeting of the Rojal Horticultural 
Society. It is a pity this Orchid is not more common in gardens, 
for as regards effectiveness when in bloom it can well hold its own. 
The sepals and petals of flowers are bright orange scarlet, the lip 
being principally yellow edged with scarlet, and when the blooms 
are numerous they produce a most gorgeous sight. One of the 
fine specimens of this Orchid I have ever seen was trained—yes, 
tiained—to a balloon trellis, many of the stems being 8 and 9 feet 
in length. It is not difficult to grow, but does not flower so freely 
as numerous other Orchids that could be named, and this probably 
may account for its conclusion from many collections. It is said 
to be synonymous with E. rhizophorum, and was introduced from 
Mexico in I860.—Specialist. 
Small Collections of Orchids. 
Beginners in Orchid culture are often at a loss to know what 
kinds are most suitable to commence with. A succession of 
bloom throughout the year, as far as practicable, is usually desired, 
price has also to be considered, and those plants chosen that are 
easiest to grow. The species and varieties named below will make 
a very interesting collection. 
Oncidiums are essentially Orchids for beginners, their only 
drawback being a somewhat limited range of colour, most of them 
containing a good deal of yellow. Their long-lasting qualities, 
however, combined with freedom of flowering, will always secuie 
them a prominent place in collections. Oncidiums crispum, 
flexuosum, sphacelatum, incurvum, and varicosum of the warm- 
house section, and O. cucullatum, O. concolor, O. macranthum, 
O. Marshallianum, O. ornithorhynchum, and 0. tigrinum of the 
cooler species will be found a good selection. 
Among the Odontoglossums it is difficult io know where to 
stop, as there is hardly a species that may be called difficult to 
cultivate, and alt are beautiful. 0. crispum, 0. cirrhcsum, O.lutec- 
