398 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
[ May 19, 1887. 
and flower well. I grow most Dendrobiums on cork, and I fasten on 
the cork pieces of cocoa-nut fibre mat, and plant the Orchid on the 
matting with copper wire.— Spero. 
ORCHIDS AT SHEFFIELD. 
In the Orchid houses at Oakholme, Sheffield, are now flowering freely 
some fine healthy plants of Cattleya citrina. The plants are vigorous, 
with large dark coloured foliage ; the flowers also are large and finely 
coloured. Mr. Hannah, the able gardener there, grows them all the 
year round in the flower house on blocks suspended near the roof, in a 
position where they obtain a moderately free circulation of air, with a 
temperature in winter and spring of 50° to 55°. He believes this to be 
the position best suited to them, as their progress has been most satis¬ 
factory. A plant of Odontoglossum Coradeni was very fine, with eleven 
flower spikes. Other good Orchids in flower were a grand specimen of 
Vanda suavis, three large branching flower spikes ; Cymbidium ebur- 
neum, an exceptionally good variety ; Dendrobium Ainswortki roscum, 
and Cattleya Skinneri. Odontoglossum vexillarium is throwing up 
numerous flower spikes. 
A few choice specialties now flowering at Westbrook are Odonto¬ 
glossum Alexandra var. Souvenir du Prince Leopold, for which Messrs. 
Sander obtained a certificate at South Kensington about three years 
since. This is one of the finest varieties known, with very large and 
stout broad-petalled flowers, waxy white, suffused with blush, and 
lightly spotted crimson. It has a strong spike carrying eleven flowers. 
O. polyxanthum, a very fine variety, v ith nine flowers. O. Schilleri- 
anum, two plants, a singular-looking somewhat small-flowering variety, 
curiously spotted throughout, with small chocolate spots on a yellow 
ground. Vanda Denisoniana, carrying three flower spikes, pretty cream- 
coloured flowers, each 2 inches across, very strongly perfumed. Den¬ 
drobium nobile elegans delicatum, a magnificent form of this grand old 
Orchid, having flowers equalling in size and substance the best varieties 
of D. Wardianum,and very delicate in colouring. The pi nt is a strong 
one, carrying twenty-three flowers. Also Oypripedium niveum, a very 
large and fine variety, delicately spotted. 
MR. B. S. WILLIAMS’ ORCHID EXHIBITION. 
The annual display of Orchids in Mr. B. S. Williams’ Victoria and 
Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway, is now regarded as one of the lead¬ 
ing events of the season, for the extensive resources of the establishment 
are concentrated on its production, and those who are familiar with 
these nurseries know quite well what a wealth of plants there is to draw 
upon. Valuable hybrids, rarities, and choice varieties, together with 
the rank and file, the useful members of the Orchid family, are all duly 
represented, a kind of conspectus of their beauty and range of variation 
being afforded by such a show maintained for over a month at this time 
of year. Scarcely any season is without its orchidic attractions, but in 
May and June we have a greater number of distinct forms in flower 
than at any other time ; and though it seems that May will soon lose its 
claim to be considered “ the montlTof flowers,” the poets talk about it as 
unquestionably the month for Orchid flowers. Mr. Williams devotes the 
large span-roof house, usually occupied with Palms, Tree Ferns, &c., to the 
Orchid Show (fig. fi9), and as it is 100 feet long and 22 feet wide it affords 
ample scope for the exercise of taste in arrangement. Upon the left 
hand side, entering from the road, is a broad shelf, and upon this is 
formed a beautiful bank of flowering plants, most diversified in forms 
and colours, from the richest to the most delicate shades, with sufficient 
graceful Palms and Ferns to avoid all approach to formality, the margin 
consisting of Selaginellas, Tradescantias, Panicum variegatum, and 
Isolepis gracilis. On the opposite side of the path is an imposing bank 
of fine-foliage plants, and in front of these, or suspended from the roof, 
are numerous other Orchids which contribute materially to the display. 
Brilliant as the effect is now, it is evident from the large numbers of 
plants coming into flower in the other houses that it will be easily main¬ 
tained in perfection for some weeks to come. 
Taking the plants in the order they are arranged, without attempting 
to classify them, will better indicate both the variety of effect produced 
and the method adopted, though necessarily in this brief description 
many must be passed unnoticed. A healthy plant of Dendrobium 
Falconeri in a basket is notable for the large size and rich colour of the 
flowers ; D. suavissimum is also represented by a fine specimen on a raft 
nearly a yard square and bearing twelve spikes of flowers. Of Vandas 
tricolor and suavis there are several superb variet’es, of the latter one 
has two spikes with ten flowers each. The yellow fragrant Cattleya 
citrina is freely employed with good effect. Oncidium Marshallianum is 
charming with numbers of large graceful panicles of golden flowers, 
most useful for disposing in groups. Burlingtonia fragransand Broughtonia 
sanguinea attract attention side by side, and the old but still favourite 
Lycaste ILurrisonke has abundance of flowers. Cattleyas Mendeli and 
Mossias are handsomely represented, the flower large and richly coloured, 
some of the varieties being exceptionally fine ; the lovely Cattleya 
Skinneri is also in grand condition, one plant having eight racemes with 
nine or ten flowers each, showing at once its free character and rich 
colour. Oncidium concolor yields a wealth of clear yellow flowers, one 
plant in a 3-inch pot having five racemes. The brownish yellow crisped 
Oncidium lamelligerum has one of its long racemes after the style of 
O. macranthum, and the stately Epidendrum Wallisi has twenty large 
yellow and brown spotted flowers. Cattleya Lawrencim shows the free 
character admirably, the flowers being very numerous and of excellent 
c dour ; it will indeed take a place amongst the most useful Cattleyas. 
The white corymb-like scapes of Calanthe veratrifolia are very notable 
rising above dwarfer plants, and it can be employed very effectively in 
this way. Trichopilia suavis and Miltonia Warscewiczi are two old 
favourites that must not be passed unnoticed, and then we come to a 
third old favourite, Oncidium sarcodes, a useful Orchid in any form, but 
such a variety as that shown, with two large dense panicles of highly 
coloured flowers, is most effective. 
Lselia purpurata is one of the specialties at Upper Holloway, and 
there are already some fine varieties in good condition, though many 
had been dispatched to Dresden, and there are scores of others to expand. 
It is an exceedingly handsome Orchid, theiflowers possessing a richness 
that is scarcely equalled by the best Cattleyas, while the contrast 
between the lip and pure white sepals in many varieties adds still more 
to their charms. Of Odontoglossum Rossi majus the plants are innu¬ 
merable, all contributing to the effect, while near some good specimens 
is a beautiful example of Dendrobium Devoniannm, its long, slender 
pseudo-bulbs bearing wreaths of delicately tinted flowers. The late- 
flowering Calanthe Sanderiana, of which Mr. Williams holds the stock, 
is in capital condition, the flowers having remarkably rich crimson lips. 
The next, Cypripedium ciliolare, and the bold, large-flowered C. Law- 
rencianum, constitute, with the white Dendrobium Dearei, the indispen¬ 
sable and handsome D. Wardianum, Ladia elegans, Cattleya Skinneri, 
and Cymbidium Lowianum, another pleasing group. The orange 
scarlet Ladia cinnabarina and Ada aurantiaca supply bright and welcome 
shades of a colour that is rather scarce in Orchid flowers. Cattleya 
intermedia has five racemes of five flowers each, sepals and petals pure 
white, the lip tipped with crimson. The dark form of Cypripedium 
Boxalli atratum contrasts well with the white Dendrobium infundibulum ; 
Odontoglossum sceptrum, Lycaste Skinneri, Dendrobium crassinode, and 
the magnificent Ltelia purpurata Brysiana forming another pleasing 
combination. Odontoglossums Alexandras and Pescatorei are, of course-, 
duly represented by fine varieties, 0. cirrhosum, 0. gloriosum, and O. 
luteo-purpureum being numerous and well flowered. Amongst the 
Masde vallias are several grandly coloured forms of M. Harryana, but 
M. Veitchiar.a grandiflora is perhaps the most remarkable of all, one 
plant having fourteen flowers, each 7 inches in diameter from tip to tip 
of the upper and lower sepals. The yellow Anguloa Clowesi, the curious 
Maxillaria lutec-alba (3 feet in diameter and bearing twenty flowers), the 
graceful purple Bletia Shcpherdi, Miltonia spectabilis Tolliana (a fine 
variety, with the lip heavily veined with crimson), Cattleya Acklandife, 
Odontoglossum mulus, and 0. Andersonianum, are all noteworthy, but 
cannot be referred to in detail, though we must not omit the handsoma 
Cypripedium grande, which has two large flowers, the petals over 10 
inches long. Some other flowering plants are employed in the group, 
Imantophyllums, and Anthurium Sehertzcrianum being especially fine, 
while | lants of the new Gloxinia Alfred Outram, a brilliant variety, the 
flowers scarlet margined with white, are most effective. 
Most of the other houses are attractive now. The fine collection of 
Ferns is in excellent condition ; the various Orchid houses contain hosts 
of plants coming into Cower ; the Heath and hardwooded house includes 
a number of charming free-flowering plants, too much neglected in 
gardens now, a conservatory being gay with Azaleas, Lilacs, Lilium can- 
didum, Amaryllises, and Imantophyllums. Then in the cool houses are 
Masdevallias and Odontoglossums in abundance, while in the treasure 
houses, where the novelties are increased and prepared for distribution, 
is a collection of hybrids and rare species of Cypripediums of exceptional 
value, to the formation of which Mr. Harry Williams has given much 
attention in recent years.—V. 
THUNIA MARSHALL!. 
A number of plants of a fine variety of this beautiful Orchid are 
now flowering freely at Westbrook, Sheffield. They have been grown 
rapidly, and are exceptionally vigorous. Mr. Pidsley, the gardener, tells 
me they were repotted and started on the 11th’ of February, and the 
first flowers opened on May 1st. Most of the old pseudo-bulbs made 
two strong breaks each, and have matured into growths 18 inches to 
2 feet long, each bearing a spike of from eight to ten flowers. He 
grows them upon a shelf near the glass in the East Indian house, where 
they obtain plenty of light and air with exposure to the sun, and 
syringes them daily.—W. K. W. 
[A flower of Thunia Marshalli sent with this was very fine, pure 
white except the orange blotch in the lip.] 
WISCONSIN ORCHIDS. 
Writing in the “ American Gardeners’ Monthly,” Mr. J. H. Dunlap, 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has the following on the culture of Orchid* 
native to the United States, which may be suggestive to amateurs in this- 
country who are trying to increase their stock of hardy Orchids. “In 
order to grow them well, and insure success, it will be necessary to select 
a rather shady border, and dig it out to a depth of 18 inches, putting a 
layer of old wood at the bottom. Cover up the wood with a load of 
moss, found in all Tamarack swamps, and fill up the bed with soil from 
a reclaimed swamp. Leave a place at one end to be made entirely of 
moss, for there are some that will grow in nothing else. The next thing 
is to collect the plants. This would not be difficult to anyone living 
in Milwaukee, as many of them could be found within the city limits, 
and all of them within a few miles, excepting Calypso borealis. The 
first up iu the spring is Orchis spectabilis. This fragrant beauty is to 
be found anywhere in shady woods, where the soil is rich and moist. 
Arethusa bulbosaand Pogonia ophioglosioides grow in moss and nothing 
else, so keep them in that part of your bed that is prepared for them. 
They are very beautiful when in quantity. Calopogon pulchella grows 
in rich black soil, and far exceeds in beauty many of the tropical Orchis 
