June 9, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
653 
NEW BOOKS. 
A Manual of Orchidaceous Plants.* 
The third part of this useful work includes the large 
and important genus Dendrobium, together with the 
allied, but smaller and less important genera Bulbo- 
phyllum and Cirrhopetalum. The Dendrobiums, as 
might be expected, occupy the greater portion of this 
part of the work ; but although some 300 distinct 
species are known to science, the manual professes to 
describe only those kinds, together with garden and 
supposed natural hybrids, which are generally cultivated 
under glass by amateurs in this country, and therefore 
possessing some horticultural value. Thus we have 
only full descriptions of 100 species of Dendrobium 
(about one-third of the whole), independently of 
varieties and hybrids ; but while clearly the work has 
been prepared in the interest of the amateur, it can 
hardly fail to be of service to botanical science, as for 
this purpose, although the species with their descrip¬ 
tions, history, and other matters relating thereto are 
arranged alphabetically for the sake of convenience 
and handy reference, a scientific system of classification 
is adopted, by which the natural affinities of the 
different species under cultivation may readily be 
recognised. This is of some importance to the grower 
even, as natural groups, with some exceptions perhaps, 
require similar treatment. The system of classification 
adopted is that given in the Genera Plantarum by 
Bentham and Hooker, while in the nomenclature of 
species the authors adhere to the law promulgated at 
the International Botanical Congress, held in Paris in 
1867. 
Of the seven sections into which this genus is divided 
by Bentham, it is remarkable that the greater number 
of garden Dendrobes are confined to the fifth and last 
sections, both of which are of considerable size and 
again divided into sub-sections. There are few repre¬ 
sentatives of the five other botanical sections in gardens, 
and fewer of them are described in the text of this 
work ; but we are surprised to find that D. Ccelogyne, 
belonging to the section Sarcopodium, is not described 
in the text, as it is really a good thing, though very 
rare in gardens. The section Stachyobium is an ex¬ 
tensive one: but only one of its sub-sections contains 
really beautiful and valuable garden plants, such as 
D. speciosum, giving the name Specios® to the group, 
and containing such handsome things as D. bigibbum, 
D. Phalienopsis, D. superbiens, and D. macrophyllum 
Veitchianum. The type of the latter species is not yet 
in cultivation. The seventh division—namely, Euden- 
drobium—contains by far the largest number and the 
most handsome of the species in cultivation. Four out 
of the five sub-sections of this last division are Pycno- 
staehyese, represented by D. secundum, Formosee by 
D. formosum, Calostachyeae by D. fimbriatum, D. 
Brymerianum, &c., and Fasciculata by D. nobile, 
D. ochreatum, &c. In the text all are arranged alpha¬ 
betically, but each is referred to the particular division 
and sub-division of the genus to which it belongs. The 
garden hybrids are described separately at the end of 
the species, as in the case of the Odontoglossums, 
Cattleyas, and Lselias. It is interesting to note that 
only one undoubted natural hybrid is acknowledged to 
exist—namely, D. crassinodiAVardianum. 
Of the eighty or more species of Bulbophyllum 
known to science, seven have been described, together 
with their leading varieties. Considering the unorna¬ 
mental and inconspicuous character of the Bulbo- 
phyllums generally, it is not surprising that the greater 
part of them have been omitted or altogether ignored 
in a work that addresses itself to amateurs only. 
Those, moreover, which are described are large and 
really ornamental garden plants. The least conspicuous 
is B. barbigerum, but withal a most singular and in¬ 
teresting plant, owing to the curious black beard of 
clavate hairs with which the lip is furnished, and which 
causes it to vibrate or move up and down with the least 
breath of air. Of the thirty known species of the 
allied genus, Cirrhopetalum, seventeen are recorded as 
having been introduced to cultivation at one time or 
other, and eight are here described, all of which are 
extremely interesting, and not devoid of ornamental 
features. 
General directions are given for the cultivation, 
watering, ventilation, shading and potting requisite for 
Dendrobiums as well as the temperature at which the 
houses should be kept. With regard to the climate 
and rainfall of the countries from which the greater 
number of the cultivated species come some interesting 
information is given. Under natural conditions they 
* A Manual of Orchidaceous Plants, Cultivated under Glass 
in Great Britain. Part iii., Dendrobium, Bulbophyllum, and 
Cirrhopetalum. James Veiteh & Sons. King’s Road, Chelsea. 
enjoy a high temperature with a heavy rainfall, 
rendering the atmosphere almost continually in a 
saturated condition, with the exception of Australia, 
where the climate is generally very dry. The greatest 
rainfall recorded is 600 ins. in the Khasia Hills, a 
statement that furnishes evidence of the kind of treat¬ 
ment to be followed in cultivation. Two excellent 
maps represent the distribution of the species, which is 
rather limited for such a vast genus. The names of 
the species are printed in blue ink over the localities 
as nearly as possible from whence they are reported as 
having been introduced. The richest district is that 
of Moulmein, from whence alone forty-three species are 
recorded as occurring over a comparatively limited 
area. 
Handbook of the Amaryllideal * 
This excellent work, which embodies the notes and 
experience gained by the author during the last twenty - 
three years in his office as first assistant at the Her¬ 
barium, Kew, and which comprises Narcissus, Agave, 
Hippeastrum, Amaryllis, Crinum,H 0 emanthus,Bomarea, 
Urceolina, Nerine, Galanthus, and Hymenocallis, as 
well as the smaller sections associated with them, will 
be hailed with pleasure by a large number of growers 
and students of the hitherto much confused Amaryl- 
lidese. With the sections having but few species 
under them, and those well defined, the work is not 
difficult, but in scanning the Crinums especially, the 
difficulty of the work and the clever, lucid manner in 
which the author has dealt with it by dividing it into 
sub-genera is apparent. This method, which is followed 
in all the largely represented groups, is of the highest 
service as a means of facilitating identification, both 
to the gardener and the botanist, and while com¬ 
mending the patient and clever author for the admirable 
work he has given us, we heartily recommend it to all 
who are interested in the lovely Amaryllidese, or in 
any section of it. 
-~>X<~- 
ORCHID DOTES ADD GLEADIDGS. 
Cattleyas at Rosefield, Sevenoaks, 
The species in flower at present are, of course, C. Mossise 
and Mendelii. Great attention is bestowed upon them 
by Mr. De B. Crawshay, who selects and retains 
the best only as they come into flower. Some of these 
fine forms are named, while others are not, and we 
noted a fine form of C. Mossiae with warm rose sepals 
and petals, and altogether with the lip of good outline. 
Compared with this, however, C. Mossiae grandis was 
an immense flower, with a finely crisped and undulated 
margin to the lip, while the colours were also pleasingly 
blended. C. Mossiae pulcherrima was notable for the 
broad white finely undulated margin to the lip, while 
C. Mossiae callistoglossa stood out prominently, on 
account of the great size and breadth of its purple, rose 
and white lip. The variety called C. Mossiae rosea is 
well-named on account of the sepals, petals, and tube 
of the lip being of a beautiful soft rose. The lamina 
of the lip, on the contrary, is almost white with an 
orange throat. The varieties of C. Mendelii were 
equally varied and even more charming. Foremost 
amongst these we must place C. Mendelii, Rosefield 
variety, which, although it has not yet been established 
12 months, has developed flowers of princely proportions 
and great promise when it gains strength. The lip is 
of unusual width, deeply bifid, finely fringed, folded 
inwards, in bud, and intensely coloured, the tube ex¬ 
ternally, however, being white. The sepals and petals 
are also white and of great breadth. The column is also 
notable for its size, and altogether it is a grand variety. 
The lip is usually the last organ of the flower to lose 
its colour, but in C. M. leucoglossa the sepals and 
petals are rosy blush, while the lip is white with a 
yellow blotch in the throat. An unnamed variety had 
rosy sepals and petals, suffused with a peculiar slate- 
coloured tint. The lip was dark, and altogether the 
variety was distinct and interesting. To our taste, 
however, C. M. marginata was the most charming of 
the Cattleyas in flower. The sepals and petals are pale 
in colour ; but the lamina of the lip is of a deep 
magenta-purple, exquisitely filled and curled, with a 
broad rose margin round the opening of the tube, which 
is pure white in the throat. 
L/elias at Rosefield. 
The collection of Lielia purpurata flowering here when 
we visited the place the other day was something grand. 
A noticeable variety of L. grandis must not, however, 
be overlooked, as the sepals and petals were of a deep 
* Handbook of the Amaryllide.e.— Including Alstroemeriese, 
and Agaveae, By J. G. Baker, F.R.S., F.L.S. London: George 
Bell & Sons. 
orange-amber colour, instead of pale nankeen-yellow. 
The lip was white, with lilac and purple veins all over 
its lamina. It cannot, however, be compared to L. 
purpurata and its numerous forms, which stand almost 
unrivalled for exhibition purposes. A large plant of 
L. alba bore ten spikes of flowers, which will be fine in a 
few days. Another plant, however, showed the sepals 
and petals to be pure white, contrasting finely with 
the lip with its richly-coloured lamina. The pseudo¬ 
bulbs, sheaths, and leaves of the plant were of enormous 
size. 
Another unnamed form had the sepals and petals reti¬ 
culated with purple, and with the purple lines radiating 
over the orange ground colour of the tube was very 
distinct. Some admire the intensely coloured varieties, 
while others like to see the chaste and pleasing colours, 
and Mr. De B. Crawshay is the proud possessor of two 
varieties in which these extremes are exhibited. The 
dark one is unnamed, but has nine leading growths, 
and the lip is intense purple, with the same rich tint 
extending almost to the base externally. Internally, 
however, the purple lines on the orange ground main¬ 
tain the sway, and are very well defined. The light- 
coloured variety is L. p. Russelliana, and one plant 
measured 38 ins. from the surface of the soil to the top 
of the flowers. The spathe alone was 10 ins., and one 
spike carried six flowers. The sepals and petals are 
pure white, while the lamina of the lip is pink, with 
rosy veins, and having a rosy purple zone round the 
base of the lamina. Two other large plants with rather 
better defined colours, white on the outer surface of 
the tube of the lip, and striated internally with fine 
purple lines on a white ground, enjoy the name of the 
Rosefield variety of L. p. Russelliana. One plant bore 
six flowers, and another had eight. 
A Spotted Miltonia vexillaria. 
There is a fine specimen of this Orchid in flower at 
Devonhurst, Chiswick. The flowers are almost of a 
uniform pale rose, with the exception of the large 
golden yellow disk and the red lines radiating from it. 
Small white spots are distributed over this rose ground, 
and provided the latter had been several shades deeper, 
the spotting would have been brought out more 
prominently. It is no accidental occurrence, as the 
markings were precisely similar last year. The plant 
is grown in a pot, and has thirty-seven spikes, carry¬ 
ing in the aggregate 130 flowers. It yearly increases 
in size and the number of flowers it bears, and seeing 
that it has been in flower for some time past, while 
other plants in the same house and under similar 
conditions will not bloom for some time to come, it 
must be considered as an early variety. "When isolated, 
so as to exhibit its individual beauty, . it may be 
imagined what a fine effect is produced by 130 flowers 
of good average size. Another variety in flower is 
chiefly notable for the great size of its blooms, which 
measure 4f ins. across from the apex of the upper sepal 
to the tip of the lip. The latter organ alone is 2J ins. 
long and 3 ins. broad. 
Naming Hybrid Orchids. 
In your note accompanying the illustration of Cypri- 
pedium, Mrs. Canham, at p. 632, you take occasion 
to comment upon the system of giving popular names 
to hybrid Orchids. So far as giving what are termed 
fancy names to plants of such origin, I am prepared to 
go with you, although I think the old system of 
naming did no harm, so long as the explanatory x was 
attached to it ; but I must certainly protest against 
naming these plants after men and women, unless we 
discontinue recording the crosses. Otherwise the least 
imaginative individual among us may readily foresee 
complications which it would not be delicate to print. 
Continue to name these things after men and women, 
and continue their indiscriminate intercrossing, and 
the records of the same will, in time, be worthy 
of Bedlam. I might give a few examples, but 
anyone can easily supply them for himself .—James 
O’Brien. 
Orchids from Longfords. 
A box of Orchid flowers has reached us from Mr. W. 
Driver, Longfords, Mincliinliampton, simply packed 
with rare or beautiful forms of Cattleya, Dendrobium, 
and Brassia. The lateral sepals of Brassia verrucosa 
were 6 ins. in length, and all were beautifully marked at 
the base, but especially the basal third of the petals. 
The green warts on the white labelliun were also very 
prominent. Two varieties of Cattleya Mendelii were 
very charming, one of them having warm rose sepals 
and petals, with a fine blotch on the lip. The other 
variety was very chaste indeed, with blush sepals and 
petals, together with a magnificent lip, the tube of 
