396 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 22 , 1890. 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Orchid Growers 1 Calendar. 
Now that the sun is gaining power, it is necessary to 
see that all the shadings are made ready, so that they 
can be used as soon as they become necessary, for while 
some Orchid houses are situated in such positions as to 
render their use unnecessary for the present, yet there 
are many others more favourably situated away from 
the smoke-laden atmosphere, where pure air and 
sunlight abounds. If the houses have been recently 
cleaned and the roof-glass washed, it will be found 
quite necessary to use the shades shortly on houses 
running east and west, if only for an hour in the 
brightest pare of the daj 1 -, to shade the side, which of 
course faces south. The cultivator must be guided by 
the contents of the houses as to whether they really 
require shading at present. 
The house in which the Phaltenopsids grow wants 
the greatest amount of shade, and though the majority 
of Cattleyas would be all the better for being exposed 
to the sun for the present, yet it often happens that in 
collections of moderate size the Cattleya house has to 
fulfil the purpose of being an intermediate house 
between cool house and Cattleya house proper, so as 
to contain Miltonia vexillaria, in quantity; Masdevallia 
Chimtera, M. bella, M. Baekhouseana, some of the 
warmer Odontoglossums, and a great variety of plants 
unable to bear the same amount of sunlight as the 
Cattleyas would enjoy. It is therefore advisable to 
put the Cattleyas on the sunny, and the others on the 
shady side. 
Our cool or Odontoglossum house is one of Foster 
and Pearson’s span roofs, running north and south, and 
whatever may be said to the contrary it is far better 
adapted for growing cool Orchids than the old- 
fashioned lean-to houses facing north, which were once 
thought so essential to the well-being of Masdevallias 
and Odontoglossums. In the latter class of houses 
the plants grew fairly well in summer, but had a dull 
and dreary time of it during the winter mouths, and 
seldom flowered so freely as they ought ; whereas by 
giving them a good span roof the growths made at 
mid-winter are sturdy, and when the plants have 
attained flowering size they may be depended on to 
throw up flower spikes. At least seventy-five per cent, 
will do so under ordinary treatment. 
Keen east winds are proverbially bad for man and 
beast, and we may, with truth, add Orchids as well. 
Therefore,' during their prevalence the ventilators on 
that side of the house should be kept closed ; in fact, if 
the laps between the glass are as clean as they should 
be, they will afford a good amount of ventilation, and 
if the sun be very bright and the wind frosty or cold 
at the same time, it is far better to let down the blinds 
to keep down the temperature than to admit the 
chilling air in any quantity. I always consider the 
early part of the year the most trying to an Orchid 
grower. I admit that it is also to fruit growers 
during the time when cold wind and bright sunshine 
alternate, but while the fruit grower has the airing and 
heating to attend to, the orchid grower has the shading 
in addition. Damping down is a very essential thing 
during the time drying winds and bright sun prevail, 
but the houses ought not to be kept constantly charged 
with moisture so early in the season, for it is not wise 
to unduly excite such plants as have not enjoyed the 
periodical rest. Temperature of East India house— 
60° to 65° at night, 70° in the day, and 75° by sun 
heat. Cattleya or intermediate house—55° at night, 
and 60° in the day. Odontoglossum house—45° at 
night, and 50° in the day. — TV. P. 
DENDROBIUM NOBILE GIGANTEUM. 
Two fine plants of this form are now in flower at 
Castle Hill Gardens, Englefield Green. These were 
purchased by Mr. Raphael last summer, and have made 
fine new bulbs. The flowers have appeared very 
numerously on the imported bulbs, the blooms being 
much larger than on any other form I have seen. Each 
portion of the flower is broad and well proportioned, 
and the colour is of a most intense description. The 
base of the sepals and petals is white, but for a good 
half of each limb the bright rosy purple reminds me of 
the colour of D. n. nobilius. This latter also is in flower; 
the colour of this spreads over the whole of the blooms 
—a most lovely thing. 
CCELOGYNE CRISTATA. 
I SAW excellently flowered specimens of these, for the 
size of them, a few days ago in the gardens of Mrs. 
Saunders, Lower Soughton, Northop, Flintshire. 
They were growing in teak baskets suspended from the 
roof of a hip-span house, and even with the line of 
sight. They had from thirty to forty spikes, some with 
as many as six flowers on a spike, and it was estimated 
that they averaged five. Mr. Price, the gardener, 
informed me that they were better last year, and a 
comparison of the growth of the two seasons bore out 
the truth of the statement. It is-intended to give 
them more room, and place them in pans this season. 
— IV. E. 
Orchids at The Briars, Reigate. 
Considering the number of Orchids in this varied 
and interesting collection, in which W. L. Barclay, Esq., 
and his gardener, Mr. Bailey, take such pleasure, it is 
not surprising that there are at the present time an 
unusual number of plants in flower. Noticeable among 
them are Lselia superbiens, with three long racemes of 
flower ; Dendrobium Wardianum and D. crassinode, 
with long bulbs freely flowered ; good specimens of 
Dendrobium nobile; large specimens of Ccelogyne 
mistata and the variety C. Lemoniana; Oncidium 
superbiens, very fine ; O. nubigenum, three plants of 
the rarely-seen Odontoglossum roseum, one of which is 
an exceptionally fine variety ; O. Sanderianum, with 
four panicles of flowers, a charming species as seen here ; 
O. maculatum, with four spikes, and a very fine variety ; 
Masdevallia melanopus, well flowered ; and a species of 
Orchid having bulbs resembling Odontoglossum Pes- 
catorei, with panicles of brown and yellow flowers, 
very pretty amongst the others. 
Colax jugosus is grown here in the Odontoglossum 
house, in which it seems to luxuriate. In bud are 
Dendrobium aggregatum, with about two dozen spikes ; 
Phajus Wallichii, with a strong growth carrying three 
spikes ; and the rare Oncidium Anthocrene, with a 
spike just opening its curious brown and yellow flowers. 
Amongst others in bloom are Oncidium cucullatum, 
0. eheirophorum, 0. Papilio, and 0. fuscatum ; Odonto¬ 
glossum crispum, 0. Pescatorei, 0. gloriosum, O. 
Andersonianum, 0. triumphans, and 0. Rossii majus ; 
Pilumna nobilis and P. fragrans ; Sophronitis grandi- 
flora, Lycaste Skinneri and L. cruenta, Angnecum 
Leonis, Cypripedium venustum, C. Harrisianum, C. 
villosum, and C. concolor ; Cattleya Trianae, Brassa- 
vola nodosa, Masdevallia bella, M. tovarensis, M. 
Veitchiana, and M. ignea.— C. J. Salter, TVoodhatch 
Lodge. 
PHAL/ENOPSIS Stuartiana. 
In the Orchid collection of J. Powers, Esq., Swanswell, 
Coventry, a superb variety of Phalaenopsis Stuartiana 
is now in bloom, carrying a grand spike of eighty-nine 
exceptionally fine flowers. The leaves of this plant, 
six in number, measure from 15 ins. to 18 ins. long. 
Mr. Stuart, who is the gardener at Swanswell, is a 
very successful grower of Phaltenopsis.— J. McNab. 
Orchids at Crackley Hall Kenilworth. 
It is but a little over two years since J. J. Whalley, 
Esq., turned his attention to the cultivation of Orchids, 
but during that period he has been a most assiduous 
and ardent collector of these lovely gems, commencing 
with the common species; then, step by step, as their 
requirements became better understood, numbers of 
the more choice species and varieties began to find a 
place, giving preference latterly to the most fascinating 
of all Orchids, to my thinking—viz., Cypripedium. To 
those of us who consider that the Orchid stands head 
and shoulders above all other flowers, it is gratifying 
indeed to know that we have in our midst a number of 
young gentlemen who, like Mr. Whalley, with the en¬ 
thusiasm and fervour of youth are turning their attention 
in this direction. This is as it should be—when one 
gives up another takes his place, and so the ranks 
are kept closed. 
Passing through the Cypripedium house I could not 
resist the temptation of noting a few exceedingly 
healthy pieces—viz., C. Measuresianum, a pale variety 
in the way of C. Amesiana aurea; C. Leeanum superbum, 
C. grande, C. turpe, C. tonsum, C. eonohiferum, C. 
insigne Chantini, C. insigne Maulei, and many others 
which space will not admit of my mentioning. 
The Dandrobe section comprises numerous specimens 
of the following, with fine, plump nodes, giving pro¬ 
mise of an enormous wealth of bloom during the 
present and coming month D. Brymerianum, D. 
crassinode, D. Falconeri, D. Farmeri, D. suavissimum, 
D. thyrsiflorum, and the well-known D. Wardianum 
which I regret very much to learn is becoming scarce 
in its native habitat. The little show house is now 
entered, and one is for a moment filled with amaze¬ 
ment, so striking is the display, comprising numerous 
spikes of Lielia anceps Morada, a very fine form; the 
lovely L. furfuracea, with several strong spikes (this 
pretty Ltelia is too seldom met with, and is worthy of a 
place in every collection); Sophronitis, Cattleyas, Den- 
drobiums, Odontoglossums, Oneidiums, Cymbidiums, 
and Lycastes, including L. Skinneri alba, are all arranged 
with admirable taste and care by Mr. Finch, the 
gardener in charge, who deserves much credit for his 
thorough and energetic management.— J. HcXab. 
L/elia autumnalis alba. 
There was a good competition for the fifteen lots of 
this beautiful variety offered for sale at Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris’s Rooms on the 14th inst., and 
which realised a little over £30. The best piece, a fine 
mass of thirty bulbs, was knocked down for 14 guineas. 
Mr. Pechacek, the consignee, guaranteed every bulb 
true to name, and stated that no more plants would be 
sold or sent, because they are not to be found. 
Dimorphism in Cattleya labiata Trian/E. 
We received the other day a scape of this Cattleya 
from Mr. C. Winn, Silly Oak, Birmingham. It bore 
two flowers so distinct from one another that if they 
had been on separate plants, would have been regarded 
as two varieties. The pedicel of the lowest flower had 
remained attached to the axis until it reached the 
apex. The really upper flower, however, extended 
beyond it in the usual way. The sepals, petals, and 
lip of the lower flower were altogether paler than that 
of the other. The chief difference, however, lay in the 
lip, which had a widely expanded lamina and a partly 
open tube, and when spread out flat was roughly 
cordate ; whereas the lamina of the other was small, 
with a closed tube forming a sharp ridge, and when 
flattened was oblong or elliptic. The lip of the lower 
flower also differed most markedly in colour. On the 
upper portion of the lamina were two large purple 
blotches, separated by a white band along the middle, 
while the orange blotch, extending from the throat 
down into the tube, was divided by the same white 
line, on one side of which the colour had faded almost 
to yellow. At the base of the tube were three red 
longitudinal bands. The column bore two anthers from 
its margin at the apex, and a triangular process in 
front of the stigmatic disc, like the support of the third 
anther. The rostellum had become greatly enlarged, 
malformed, and drawn out into points at the ends. 
The really upper flower had a small rich crimsob- 
purple lamina, below which was the usual large, bifid, 
orange blotch. It was, however, quite normal, and 
would have been considered by Orchidophiles as a 
good variety.— J. F. 
Orchids frdm Ravenswood, Melrose. 
From Mr. W. Yea, gardener to Admiral Fairfax, 
we have received a box of Orchid blooms, containing 
amongst others a fine spike of Dendrobium maero- 
phyllum Veitchianum bearing eight of its curious 
flowers. The outer surface of the sepals, the ovary and 
pedicel were densely covered with coarse bristly hairs, 
and spotted with purple. The petals were pale 
yellowish, and in this respect differed from the variety 
proper. The type has deep yellow flowers. The 
lateral lobes of the lip were striped internally with 
purple and spotted on the terminal lobe. It was sent 
home from New Guinea by Admiral Fairfax along with 
the pretty white and purple-throated D. Fytehianum. 
In the box were also two forms of D. bigibbum. The 
lighter ones had the sepals of a pale rosy blush, dark 
magenta-purple petals, and a darker lip, with a trian¬ 
gular, papillose, prominent white crest. The other 
variety was darker in every respect, the lip being 
almost crimson, with a narrow, oblaneeolate crest, and 
in this respect very distinct. A twin-flowered Lycaste 
Skinneri accompanied this interesting consignment. 
Both flowers were of good substance, and the terminal 
one very little smaller than the other. 
-- 
Gardeners’ Improvement Societies. 
Birmingham. 
Several interesting subjects were sent for exhibition at 
the meeting on February 4th, amongst them being fine 
specimens of Cyclamen Charming Bride, a pure white, 
of very dwarf compact habit ; C. atrosanguineum, very 
dark and rich in colour ; and a seedling winged or 
feathered white, distinct in form and very pretty. 
These were sent by Mr. Cooper, gardener to the Right 
Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., and who reports that 
the latter variety comes true from seed. Mr. F. Denning, 
florist, exhibited half a dozen plants of a fine strain of 
whites; and Messrs. Hewitt & Co., nurserymen, sent 
