July 30, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
91 
spikes had started vigorously into growth, in several instances two 
growths having issued from one pseudo-bulb. Plants les3 healthy and 
luxuriant often have their growths retarded for a long time by the strain of 
a large spike of flowers. 
A hint in relation to these plants may be turned to useful account by 
Orchid growers, and that is the system of spring potting ha3 not been 
practised with them. Mr. W. Davies, the able gardener at Woolton 
Wood, believes fn repotting OdoDtoglossums that need it in autumn 
instead of the spring. I am scarcely in a position to pass an opinion at the 
present time on this subject, but have watched the plants in question for 
some time, and their general condition leaves nothing to be desired. The 
plants flowering so profusely and growing so vigorously were all repotted 
early last autumn. 
The second house in this range is devoted to Lycastes, Maxillarias, 
The Masdevallia house is a lean-to structure with a north-eastern aspect, 
and is filled with large healthy plants of all the leading species in cultiva¬ 
tion. New and rare forms are also well represented. The old flower stems 
indicate the wealth of beauty that these plants must have presented a short 
time ago. The plants in this department were somewhat spotted a few 
years ago, but by the admission of more light and air and a little higher 
temperature Mr. Davies has succeeded in growing the plants out of it, and 
a'It he new foliage for a few years past has been clean, healthy, and luxuriant. 
The condition of the plants is excellent, and we can form but little concep¬ 
tion of what size and strength these plants are capable of attaining, for 
there they appear to grow with greater vigour and produce annually finer 
and bolder foliage. Mr. (Haskell may well feel proud of them, for many are 
18 inches or more in diameter and growing in 10 and 12-inch pots. Those 
who have visited the leading Orchid establishments in this country say they 
Tig. 1 G.—Baptista australis. 
Zygopetalums, and Odontoglossums, that requir > a little higher temperature 
than the cool house. It was filled with a great variety of these plants in 
the most perfect health. Conspicuous in this department hung suspended 
from the roof two remarkably fine plants of Masdevallia bell.a, one of the 
two being probably the finest plant in the country. It was not one of those 
small insignificant pieces frequently seen, but a large plant in an 8 or 9-inch 
pot with a perfect ring of its curious flowers. A large plant of M. Chimoera 
was equally fine, and as well flowered as M. bella that hung by its side. 
Other plants in flower in this house were M. radiosa and Mamodes Medusae, a 
very rare and truly extraordinary plant, the flower having light green sepa's 
and petals tinged with brown, while the lip is maroon in colour with green 
towards the base. The third house in this range comprised amongst others 
large well-grown masses of Lrelia anceps and its white variety alba. L. anceps 
Dawsoni is also represented. Lselia autumnalis is largely grown, and a fine 
plant of the rare L. amanda doing well. L. monophyllum, a healthy little 
plant, which is alRO very rare, is throwing up its first flower spike. Several 
other varieties of Laelia exist, and grand masses of Cattleya Gaskelliana 
are growing luxuriantly. 
have seen nothing to surpass this houseful of Masdevallias. M. Veitch 
was in flower and is one of the finest, while I noticed an exceptionally good 
plant of M. Davisi that had borne a good number of its showy yellow 
flowers. 
The Cattleya house is a large span-roofed structure and crowded with 
large masses in pots and pans, while the roof is almost covered with a great 
variety of plants on blocks, rafts, and in baskets. Especially noteworthy is 
Cattleya exoniensis, a fine plant with five strong breaks, two smaller 
plants also doing well. The autumn-flowering C. labiata was making 
excellent growths that if well ripened will be sure to produce large finely 
developed flowers of great substance. The new and unique C. Whitei was 
also at home and doing well. C. Skinneri alba is a superb healthy plant, 
and it is questionable if any larger plant is to be found in any Orchid-growing 
establishment. C. Dodsoni and C. Wagneri were also good plants and making 
capital progress. Suspended from the roof just over the door was a truly 
magnificent plant of C. Warneri that had carried nine spikes of flowers, with 
two and three flowers on each spike. Several large plants of C. Percivaliana 
were conspicuous, and which l saw profusely flowered on a previous occasion , 
