June 7, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
445 
letter again, he will see that I never suggested that actual vapour, 
in the air, could be anything but pure water. What I want to 
know, is (1), Is it doubted that moisture is always, more or less, 
rising upwards through the soil ? and (2) that such moisture can 
carry upwards with it, as long as it is in the soil, the soluble 
elements of manure ?—W. R. Raillem. 
Phaius Owenianus. 
This beautiful hybrid was shown by Messrs. F. Sander 
and Co. at the Exhibition held recently in the Inner Temple 
Gardens. It is the result of a cross between P. Owenise and 
P. Humboldti, and deserved the first-class certificate awarded. 
As shown in the engraving (fig. 72), the flowers are medium 
in size, and are, moreover, unusually well coloured. The 
sepals and petals have a cream ground tinted reddish 
brown, while the lip is crimson purple with an orange 
yellow base. 
Cattleya Walkeriana. 
As one of the dwarfest of the Cattleyas, this Brazilian 
species is worthy of being cultivated extensively by lovers 
of Orchids, not only for the comparatively small space 
which a number of plants require, but owing to the fdct 
that the flowers are freely produced, and these last some 
weeks in excellent condition. It is not so well adapted 
for pot culture, seeming to revel and flower profusely 
either grown on blocks of wood or in wooden baskets 
suspended from the roof. Crocks, peat, and sphagnum 
well mixed forms a suitable compost in which to grow 
it, a surfacing of clean sphagnum moss completing the 
operation. 
Water cautiously until the plants start into growth, 
when frequent supplies may be given. If well grown it 
will invariably bloom in early spring and midsummer. 
The flowers are often produced in pairs from the young 
growths, and are from 4 to 5 inches across, the sepals 
and petals being a beautiful rose, while the lip is a warmer 
shade slightly stained with yellow.—R. P. R. 
Pleurothallis inflata. 
This species was introduced by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., of 
St. Albans, with whom it flowered in September, 1891, and subse¬ 
quently at Glasnevin and elsewhere. According to the “ Kew 
Bulletin,” it is most nearly allied to P. Lindeni, Lindl., belonging 
to the section Macrophyllae racemosse, but the racemes are appa¬ 
rently always reduced to a single flower. It also bears much 
resemblance to P. ruberrima, Limll.^ of the section Macrophyllae 
fasciculatae, though the flowers are not fascicled. The three are 
quite distinct, if obviously allied, agreeing in the ventricose 
character of the united lateral sepals, and the peculiar shape of the 
lip. The new species, strictly speaking, will not go into either 
group, being neither racemose nor fascicled. It has semi-trans¬ 
lucent whitish flowers with some purple spots and streaks on the 
sepals and petals. 
Dendrobium Sanderianum. 
This is a very beautiful species, which evidently belongs to the 
section Formosae, yet it differs from every other in having the base 
of the mentum inflated into a short sac, something like that of 
D. Phalaenopsis, Fitzg , to which, however, it bears no other 
resemblance, as described in the “ Kew Bulletin.” It is most like 
D. Dearei, Rchb. /., though the flowers are larger, the lip far 
broader, entire, and with a light purple stain instead of pale green 
at the base, the ovary not triquetrous, and the habit quite different. 
The stems continue to elongate and to throw out a succession of 
flowers for a long period, and eventually reach a length of 3 feet or 
more. The flowers are white, with the exception of a light purple 
stain at the base of the lip. It was introduced by Messrs. F. Sander 
and Co., St. Albans, and flowered in their establishment last autumn. 
Dendrobium glomeratum. 
This species belongs to the section Pedilonum, and may be 
placed near D. cumulatum, LimlL, from which, however, it differs 
m having much larger flowers, arranged in a very short congested 
raceme with large imbricating bract?, and an orange-vermilion lip 
without an erect tooth at its base. Thus the habit is nearer that 
of p. erythroxanthum, Rclib. f., a small-flowered Philippine 
species. 'Jhe present species, says the “Kew Bulletin,” has 
flowers from 1^ to inch long, borne several together in loose 
axillary heads ; the sepals and petals bright rose colour, and the lip 
orange-vermilion. The lip is infolded at the apex, and the margin 
erose-denticulate. It was imported by Messrs. James Veitch and 
Sons, of Chelsea, and flowered in their establishment last December. 
Ornithidium fragrans. 
This species of Ornithidium flowered with Mr. F. W. Moore, 
A.L.S., at Glasnevin, in March, 1893, and in the collection of 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford, Dorking, in January of 
the present year. From the latter we learn that it was im¬ 
ported by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., of St. Albans. It is allied 
to the Mexican Ornithidium densum, Rchb. /., which has far more 
numerous flowers, of about a third the size, much more compressed 
pseudo-bulbs, and longer leaves. The flowers are whitish, faintly 
suffused with mauve-purple, and the front lobe of the lip dull 
mauve-purple. The flowers are fragrant, something like heliotrope. 
-(“Kew Bulletin.”) 
Cultural Notes on Orchids. 
The temperature in the warm houses will now need to be slightly 
increased. The plants are growing freely and must not be checked 
FIG. 72.— FHAIUS OWENIANUS. 
in any way. Increased supplies of moisture at the root and in the 
atmosphere are also necessary. When root and top growth are 
both active too much can hardly be given to healthy Orchids if 
properly potted. Sharp applications of fire heat are needed during 
spells of cold wet weather like that lately experienced, and dampings 
in the evening are necessary to prevent a dry atmosphere. Carefully 
avoid the hot pipes in damping, as the scalding steamy vapour which 
arises from these, when wetted, is not conducive to a solid growth. 
Change the air in all the houses daily by ventilating as early as 
possible, but avoid all chilling draughts. When there are venti¬ 
lators opposite to or below the hot water pipes, these should now 
be left partly open night and day. This will prevent the stuffiness 
often felt on entering a house in the morning that has been closed 
all night, and is very beneficial to the plants. A suitable tempera¬ 
ture for East Indian Orchids will now be 60° to 65°, while for 
Cattleyas from 5° to 10° lower will suffice. 
Light syringings at closing time on hot days may now be given 
with safety to Aerides, Vandas, and other Orchids of a like habit, 
also to many of the pseudo-bulbous kinds, but care and judgment 
must be exercised in the operation. Cattleyas and Lselias may 
easily be damaged in this way in the earlier stages of growth, as 
the outer sheath of the young bulb forms a cup which would hold 
the water and cause decay. When the bulb has advanced another 
stage, and the top can be seen above the sheath, syringing is 
advantageous, but not before. If water is seen lodged in the 
young growths, the plants should be lifted and turned upside down 
to allow it to escape. The Cattleya grub sometimes makes its 
unwelcome presence known by malformed growths. By an 
accustomed eye these are easily detected when very young by the 
abnormal swelling at the base, and the pointed appearance of 
the growth. I know of no cure for these grubs, a partial remedy 
being to break out the growth and destroy it, but the earlier 
this is done the better. _ 
Among the Dendrobiums now flowering is D. dixanthum, a 
kind not of tin met with, though by no means a new plant. The 
