THE GARDEN ALBUM AND REVIEW . 
13 
first bulb. At this period the plant that has 
just flowered, went ahead of the other seedling, 
and maintained its lead throughout. The 
smaller plant at present has only three very 
small bulbs about the size of peas. 
It will thus be seen that four years and 
nine months elapsed from the time the seed 
was sown until the flowers were produced. 
Although this time will be beaten very easily 
by a great many Odontoglossum hybrids, we 
are of opinion that the Rossi crosses will prove 
to be much slower than the others. The fact 
that the seeds of Rossi are very minute may 
have something to do with the slowness of 
germination.” 
It is perhaps scarcely necessary to say that 
such a unique hybrid was unanimously 
awarded a First Class Certificate by the 
Orchid Committee at Westminster. Two 
days later, however, when exhibited before the 
Manchester Orchid Society, it was still more 
highly honoured with the award of a Gold 
Medal as well as a First Class Certificate from 
the northern specialists. 
The Ripening- of Orchid Seed = Pods.— 
Mrs. Thwaites, of Streatham, one of the 
keenest of lady orchidists, contributes an 
interesting article to the December issue of 
the Orchid Review, on the different periods 
of time it takes some Orchids to mature their 
seed-pods from the time of pollination. 
Amongst the Cattleyas and Laslias, it appears 
to be the rule that the long-stemmed kinds 
ripen their seed-pod more quickly than the 
short-stemmed ones. The time taken by 
different kinds to mature may be tabulated 
thus in months :— 
Cattleya amethystoglossa . 5 
,, Schofeldiana .■. 5^ 
LcetiaCowani . 8 
,, pumila $ x Cattleya Gaskelliana g ... 18 
^ „ 2 X C. gigas $ 18 
Cattleya auvea 2 X Lcelia pumila g . 10 
Cochlioda Noetzliana J xO. crispumg .6 & 6^- 
,, ,, X 0 . Hunnewellianum g 6 
Odont. Harryanum 2 x 0 . Hunnewellianum g 8 
,, ,, 2 X 0 . Wilckeanum g ... 9 
,, ,, 2 X 0. x Adriana g ... n 
,, ,, 2 X 0 . Pescatorei g . 11 
Mrs. Thwaites observes that while many 
Orchids ripen seeds freely, they are useless as 
pollen parents. She has readily set Dendrobium 
cvepidatum on D. Bvymerianum for example, but 
has never succeeded in setting D. Brymerianum 
on D. cvepidatum. D. Brymerianum sets on 
D. atroviolaceum , and on D. fimbriatum , but 
the reverse never takes place ; and once she 
got a pod to set on D. Wavdianum. 
Amongst the Odontoglots, it appears that 
0. Edwardi is readily fertilised with the pollen 
of 0 . Pescatorei , 0 . cvispum , and 0 . Hunne¬ 
wellianum , but as a pollen parent it seems to be 
quite useless. 0. Uro-Skinneri and Cochlioda 
Noetzliana both bear fine seed-pods, but seem 
to have no effect in fertilising the flowers of 
other species. 
Mrs. Thwaites observes another peculiarity. 
Sometimes fine pods form, and when examined 
at the end of twelve months have been found 
quite empty. This has happened with Odonto¬ 
glossum Pescatorei when crossed with 0 . x 
Wilckeanum; and with Oncidium crispum. The 
pollen of Dendrobium Phalanopsis seems to have 
no effect on forms of D. nobile, and Miltonia 
Moreliana also produces useless pods. 
NEW ORCHIDS. 
Bonatea antennifera. —This new and very 
distinct species is now in flower at Kew, 
having been sent from Rhodesia by C. F. H. 
Munroe, Esq. It grows about 3 feet high, and 
has longer leaves, and a looser inflorescence 
than its ally, B. speciosa. The flowers are as 
large as in that species and are green and 
white in colour. The petals are deeply bi¬ 
partite, while the lip is tripartite. (R. A. 
Rolfe, Gardeners' Chronicle , Dec. 30, 1905, 
P . 450). 
Cypripedium insigne “Aberdeen.” —This 
was shown at Westminster by Drewett O. 
Drewett, Esq., Riding Mill-on-Tyne (gr., Mr. 
Renwick). It resembles the “ Harefield Hall ” 
variety of insigne. It is a handsome richly- 
coloured flower having a white upper sepal 
spotted and blotched with rose purple, and 
stained with green towards the base. Award 
of Merit, R.H.S., Dec. 19, 1905. 
Cypripedium X Mary Lee, Drewett’s var. 
Exhibited from the same source as the above 
on Dec. 19. It is a fine cross between 
Arthurianum and Leeanum, and shows its 
parentage clearly. The upper sepal is white 
with lines of purple dots. Award of Merit, 
R.H.S., Dec. 19, 1905. 
Cypripedium tessellatum rubens. —Raised 
by Messrs. Sander & Sons, St. Albans, from 
C. concolor and C. barbatum grandiflorum. A 
very striking hybrid remarkable for its deep 
crimspn-purple colour. A ward of Merit, R.H.S., 
Dec. 19, 1905. 
Cypripedium x Thalia Mrs. Francis 
Wellesley. —Shown by Francis Wellesley 
Esq., Westfield, Woking (gr. Mr. Hopkins). 
It is a cross between a form of insigne and 
“ Baron Schroder .” A fine hybrid with a flattish 
circular white upper sepal, stained with green 
at the base, and lines of rich purple spots 
extending from the base almost to the margin. 
Petals soft yellow tinged and washed with 
brown, the lip being reddish brown, and the 
staminode yellow. First Class Certificate, 
R.H.S., Dec. 19, 1905. 
Lselio = Cattleya Clive, Westonbirt var.— 
A cross between L. prastans magnifica and 
C. Dowiana aurea. Shown by Major Holford, 
Westonbirt (gr., Mr. Alexander). Flowers 
large, bright rose, lip deep crimson in front 
with an orange throat. Award of Merit, R.H.S., 
Dec. 19, 1905. 
