August 9, 1894 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
123 
Grammatophyllum Measuresianum. 
This is a comparatively new and distinct Orchid, and when 
first exhibited, three years or so ago, attracted some attention. It 
does not appear, however, to be generally grown. The flowers are 
nearly 4 inches in diameter, white with a greenish tinge, and 
regularly dotted with rich purplish brown. As shown in the 
engraving (fig. 19), the blooms are produced on racemes 3 feet in 
length. 
L^lia autumnalis. 
This may almost be described as an autumn flowering Lselia 
anceps, being similar in habit and general characteristics. It is not, 
however, quite as easily grown as that popular kind. It is of the 
utmost importance that L. autumnalis be kept in vigorous health 
at all times. If once this Orchid gets into bad condition the 
grower will find it extremely difficult to bring it back to health. 
In common with all the Mexican species, L. autumnalis requires a 
light and airy position, with a well marked season of rest. This 
latter is a term occasionally misunderstood. A periodical cessation 
of growth brought about at the proper season by a gradual lowering 
of the temperature and a corresponding lessening of the water 
.supply may be thus termed ; this will prove beneficial to the plants. 
On the other hand, simply placing the plants on a dry shelf at the 
completion of their growth, and allowing them to remain without 
attention, cannot be called restful, nor is it in any way advantageous. 
L. autumnalis is most satisfactory in shallow pans or on rafts, a 
large body of compost being unnecessary. The flower spikes are 
produced from the tops of the newly formed pseudo-bulbs, and are 
each 18 inches to 2 feet in length. These usually carry four or 
five flowers, which are each 4 inches across and very fragrant. The 
ground colour varies from a deep rich crimson to a light rose, and 
the lip is marked with yellow and crimson or purple. 
Odontohlosshm Insleayi. 
The several varieties of this fine Odontoglossum are among the 
most useful Orchids for autumn flowering, In habit it is very 
similar to 0. grande, but the flowers are smaller. Like O. grande 
it thrives best in a rather higher temperature than the majority of 
Odontoglossums, but may be grown very well under the coolest 
system where this is most convenient. Good peat and sphagnum 
moss in equal proportions with crocks or charcoal added to prevent 
closeness in the mass will be found a suitable compost. The pots 
must be clean and thoroughly drained, abundance of water being 
required while growing. The variety leopardinum has the lip 
profusely spotted with crimson, sepals and petals yellow, and 
barred with the same colour. O. Insleayi splendens is a magnificent 
variety. The flowers are larger than the type, varying in colour 
with very deep crimson spots on the lip. O. Insleayi is an old 
plant, being introduced from Mexico over fifty years ago. All 
the varieties last well in bloom, and are useful Orchids for room 
decoration, 
Disa grandiflora. 
If we except the glowing blossoms of Sophronitis there is 
hardly another Orchid in cultivation so bright and effective in 
colour as this Disa when in good condition. Strong plants pro¬ 
duce as many as six flowers on a spike, and a panful of healthy 
growths, each bearing a spike of these dimensions, should arouse 
enthusiasm. In many places where Orchids are a speciality, 
and Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, and others are well grown, this Disa 
is an absolute failure. The principal cause of this is the unnatural 
and unnecessary heat to which the plants are subjected. Growing 
naturally at the top of the Table Mountain, at the Cape of Good 
Hope, the plants we are told are often exposed to cold mists and 
frosts. It would of course be a mistake to expose the plants to 
such a low temperature under cultivation, but they do well with 
a minimum of 36° in winter, and in summer cannot possibly be 
kept too cool. 
Before the flowers fade the young growths can usually be seen 
peeping through the surface of the compost. When the bloom is 
past the plants must be carefully taken out of the pots, and as 
much of the old compost removed as seems necessary, without 
disturbing the roots too much. If there are any of the latter 
decayed they should be picked carefully out, and also any decayed 
tubers that can easily be removed. Repot rather loosely in a 
compost consisting of especially good peat fibre, fresh chopped 
sphagnum, and finely broken crocks. Especial care most be taken 
with the drainage, and the compost kept rather higher than 
the rims of the pots to allow of a little settling down. They 
may be kept fairly close for a week or ten days, after which 
and all through the year besides abundance of air is most 
essential. 
Plunging the pots in cocoa-nut fibre refuse or similar material 
has been recommended, but as far as my experience goes thia 
is not good practice. I like perforated pots for this species,, 
as the roots enjoy the air moving about them as much as the 
leaves. Besides this, offsets are occasionally produced through the 
lower holes in the pots, that under the plunging system would 
never see the light, and in consequence a ready means of propa¬ 
gation is destroyed. 
Daily waterings at the roots and very frequent syringings'dn 
hot weather must be given ; a mulch of sphagnum moss over the 
compost helps to conserve the moisture and keeps the roots cool. 
With this treatment thrips will not be much in evidence, but slugs 
may be troublesome ; these must be diligently sought for and 
killed, as if the shoots when partly grown are eaten through, that 
part of the plant will probably be killed, and a good specimen may 
be ruined in appearance.—H. R. R. 
THE MAKING OF GARDENERS. 
Permit me, as a young gardener, to say how well pleased I was to 
read the article by Mr. A. Dean (page 26) on “ The Making of Gardeners.” 
Many suggestions have been made by able men on examinations for 
gardeners which doubtless in many ways would be serviceable if 
a college or school training was sufficient to make a good gardener. 
This, to my mind, however, is out of the question. I do not^ for one 
moment hint that a good education is not essential, but I believe that 
there are many practical gardeners who cannot do the work with pen 
and ink, but are such as to be able to show those who are under them 
