Algnst 16, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
147 
name of Bay, like that of “ Rose,” was given inexactly to a variety 
of species by our ancestors, because their leaves had a resemblance 
to the true Bay or Laurel. Turner wrote unfavourably of the 
Rhododendron—“ I have seen this shrub in Italy, and hope it may 
not come into England ; it is like a Pharisee, beauteous without, 
and within a ravening wolf but some think he meant the 
Oleander. He was recalling the old stories of the strange effects 
produced in Pontus and adjacent places by the honey from the 
Rhododendron, and also of the Azalea. Of course it was the 
yellow-flowered Azalea that was suspected, our first visitant of the 
tribe, which has somehow been chosen as a fitting symbol of 
“ temperance.” I doubt whether either of these is harmful in our 
cool climate, whatever they may be in warmer regions. As to the 
Rhododendron near Cobham Park, famous for its fine display of 
this flower, there are many bee-keepers ; the insects of their hives 
draw part of their stores of honey from the species, but I do not 
find that any ill effects have arisen in consequence during any 
season. It is curious how rich in honey some kinds of Rhodo¬ 
dendron are ; from the scarlet-flowered R. arboreum, grown under 
glass, it will fall like drops of rain when the shrub is shaken. 
About the Oleander we have a tale that it poisons some streams of 
Algeria, upon the banks of which it grows plentifully. Though a 
handsome plant, it is no longer in favour with us, probably because 
of its tendency to bleed, which prevents its being kept in proper 
trim. 
Plants of the Daphne tribe call up a vision of the nymph 
Daphne, who, fleeing from Apollo, was transformed suddenly into 
one of these, and thus escaped. Did this myth arise out of the 
fact, that, like other evergreens, they can thrive in winter when 
sunshine is scarce ? Hence the Spurge Laurel, with its green, 
slightly fragrant flowers, became a symbol of “ coquetry,” because 
Daphne, first fascinated the deity, then ran away. To the 
Mezereon, said to derive its name from a Persian word, is 
attached the meaning of “a desire to please,” and its early 
array of pink blossoms is a welcome omen of Spring’s approach. 
I wonder the winter-flowering variety is cot more cultivated. 
—J. R. S. C. 
Odontoglossum ceinitum sapphikatum. 
Accoeding to my experience Odontoglossum crinitum and its 
variety sapphiratum are not generally well known in gardens, 
inasmuch as they are seldom seen in ordinary collections of Orchids. 
The type of medium growth, the pseudo-bulbs small and ovoid in 
shape, the leaves long and narrow. The flowers are borne on a 
slightly arching raceme, but are somewhat clustered near the upper 
part. In the variety sapphiratum the spots, of a bright soft bluish 
purple tint, are shown up most clearly on a white or light ground ; 
the sepals, petals, and lip being long, tapering to a twisted point ; 
the sepals and petals narrow, and nearly equal in size, the lip being 
triangular at the base.—C. B. 
[The illustration (fig. 22) represents Odontoglossum crinitum 
sapphiratum, which is a graceful Orchid, and, as our correspondent 
remarks, apparently “ not generally known in gardens.”] 
Dendeobium Hildebeandi. 
Accoeding to the “ Kew Bulletin ” this handsome species was 
collected in the Shan States by H. H. Hildebrand, Esq., in 
April, 1893, and sent to Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., of Clapton, 
together with living plants, which flowered in their establishment a 
year later. It has the general habit of a strong D. signatum, 
Rchh.f., to which it is perhaps most allied. The sepals and petals 
are somewhat twisted as in D. tortile, Lindl., though their shape 
and colour are quite different. The sepals and petals are very 
light whitish yellow, and the lip deep orange-buff with a broad 
light yellow margin. Mr. Hildebrand collected three different 
forms—one with sepals and petals pale green and lip sulphur 
yellow, one with sepals and petals creamy pink and the lip yellow, and 
a third like the last, with the addition of two dark chocolate 
blotches in the throat. He observes that it grows in magnificent 
huge masses, and on one of the plants he counted upwards of 
1500 blooms. The old pseudo-bulbs show it to be as floriferous as 
D. nobile, Lindl. 
Dendeobium hamatitm. 
This is a very distinct species which flowered in the establish¬ 
ment of M. Alexandre Regnier, of Eontenay-sous-bois, Seine, 
France, in April last, having been introduced by him from Cochin 
China. The “ Kew Bulletin ” says it belongs to the section 
Pedilonum, but, so far as can be ascertained, is very different from 
any described species. The sepals and petals are very light whitish 
yellow, with several broad stripes composed of innumerable purple 
dots more or less suffused together. The pandurate lip is light 
yellow with a faint purple stain on the middle of the front lobe. 
The callus of the lip is peculiar, being a kind of boat-like extension 
of the conduplicate sides of the unguis, and is stained with purple 
in the cavity. The name is given in allusion to the shape of the 
mentnm. 
Odontoglossum Rossi majus. 
This is a useful and effective Orchid when well grown, but 
there are many persons who do not succeed with it so well as a 
FIG. 22.— ODONTOGLOSSUM CEINITUM BAPPHIEATUM, 
gardener with whom I am acquainted. Plants that have been 
suspended at the warmest end of the Odontoglossum house since 
they flowered in October last have completed their growth. At 
this season they are liable to start again unless they are removed to 
the coolest end of the house, or better still to a very cool airy 
position. This will retard them. They must still be liberally 
supplied with water and shaded from bright sunshine. I have 
found that no injury results from suspending them under the shade 
of Vines, where the ventilators are open day and night. On 
established plants an autumn growth is not desirable, and may with 
a little care be prevented. It is clear that this variety will bear 
without injury a very low temperature. 
When a succession of flowers is required over a lengthened 
period of time some must be pushed into growth in a warmer 
atmosphere than is necessary for the general stock. The only 
drawback to this is the liability of the plants to make a second 
