August 2S, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
171 
Cattle yA Eldorado. 
Although introduced upwards of a quarter of a century ago 
this fine Cattleya has never become really popular. It is difficult 
to account for this, as it is certainly not inferior to others that find 
more favour in collections. When well managed it produces its 
flowers freely in summer upon the current year’s growth, as 
C. Gaskelliana and C. aurea. Like the latter kind it requires more 
heat than the majority of Cattleyas, and must be kept rather drier 
during the resting period with a corresponding lowering of the 
temperature. Every effort should be made to secure well ripened 
pseudo-bulbs, and to keep these dormant until the increased heat 
and light in the spring causes them to break strongly. Plants that 
are growing slowly all through the dark 
winter months never flower satisfactorily, 
and usually fall victims to the unsightly 
■pot so common in badly managed 
Cattleyas. We should hear much less of 
this disease if growers would take more 
care to ripen the growth as it is being 
made, and to avoid exciting the plants 
during their natural time of rest. It is 
not well either to go to the other extreme 
and treat the plants to too little heat, 
for, as I have before mentioned in these 
pages, no Cattleya can endure a tem¬ 
perature much below 50° with impunity. 
The typical C. Eldorado is dwarf and 
sturdy in habit, and bears flowers as large 
as the ordinary kinds of C. labiata. The 
sepals and petals are of differing shades 
of pink or rose, slightly serrated at the 
edges; the fine broad lip has a dense 
yellow blotch in the throat, the side lobes 
folding over the column white, the front 
lobes lightly fringed at the edges, and 
in colour bright crimson. The variety 
rosea is deeper in colour than the type ; 
crocata lighter, with deep orange throat ; 
virginalis is a beautiful variety, pure 
white with the exception of the yellow 
blotch on the lips ; splendens or majus 
is larger in all its parts than the type 
but similar in colour. 
Cypripedium Chamberlainianum. 
As this species becomes better known 
its merits as a free flowering and useful 
Orchid are more apparent. It is certainly 
one of the most important additions to 
the genus that has been introduced for 
years, and all who have grown and 
flowered it are warm in its praise. In 
habit it is somewhat similar to the old 
C. villosum, and it appears to be quite as 
free in growth and even more floriferous 
than this well known and handsome kind. 
It thrives in an intermediate or Cattleya 
temperature in a compost similar to that 
generally used for this class, i e , equal 
parts of peat, loam, fibre, and chopped sphagnum, with abundance 
of nodules of charcoal, potsherds, or similar incompressible material 
added. It is too early to say whether or not this Orchid will thrive 
in a lower temperature, as all who have grown it have naturally 
been anxious to increase the size of their plants as rapidly as 
possible, and for this reason most growers have kept their plants 
in a warm house. All who have visited the principal exhibitions 
are by this time familiar with the flowers of this superb plant, 
but a short description may not be unwelcome to those readers 
who have not had an opportunity of seeing them. 
The spikes are vigorous, and produce successionally from six to 
ten flowers, each from 4 to 5 inches across. The lower part of 
the dorsal sepal is heavily streaked with dark brown ; the upper 
portion is light green, paling towards the margin and apex to 
nearly white. The petals are 2 inches in length, in colour light 
green, plentifully spotted with brown. They are undulating, and 
bear numerous very fine hairs upon the edges. The pouch is very 
prominent, large, rosy pink, with numerous small deep crimson 
spots. Should the plant prove to be as easily managed as it at 
present appears C. Chamberlainianum will eventually take its 
place as one of the most popular of this favourite genus. 
Cytripedidm (Selenipedium) Pearcei. 
If this Orchid could be more easily flowered there is no doubt 
it would become a very popular kind, owing to its distinct 
appearance and the length of time it remains in blossom. I saw it 
recently in good condition with Mr. A. Robey at Horsham Cliff. 
It begins to produce its flowers when the spikes are less than a foot 
high, and continues to do so until they have attained a length of 
over 2 feet; each flower lasts a considerable time in full beauty. 
The dorsal and lower sepals are three-quarters of an inch in width, 
light green ; the petals are drooping, 4 inches in length, wavy, 
light green, margined and tipped with rosy pink ; the pouch is 
similar in ground colour, with flexuous darker lines, spotted inside 
with brown and dark green. The growths occur about 2j inches 
apart on the rhizome ; the leaves are deep green, arching, 15 inches 
in length, and about half an inch wide. This species thrives in the 
FIG. 25.—l^lio-cattleya broomfieldensis. 
Cattleya house, but in order to induce it to flower it is necessary to 
give it a couple of months’ rest in a cool house, and, unlike the 
majority of Cypripediums, a slight drying appears to be an 
advantage. When introduced again to heat flower spikes will 
probably be produced. It is a species not commonly met with, 
but one that is worthy of every care.—H. E. R. 
STRAWBERRIES IN 1894. 
The season here has been a disappointing one. After a winter that 
tried the plants much and left them very few green strong leaves, they 
started in excellent condition, and the promise of fruit was good. The 
early sorts were forward, Laxton’s No. 1 being ten to fourteen days 
before any other kind in flower. Then came the principal blossoms on 
the later varieties, when the great frost sadly marred the prospect. 
Happily our plantations did not suffer severely, owing, we think, to a 
thick cloud covering when the sun arose, and only could an occasional 
blackened centre be found on the plants. The low temperature of 
many May and June days and nights, together with the heavy rainfall, 
however, crippled the fruits, and they swelled unevenly, most of the 
early berries being unshapely. A finer time set in for the second 
early varieties, when the wet came on again, and the last crop which 
promised so well was spoiled. As your correspondent, Mr. Jenkins 
(page 169), says, the season has not been without its lessons, and the 
notes appended may prove interesting. Flavour, as a natural con¬ 
sequence, was not remarkable in any sort, but La France, Edouard 
