May 14, 1892. 
THK GARDENING WORLD. 
583 
Anemones, and Dandelions to dispute the limit of 
i6,coo feet with the snow. 
“ From 8.000 ft. to 10,000 ft. above sea level, 
Wheat, Barley, and Potatos grow to great perfection, 
while the Oat is a wild weed, giving when ripe a yel¬ 
low tinge to whole mountain ranges where the feet 
of man never tread. 
" The cultivation, such as it is here, is laborious 
enough, and is hardly suited to our European ideas 
of husbandry To scramble over the miles of 
precipitous paths leading to these terraced fields of 
a few yards in breadth seems a day's work in itself ; 
but the merest scratch in the shape of ploughing is 
sufficient, and such is the richness of the soil that no 
manuring is ever necessary to grow heavy crops of 
grain and excellent Potatos, Oca (oxalis), etc. Europe 
has already been indebted to Peru for many valuable 
acquisitions to the field and garden, and there is still 
to be introduced a Potato, unquestionably superior 
as a food to anything of the kind now grown in Britain. 
From i2,ooo ft. to 14,000 ft. altitude barely continues 
to grow luxuriantly, but ceases to mature its grain. 
“The Alfalfa, as it is here called, grown so exten¬ 
sively from the coast up to and over 10,000 ft., is 
really a native of England. The Lucerne (Medicago 
Sativa), so well known to our forefathers, has here 
in Peru become the most productive and nutritious 
of all fodders for cattle. On the mountain plateau, 
w'hich extends for hundreds of miles, the rains seem 
somewhat fitful and uncertain, but not more so than 
in most parts of Australia ; and it is curious to note 
how kindly Australian trees, qhiefly the Eucalypti, 
take to this climate, growing with great luxuriance 
wherever planted. Amongst the rest of the some¬ 
what scanty vegetation here, we observed the Elder, 
and by the watercourses the Alder, both natives of 
Britain. Again, amongst the native trees a very 
beautiful and useful evergreen Willow (Salix 
Humbolatiana) abounds, a tree that would be a 
great acquisition to Ceylon, North Burmah, India, 
etc. We will now pass over these rather grassy 
lands on the eastern side of the Cordilleras (upon 
which llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and sheep seem to 
find ample pasturage), and after a journey of about 
sixty miles N.E. from Tarma, plunge at once into 
the primeval forest, at an altitude of 4,000 ft. 
“ The first thing that struck us was the marvellous 
variety of the gigantic trees. In most other countries 
large groups of the same family are found growing 
up together ; such as Fines in North America, Gums 
in Australia, &c. Here diversity is the rule, and 
seldom do we find two of the same kind growing in 
company—nature delighting rather in variety and 
contrasts—one tree upright as an Areca Palm, 
another sloping over a chasm; one with bark 
smooth as ivory, the next prickly as ‘ Acaciahorrida.' 
Exceptions there are, and one might be seen on 
most river banks, viz., the Balso wood (Ochroma 
piscatoria), as if providentially placed there for the 
natives, who invariably use its remarkably light 
wood for their rafts. The Ochroma has a cotton¬ 
like fruit which might be used for stuffing beds, &c. 
“The graceful Ivory Palm (Phytelephas), may 
also be seen in small groups, indicating the very- 
richest spots of soil. Near to this may be found a 
solitary Cacao (Theobroma), 30 in. to 40 in. in cir¬ 
cumference, and rising to the mature height of 50 ft. 
Coffee of course is not found wild here, but at inter¬ 
vals we came upon gigantic specimens of the Cin¬ 
chona, both Calisaya and Succiruba, 6 ft. in circum¬ 
ference. The Walnut of Peru is frequently seen in 
the Perene Valley, growing to a height of 60 ft. to 
70 ft. Satinwood there isalso, but not the Satinwood 
of Ceylon (Chlcroxylon) ; for though the wood looks 
similar, the family (Ebenacea) is in no way related to 
our Ceylon tree. The indigenous Coca as an under¬ 
growth we rarely came across, except in semi culti¬ 
vated patches. Gigantic Cottons, the Screw Pine 
(Carludovica) from which the famous Panama hat is 
made ; the grand scarlet-flowering Erythrina, and 
another tall and brilliant yellow flowering tree—pro¬ 
bably the Laburnum of Peru—add much to the 
beauty of the scene. Many other leguminous plants 
we also noted, particularly Calliandra and Clitoria. 
“Innumerable Orchids, mosses, and Ferns 
sufficiently indicated the humid nature of the climate, 
and fully satisfied us as to the rainfall. 
“Probably the chief distinguishing feature in 
Peruvian vegetation is that it is an essentially 
flowering and fruit-bearing vegetation, rather than 
the excessive leaf-producing which so distinguishes 
the luxuriant greenery on the Island of Ceylon. 
Peru undoubtedly possesses a richer soil and a 
climate more favourable to fruit bearing; while, 
compared with the massiveness and grandeur of the 
Trans-Andean forest monarchs, the jungles of 
Ceylon are somewhat diminutive. A few plants we 
missed : the beautiful and useful yellow Bamboo is 
not there, nor are the Palmyra, Talipot and Cocoa- 
nut Palms. The Jak and Breadfruit trees might also 
be introduced with great advantage. The cultivated 
grasses of the East, the Guinea and Mauritius grass, 
are here already, but as a nutritious fodder they can¬ 
not be compared with the “ Alfalfa" (Lucerne). Of 
the leaf products, perhaps none are destined to be¬ 
come more important than the Coca (Erythroxylon), 
which is bound to increase in value commercially as 
its undoubted virtues become better known. The 
land we have specially selected on the Perene, as 
hereafter shown, may be said to be the native home 
of this invaluable plant, and as we doubt if it can be 
grown in any other part of the world with equal 
success we would strongly recommend its being 
planted out on an extensive scale to meet the grow¬ 
ing demand. 
“ The various kinds of Rubber found here might 
also be cultivated, or rather planted out, on a large 
scale with much profit and at little cost.' 
As regards Peru as a field for colonization, they 
say :—“ This land of the ancient Inca has such vast 
undeveloped resources, at altitudes and temperatures 
so varied, that people from every known climate 
might here find a congenial home ; and we cannot 
conceive of any healthier, more interesting or 
profitable occupation for European agriculturalists 
with a little capital than might be found on the 
borders of the great grassy pampas, at an altitude 
of 4,000 ft. and upwards, where a mixed cultivation 
might be introduced, including cereals, Potatos, 
and other vegetables, around the homesteads, with 
a field of Coflee or Coca below, all interesting and 
profitable to the grower. 
“ It is only to be regretted that so little is known 
in Lima of these localities, and that the facilities 
for approaching them have hitherto been so in¬ 
different. 
“ With the opening of the Oroya railway, however, 
all this will be changed, and the prospect of success¬ 
ful colonization rendered such as was never before 
possible in Peru. 
“ For trained planters, with a command of labour, 
and judiciously backed by capitalists, we believe, 
there is not in the wide world a better opening than 
in the upper valleys of the Amazon and its Peruvian 
tributaries." 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Cattleya Victoria-regina. 
The pseudo-bulbs of this Cattleya are elongated, 
and somewhat angled and furrowed. The sepals are 
oblong, the lateral ones being falcate, and all are of 
a clear, warm purple. The petals are at least twice 
as broad, oblong-elliptic, and rather darker or richer 
in hue. The three-lobed lip has rounded or blunt 
lateral lobes, enlivened with deep purple, branching 
veins ; the middle lobe is moderate in size, oblate, 
slightly crisped or undulated at the margin, and of a 
deep rich purple. The three-angled column is blush. 
A First-class Certificate was awarded it when shown 
by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, at the Drill 
Hall, on the 3rd inst. 
Phaius Sanderiana. 
The vigour of this Phaius reminds one of P. grandi- 
folius, as the elliptic leaves are very large with three 
to seven strong ribs, and plaited. The flower stem 
is about 3i ft. high, furnished with distant bracts and 
a raceme of flowers at the top ; the latter are of 
large size and bold appearance. Both sepals and 
petals are lanceolate, with long points, and of a warm 
reddish-brown, The tube of the lip externally is 
yellow merging into brownish-purple at the base of 
the lamina, which is white with a purple central 
line ; and the base of the lateral lobes is purple. An 
Award of Merit was accorded it when show-n by 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co. 
Cynorchis flexuosa 
The leaves are radical, linear, strongly three-ribbed, 
and lined with purple on the veins beneath. The 
scape is about 18 in. high, bearing a raceme of few 
flowers at the top. The sepals and petals are 
relatively small, ovate, and green, the latter being 
somewhat paler. The lip is deeply three lobed with 
the middle lobe bifid, and all finely crenate at the 
outer edge, the whole is of a clear yellow, with a 
maroon blotch at the base. Messrs. 1 - Sander 
& Co. exhibited it, and a Botanical Certificate was 
awarded. 
Laelio-Cattleya Phoebe 
Ihis bigeneric hybrid was obtained from Cattleya 
Mossiae, fertilised with the pollen of Ladia cinna- 
barina, and was raised by Mr William Murrav 
The pseudo-bulbs are somewhat peculiar, being 
intermediate between the parents, cylindrical or 
spmdle shaped, and of a shining green The leaves 
are oblong, 6 in. to 10 in in length, recurved or bent, 
rigid, and of a dark green. The plant shown by 
Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Wylam-on-Tyne, at the 
Drill Hall, on the 3rd inst , bore two flowers, but 
will in all probability develop more from a spathe as 
it increases in size and vigour. The sepals are 
oblong-linear and pale orange. The petals are some¬ 
what broader, oblong, finely serrulate on the upper 
half, and similar in colour to the sepals. The lip is 
intermediate in character between those of the 
parents. The tube is paler than the sepals and 
petals and lined with purple on both surfaces ; the 
lamina is strongly undulated as in the case of the 
male parent, crenate, and crimson with buff edges. 
1 he effect of the pollen has been to reduce the width 
of all the segments, while the colour is also that of 
the male parent with exception of the crimson of the 
lamina and the purple lines on the tube. The pollen 
parent then has more effect than that of supplying 
the colour as is usually ascribed to it. A First-class 
Certificate was awarded it. 
Laeiia Latona. 
In general appearance this reminds one of Laelio- 
Cattleya Phoebe, a matter that need not create 
surprise seeing that Laeiia cinnabarina is one of the 
parents in both cases. The hybrid under notice was 
raised from the last named as the seed parent, 
fecundated with the pollen of Laeiia purpurata 
The pseudo-bulbs are fusiform, moderate in length 
and stoutness, and covered with grey sheaths. 
The leaves are lanceolate-oblong, and leathery. The 
sepals are oblong-linear, and bright or clear yellow . 
The petals on the contrary are oblanceolate-oblong, 
twice as broad, and suffused or veined with buff on 
an orange-yellow ground. The lip is narrow' and 
tubular, yellow at the base and bright purple 
upwards both internally and externally. The sides 
of the lamina are strongly undulated, almost closing 
the mouth of the tube, a peculiarity derived from the 
male parent ; the tip of the lamina is yellow and the 
base of the tube internally is lined with purple on a 
pale yellow ground. A First-class Certificate was 
awarded it when shown by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
Chelsea, at the Drill Hall on the 3rd inst. 
Cattleya Philo albifiora 
The sepals of this hybrid are linear-oblong, the 
petals lanceolate, and all are white. The lip is also 
white with exception of some purple lines in the 
tube, a large, pale yellow, diverging blotch in the 
throat, and a purple band across the middle of the 
lamina. Cattleya Philo as well as the variety under 
notice was obtained from C Mossiae crossed with C 
iricolor, and the difference between the two may be 
ascertained by reference to C. Philo, p. 553 An 
Award of Merit was accorded it when shown by 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. 
Eriopsis biloba 
In general aspect this Orchid is very pretty. It has 
ovoid, elongated, and somewhat curved pseudo-bulbs 
about 3 in. long. The scape arising from the base of 
it, attains a height of 2 ft. to zl ft., bearing a raceme 
of bloom at the top. The flowers are moderate in 
size, with oblong yellow sepals, suffused with orange 
brown at the edges. The petals are narrower and 
much darker in colour, especially at the edges. The 
lip is pale buff yellow', densely and finely speckled all 
over and lined with purple ; the middle lobe is very 
small, bifid and pale yellow, with a few purple blotches 
at the base. A Botanical Certificate was awarded it 
when shown at the Drill Hall on the 3rd inst. by 
Messrs. Charlesworth, Shuttleworth & Co., Heaton, 
Bradford, and Park Road, Clapham. 
Pleurothallis Colibri 
Several of the small-flowered species of Pleurothallis 
are extremely interesting as well as pretty in a col¬ 
lection of Orchids, notwithstanding their small size. 
The space they occupy is comparatively nothing, as 
they can be suspended from the roof in large 
numbers out of the way of the stronger growing sub¬ 
jects. The flow ers of the species above named just 
