Jane 17, 1:86. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
489 
Several years later, however, further particulars were obtained, and it 
appears that the plant was discovered by Bowman, on the “Western 
slope of the Andes of New Grenada.’’ It was sent home by several col¬ 
lectors, but the plants when received were generally either dead or had 
suffered too much to recover under cultivation. There has always been 
much difficulty attending the importation of this Odontoglossum, and 
probably none has proved so disappointing to nurserymen. Mr. Henry 
Chesterton, however, at last succeeded in sending to Messrs. Veitch and 
Sons, Chelsea, living plants that endured the ordeal of transmission, and 
of these some dowered in 1873, from which figures were prepared for the 
“Botanical Magazine” (t. 6037) and other periodicals. Since then con¬ 
signments have been occasionally received in good condition, but it re- 
when cut and placed in water—indeed, they are quite unsuited for that 
purpose.—L. C. 
SAX1 FRAG AS. 
The Saxifragas should have a place in all collections of hardy plants. 
Saxifraga Wallacei is an extremely pretty species at this time of the 
year, and being dwarf it is very useful for borders and rockeries. It may 
be also used for spring bedding, for generally in an early locality it comes 
into flower before the beds are required for summer plants. It is pretty 
with its masses of green foliage and white flowers. It is of easy culti¬ 
vation, and should be propagated from cuttings. The best time to take 
Fig. 91. —Odontoglossum vexellakium. 
quires careful packing, and good treatment after it reaches the cultivator’s 
hands, or failure results. 
This Odontoglossum has been termed the Queen of the Orchids, and it 
merits the title, for when well grown it is a lovely plant, and has an 
admirable appearance arranged amongst Ferns. The varieties are very 
numerous, and many of them have received names indicatiog their c lour. 
Some have bright rosy-tinted flowers, and others are nearly white, the 
latter being usually the largest. Then in some the one portion of the 
flower is pale while the other is of a rosy hue termed bicolor ; and in 
still others a yellow blotch is strongly marked in the centre, and these are 
termed tricolor. Two of the best coloured varieties are Sir Trevor 
Lawrence’s superbum and Mr. B. S. Williams’s splendens, both of which 
are remarkable for the rich rosy crimson hue of the flowers. A distinct 
form sent out by Mr. W. Bull, under the name of 0. vexillarium rubellum, 
is a free-flowering variety, and flowers much later than the others, usually 
in early autumn, long after the ordinary vexillariums are over. It is a 
most useful Orchid in all its forms, but its flowers last a very short time 
the cuttings is about the end of this moDtb. They should be taken care¬ 
fully, then inserted into some good soil consisting of equal parts of loam 
and leaf mould, with a good dash of sand in it. The best way is to place 
the prepared soil on a border to the thickness of about 3 inches ; then 
insert the cuttings, taking care to firm them well and give a good water¬ 
ing. Place a cloche or bellglaes over them, giving some shading on very 
bright days. They require no air until rooted, which is generally in 
about a fortnight or three weeks ; when rooted, air should be given 
gradually until properly hardened off, when the bellglass may be taken 
away. The plants will be then quite large enough for planting out in 
clumps on the borders or rockeries ; or if required for spring bedding 
they may be left in the cutting beds until October, when they should be 
planted in their required places. 
Saxifraga Burseriana is also well worth mentioning, for it is a beauti¬ 
ful species with silvery foliage and lovely white flowers ; but it is gene¬ 
rally a month later than S, Wallacei, but grows to about the same height 
—viz., from 4 to 6 inches.-— An Outside Fokeman. 
