Hanh U, 188«. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
237 
0D0NT0GL03SUM CITROSMUM. 
Few Orchids are more generally admired than this, and in few 
establishments is it so well grown as at The Woodlands. About 150 
plants are there included, and are grown in baskets arranged upon the 
side stages in a light house where an intermediate temperature is main¬ 
tained. One of the special features in their culture is the long season 
of rest, for during the late autumn and winter they receive no water, in 
fact they generally have three months’ dry treatment. As soon as the 
spikes are showing, as some are doing now, the supply of water is re¬ 
commenced, and gradually increased as needed. That this treatment is 
appreciated is proved by the firm substantial pseudo-bulbs (many 
4 inches deep by 3 inches wide), and the abundant flowers produced. 
The plants are brought on in three successive batches, but as many as 
100 racemes have been expandetl at one time for a period of two or 
three months, some of the racemes reaching 3^ feet in length, and carry¬ 
ing twenty to thirty-five flowers each. When suspended from th e 
roof it can be imagined what an effect is produced by these beautiful 
delicately coloured and fragrant drooping flowers. 
COOL HOUSE ORCHIDS. 
Several houses are devoted to Odontoglossums, Masdevallias, and 
other plants requiring cool treatment. A most valuable collection of 
O. crispum varieties has been formed, comprising both spotted and pure 
white forms, the flowers of fine shape and excellent substance. 0. 
Pescatorei, 0. Andersonianum, O. polyxanthum, and scores of others also 
included. The Masdevallias are rich in choice varieties of the Lindeni, 
Harryanum, and Veitchi types, while the extraordinary M. chimoera 
seems very happy, having been in flower for a great time, and had thirty 
or forty of its strange flowers. 
CYMBIDIUMS. 
Rarely are houses in private establishments devoted to Cymbidiums, 
but it is also seldom that so many Large specimens are seen in one place 
as in that under notice. Cymbidium, the majestic Lowianum, the 
handsome C. eburneum, the pretty C. elegans, and the strong C. 
giganteum are all represented by good plants, but there are five huge 
examples of the first-named in vases or on pedestals. The plants are 
10 feet across from tip to tip of opposite leaves, in most vigorous 
condition, and they flower most profusely. One is now showing thirteen 
racemes, and they frequently have twenty flowers each. These plants 
are ornamental and graceful foliage plants, even when not in flower, but 
they need a spacious house to show themselves to advantage. 
CYPRIPEDIUMS. 
The Cypripediums hold a prominent plaee in Mr. Measures’ favour, 
and his endeavour to form a collection of the finest species and all the 
most valuable hybrids has been singularly suceessful. Many of these 
are literally worth their weight in gold, and in the ease of small pieces 
of very scarce forms the pots and peat might almost be included in 
the balance. But the mere fact of being rare is not sufficient. The 
plant must possess some distinct character or beauty of its own before 
it can be admitted to the company of the Cypripedium aristocracy. So 
we find that nearly every plant possesses some special charm, history 
or interest, and a long essay might be written upon them alone. The 
following list of those in flower at the present time will show what a 
hopwless task it is to attempt their description in one issue of the 
Journal. 
Cypripodinim in Flownr Fehniary and March. —Porphyreum, 
Spicerianum, vernixium, Measuresianum, Dayanum, Rowallianum, Wil¬ 
liams!, nitens, Dauthieri, callosum, callosum superbum, Argus, Petri, 
barbatum biflorum, barbatum Warner!, candidulum, concolor, calo- 
phyllum, Bullerianum, concinnum, cardinale, pluneurum, venustum, 
villosum, villosum aureum, marmorophyllum, chloroneurum, leucorrho- 
dum, oenanthum superbum, euryandrura, Harrisianum elegans, Boxalli, 
Sallieri, Hartwegi, and elegans. 
Some of these are large plants and all are in wonderful health, the 
foliage of the marbled section being extremely beautiful. Particularly 
noticeable is this in the case of C. concolor and its handsome variety 
tonkinensis, which have the surface of the leaves covered with a trans¬ 
parent crystalline epidermis, through which the exquisitely delicate 
markings have a charming appearance. These and many others of the 
Cypripediums are worth growing for their foliage alone. Besides those 
named as in flower there are numberless choice plants, amongst which is 
an admirable specimen of C. Morgan!*, with most of the Veitchian 
hybrids as well as those from other raisers. 
DBNDROBIUM NOBILE OR HEATHFIELDIANUM. 
Amongst several handsome varieties of D. nobile now flowering at 
Streatham one of the most remarkable is that named above, of which 
Mr. Measures has a strong plant with richly coloured flowers. The 
peculiar character of the variety (fig. 29) is in the petals being coloured 
precisely the same as the lip—namely, a rich velvety purple, the tint 
extending more than half the length. When the lip is bent back the 
flower appears to be in six divisions, the three outer (sepals) narrow and 
the three inner broader, and csloured (petals and lip) like regular 
flowers of the Lily and allied families. Last August, when visiting 
Newcastle-on-Tyne, I called at Heathfield House, Gateshead, the resi¬ 
dence of Theodore Lange, Esq., and the gardener, Mr. Methven, gave the 
following information respecting the origin of the plant :—“ It is said to 
have been raised at Heathfield from seed obtained by crossing D. nobile 
with D. Falconer!, .and the first plant flowered about 1881. In 1883 
some plants were exchangeil with Mr. Cookson of Wylam-on-Tyne, 
amongst them being one of the hybrid.” This flowered at O.akwood in 
1885, and was shown at South Kensington on March 10th of that year 
under the name of D. nobilissimum. Flowers were sent to Prof. 
Reichenbach, but through some misunderstanding he named it D. nobile 
Cooksonianura, but he has since substituted the title Heathfieldianum as 
being more appropriate. Last month both Sir Trevor Lawrence and Mr. 
H. M. Pollett exhibited plants at South Kensington for which certificates 
were awarded, and at the last meeting (March 13th) a very strong plant 
was shown by Mr. Perkins from the Greenland Gardens, Henley-on- 
Thames, when a cultural commendation w.as aw.irded for it. Another 
peculiar variety of somewhat similar style— i.r., D. nobile Tollianum, has 
Fig. 29.—Dendrobiam nobile Ccoksoniannm or Heathfleldiannm. 
the colouring more confine<l to the margins of the petals. A variety of 
D. nobile, also in flower at The Woodl.ands, is named Herbertianum, and 
in the richness of its colour it is almost equal to the 
L.ELIA ELEdANS, 
A grand collection of Lrelias and Cattleyas has been formed, and 
some four or five large houses are almost exclusively devoted to them. 
Laelia elegans is another Streatham specialty. Some fifty or sixty 
plants.of the best varieties yet introduced are grown, including such 
named forms as Cynanthus, myleptha prasiata,and Measuresiana. Some, 
recently imported plants of L. elegans have flowered this season, and 
amongst them are several very beautiful forms. One of these was found 
by a collector in his wanderings, and w'as so much finer than any hitherto 
seen that he named it “ King of the Woods.” Shortly after, another 
still superior form was discovered, which was named “ King of all tbo- 
Woods ; ” and a third, “ King of all the Kings.” If my memory serves 
me rightly it is one of these that has received the name Tautziana—at 
least, I had the good fortune to see a flower of this, which, both in size 
and colour, surpassed any 1 have seen before. From tip to tip of the 
petals it measured 6| inches, the petals being dark rose in colour, and 
If inch in diameter, the sepals of a rosy bronze hue. The lip was very 
handsome, inches across, dark crimson and rich magenta. There is- 
something peculiarly noble about Laelia eleganr an I its varieties, and 
it is not at all surprising that Mr. Measures is so proud of them. 
CCEbOGYNE CRISTATA ALB.4.. 
Coelogyne cristata, with its varieties maxima, Lemoniana, and the 
Chatsworth form, fill one house, and betwe. n 590 and (100 racemes have 
been expanded during the past aid present months. Conspicuous 
amongst these, however, is a large specimen of the scarce and valuaolc 
C. cristata alba, which is probably the finest specimen in the kingdom. 
It has forty-seven growths, and has had thirtv-twu racemes of three 
to six pure white flowers e.ach, which were only allowed to fully expand 
when they were cut off. as the strain w.as a heavy one upon the plant’s 
resources. Some idea of the progress the plant has made can be gathered 
from the fact that two years .ago it had only fourteen growths. 
Much more remains to be sai l respecting the Woodlands Orchids ; 
but it must be added that their condition throughout the whole collec¬ 
tion proves the gardener, Jlr. R. C. Fr.as ;r, to be not only <a skilful culti¬ 
vator, but one who takes a deep persmal interest in the plants under his 
charge.—L. C.asTLE. 
LACHENALT-\S. 
I WAS very glad to see a few lines in favour of the more extended 
cultivation of the above in your Issue of the 8th instant, and can fully 
endorse all your correspondent, “ T. II.,” says in their favour. I would, 
