490 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June Jl, 1894. 
Odontoglossum CRisruM Baroness Schroder. 
Many choice forms of Odontoglossum crispum have been 
exhibited of late by Mr. Ballantine, gardener to Baron Schroder, 
The Dell, Egham, and a few more additions to the list were 
shown at the Drill Hall, James Street, S.W., on the 12th inst. 
These included the unique variety 0. crispum Baroness Schroder, 
depicted in the illustration (fig. 80). This is not remarkable for 
its size but for the colouration of the flower. The sepals and 
petals are a reddish purple colour, with the exception of white 
mark at the base and light margin. It is probably the richest 
coloured form that has ever been exhibited, and is worthy of the 
first-class certificate awarded by the Orchid Committee of the 
Royal Horticultural Society on the above mentioned occasion. 
Orchids at Fair Oak Lodge. 
Fair Oak Lodge is the residence of W. A. Gillett, Esq., and is 
situated three miles from Eastleigh Junction on the main line to 
Portsmouth and Southampton from Loudon. A really good collec¬ 
tion of Orchids has been brought together by Mr. Gillett, who is 
very fond of these plants, and is ably assisted by his gardener, Mr. 
E Carr, to cultivate them. The month of June is not a good time 
to find homes full of bloom, but sufficient were open at the time 
of my visit to interest anyone. 
Dendrobiums McCarthise, D. Phalsenopsis Schroderianum, D. 
Jamesianum, and D. Parish! were well represented. Mr. Gillett is 
particularly strong in Cattleyas, such as C. Mossiae aurea, C. M. 
superba, C. Mendelli, C. imperialis (extra good form), C. Forbesi, and 
0. labiata Gaskelliana, all of which were well worthy of inspection. 
Odontoglossums are represented by excellent forms of 0. vexil- 
lirium, one plant having sixty blooms open at one time ; O. 
t'ipudians, extra good form; O. Pescatorei, 0. cordatum, 0. 
Harryanum, 0. maculatum, O. citrosmum, very deep rose tint; 
0. c. grandiflorum, 0. hastalabium, and 0. polyxanthum, extra 
large. 
An excellent form of Cypripedium niveum was also in bloom, 
the pale purple spots contrasted so finely with the pure white base 
of the flower. C. caudatum was both interesting and pretty, and 
good forms of C. Lawrenceanum and concolor were to be seen. 
Thunia Bensoni and T. Marshalliana added variety in colour. A 
fine specimen of Laelia purpurata was noticeable, and had been 
exceedingly well flowered, a bloom remaining to show the quality 
of the variety. L. grandis, too, was good in form. 
Oncidiums Linden! and incurvum were producing stout healthy 
flower spikes. O. concolor was decidedly pleasing ; its soft yellow 
blossoms find many admirers. A fine stock of Masdevallia 
Harryana promised well for future flowering. Epidendrum 
vitellinum majus was really a grand form of this showy Orchid. 
The above kinds are but a few of the many Orchids which have been 
collected during recent years, but they are enough to show that 
this branch of horticulture receives attention. All the plants 
reflect credit upon their custodian.—E. M. 
Orchids at Westmount, Kelvinside, Glasgow. 
The display of Odontoglossums at Mr. Steven’s above mentioned 
residence is perhaps the most notable in the West of Scotland. 
Visiting Westmount recently I counted more than a hundred 
developed spikes. Many of the blooms were over 4 inches 
across, and of great substance; most of the spikes carried sixteen 
blooins, none less than a dozen. A pure white form, well named 
O. virginalis, measured nearly 5 inches. Others were of the 
guttatum tjpe, one called Wilson’s var. being very finely spotted 
on both sepals and petals. O. cristatellum was in fine condition, 
carrying a very large spike of finely marked blooms. O. Wilcke- 
anum had flowers 4 inches across, of great substance and grandly 
marked. All the very finest forms are here, not small plants for 
the sake of variety, but large specimens filling 10 and 12 inch pots. 
The foliage is strong and green, bearing striking testimony to the 
skilful manner in which they are managed by Mr. David Wilson 
the gardener. 
The house in which they are grown is no doubt well adapted 
for successful culture. It is span-roofed, standing north and south, 
the east side having a wall instead of glass uprights, so that the 
morning sun which often does harm cannot reach the plants till 
someone is sure to be about. Mr. Steven is an ardent admirer of 
Odontoglossums, and in a few years has collected about a thousand 
plants, six hundred of these being flowering specimens which 
he grows chiefly for distribution among his friends, thereby 
spreading the knowledge and love of Orchids very considerably. 
The marvel is that so few persons cultivate cool Orchids ; no plants 
give a better return for the money invested, and they are not 
like many plants that depreciate in value as they grow older. The 
collection of Orchids is not confined here to cool species, several 
houses containing many of the best type of Dendrobiums and 
Cattleyas.—R. 
Orchid Jottings. 
Like many more visitors to the Drill Hall on the 12th inst. I 
was surprised to find such a grand display of Orchids on that 
occasion. It is usual to see a falling off in numbers if not in 
quality the first gathering after the great Temple Show, but this 
year has proved an exception to the rule. Apparently both trade 
and amateur orchidists are bent on maintaining the reputation 
they have long held in respect to the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
meeting, foT their exhibits certainly increase as the time rolls on. 
At the last meeting I was informed that the “ business of the 
Orchid Committee was one of the heaviest on record, there being 
nearly 100 exhibits to be adjudicated upon.” There seems to be 
some truth in this, for the large building was well filled ; not 
perhaps with Orchids, but these were more numerous than usual. 
It is curious to note that when other societies hold their special 
exhibitions in the Drill Hall that a much larger number of general 
exhibits is forthcoming. _ 
On the occasion mentioned the exhibits were in some instances 
crowded to such an extent as to make it quite possible for any 
ordinary observer to overlook some of the choicer kinds of Orchids 
that were staged. It is not probable, however, that anyone missed 
the beautiful Phaius Owenianus which secured Messrs. F. Sander 
and Co. the first prize for the best new hybrid Orchid of 1894. 
As before mentioned in these pages, this novelty was also exhibited 
at the Temple Show, there awarded a first-class certificate ; and, 
moreover, was illustrated in the Journal of Horticulture for 
June 7th. 
As is customary, Messrs. J. Veitch Sons, Royal Exotic 
Nursery, Chelsea, sent a group of choice and new Orchids, 
including three charming hybrid Masdevallias, for which awards 
of merit were adjudged. The most showy of these was perhaps 
M. Parlatoreana, this being the result of a cross between 
M. Veitchi anl M. Barlaeana. The flowers are a deep orange 
scarlet shade suffused with purple, and are borne on stout stems. 
The plant appears to be a free grower, the same also applying to 
M. glaphyrantha, which is distinct, but not quite so attractive as 
the last-named. M. asmodia was the name of the other hybrid, 
this being the result of a cross between M. chelsoni and M. 
Reichenbachiana, also known as M. Normani. From the same 
firm came the new Disa langleyensis, that has already been 
described in these columns, and for which a certificate was granted 
some weeks since. 
Having previously referred to Baron Schroder’s Odontoglossums, 
it appears superfluous to mention again the fact of this orchidist 
possessing perhaps one of the finest Orchid collections in the kingdom. 
Such, however, is the case, and it would seem that Mr. Ballantine 
has yet an inexhaustible store of floral treasures. Scarcely a 
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society passes without a few 
rare gems being sent from the hothouses at The Dell, Egham, and 
on the 12th inst. first-class certificates were adjudged for two forms 
of Odontoglossum crispum, and an award of merit for another. 
One of the former, O. c. Baroness Schroder, is illustrated and 
described in this issue, and therefore it is needless to say anything 
further about that form. But the others ? One of those honoured 
with a first-class certificate was appropriately named 0. c. grande 
maculatum. It is truly a “ grand ” form, the flower being nearly 
4 inches across, stout in texture, and well spotted. O. c. mirabile 
is the form for which an award of merit was granted, this variety 
being of a distinct and pleasing nature. 
Writing about Odontoglossums calls to mind the fact that Mr. 
De Barri Crawshay must have a charming collection of these 
popular Orchids at his Kentish residence. Generally this gentle¬ 
man contributes largely to the meetings of the Royal Horticultural 
Society, and on many occasions has shown some most beautiful 
forms. The plants, moreover, are always well grown, and pro¬ 
fusely flowered. A very fine variety of Odontoglossum citrosmum 
was exhibited by Mr. Crawsbay on the 12th inst., and it attracted 
more than ordinary attention. The sepals and petals were creamy 
