411 
May  17,  1900.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Fig.  111. — Odontoglossdm  crispdm  aureum  rosefibldiense. 
flowers.  Such  a  case  came  un<^er  my  notice  recently,  when  some  fine 
old  clumps  of  Dendrobium  nobi  e  were  being  pulled  apart  for  propa¬ 
gating  purposes.  Although  exceptionally  good  growth  had  been  made, 
the  roots  had  not  that  hard  appearance  which  denotes  health  and 
ability  to  stand  a  check  from  disturbance,  and  the  plants  are  now 
breaking  very  weakly. 
Instead  of  giving  new  material  these  plants  had  been  treated  to 
occasional  doses  of  weak  soot  and  guano  water,  and  it  has  not  served 
its  purpose.  Had  the  plants  been  repotted  a  couple  of  years  ago  all 
would  now  have  been  well,  and  much  of  the  new  compost  would  have 
adhered  to  the  roots  when  these  were  moved,  serving  to  re-establish 
them  in  the  new  quarters.  As  it  is  the  old  peat  was  tainted  and  black 
looking,  and  it  would  not  have  been  good  policy  to  have  placed  it  in 
the  new  pots. 
Feeding  in  my  opinion,  and  according  to  my  experience,  must 
never  be  made  to  take  the  place  of  new  material.  If  it  does,  however 
good  the  result  may  be  for  a  time,  the  plants  will  be  worse  for  it 
when  repotting  again  becomes  necessary.  There  are  many  instances 
where  feeding  judiciously  c  irried  out  is  productive  of  much  good. 
Some  of  the  very  finest  Miltonia  vexillaria  I  have  ever  seen  were 
always  given  a  weak  dose  of  liquid  made  from  soot  and  cow  manure 
when  the  spikes  were  expected,  unless  freshly  potted,  and  here  the 
results  fully  justified  the  practice. 
Had  it  been  applied  every  season  instead  of  giving  new  compost, 
there  would  have  been  a  different  tale  to  tell  no  doubt.  So  far  I 
have  not  mentioned  terrestrial  species  such  as  Cypripedium  and  others, 
or  epiphytes  treated  as  terrestrial  like  Thunias  and  some  Calanthes. 
Here  there  is  no  doubt  that  a  little  feeding  has  in  many  cases  helped, 
by  causing  the  plants  to  produce  flowers  of  higher  quality  without 
endangering  the  roots.  But  vigorous  leafage  is  not  always  a  sign  of 
increased  health. — H.  R.  R. 
Odontoglossum  crispum  The  Earl. 
On  page  367  of  our  issue  of  May  3rd  we  gave  a  representation  of 
Odontoglossum  crispum  Victoria  Regina,  from  Mr.  W.  Stevens, 
gardener  to  W.  Thompson,  B,sq.,  Walton  Grange,  Stone,  Staffs,  and 
we  now  present  0.  c.  The  Earl  (fig.  110)  from  the  same  source.  This 
variety  was  shown  at  the  Drill  Hall  on  April  24th,  and  was 
recommended  for  a  first-class  certificate  by  the  Orchid  Committee  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  It  is  one  of  the  handsomest  of  the 
showy  section  of  crispums  that  has  been  exhibited,  and  was  greatlv 
admired  by  everyone  present  at  the  exhibition  on  the  date  named. 
The  ground  colour  is  pure  white,  this  being  almost  obscured  on  the 
sepals  by  brown  ;  the  petals  have  large  blotches  of  similar  colour. 
Odontoglossura  crispum  aureum  rosefieldiense. 
No  two  illustrations  than  that  of  0.  crispum  aureum  rosefieldiense 
(fig.  Ill),  and  0.  c.  The  Earl  (fig.  110),  could  better  illustrate  the 
variiiig  c^'aracters  of  form  and  colour  in  this  popular  Orchid.  Mr.  de 
Barri  Crawshay,  Rosefield,  Sevenoaks,  is  to  be  congratulated  once 
asain  on  having  brought  forward  one  of  the  most  refined  varieties  of 
0.  crisputn  that  has  ever  been  shown.  Tne  Orchid  Committee  at  the 
Dii  1  Hall  on  May  8th  recommended  a  first-class  certificate,  and  the 
honour  has  rarely  been  better  deserved.  In  shape  the  flower  is 
practically  per'ect,  as  also  is  it  in  substance.  It  is  rather  small,  but 
the  excellent  culture  to  which  the  Rosefield  Orchids  are  subjected  will 
probably  make  a  difference  in  this  dinction  in  the  course  of  a  year  or 
two.  The  prevailing  colour  is  soft  canary  yellow,  there  only  being  a 
little  white  at  the  base  of  the  petals. 
Vanda  teres. 
This  Vanda  is  very  beautiful  when  grown  under  proper  conditions, 
but  old  leggy  plants  6  leet  or  8  feet  high,  with  pale  washed-out 
loi'kiog  flowers,  are  ju>t  the  reverse.  In  most  collections  where  it  is 
really  well  done  a  house  or  compartment  is  d.  voted  to  it,  or  at  least 
any  other  species  therein  grown  are  made  to  conform  to  its  treatment. 
kind,  and  the  cutting  down  system  is  not  so  suitable  for  them ;  but  a  pole 
or  trellised  block  placed  in  the  centre  of  a  pot  or  bisket  and  covered 
with  moss  strikes  a  happy  medium  between  the  two  sy^ terns,  and  is 
often  successlul.  The  roots  have  the  chance  of  entering  the  moss  and 
thus  strengthening  the  growth.  Always  choose  the  warmest  house 
at  command  for  it,  and  there  is  perhaps  no  other  Vanda  that  requires 
so  much  sun. 
Cattleya  Lawrenceana. 
There  are  few  more  showy  or  beautiful  Cattleyas  than  this,  its  fine 
rose  and  crimson- nurple  blossoms,  so  freely  produced,  making  the 
plant  a  favourite  everywhere.  Fortunately  it  is  reasonable  in  price  ; 
it  is  also  of  simple  culture,  provided  the  atmospheric  conditions  of  the 
house  are  right.  It  likes  far  more  sunlight  than  the  majority  of 
Cattleyas,  and  also  if  convenient  a  little  more  heat,  though  if  this  is 
not  easily  arranged  for  it  gets  along  fairly  well  with  other  kinds.  No 
one  need  fear  to  buy  it,  as  it  is  bound  to  please  them  when  it  flowers. 
Feeding  Orchids. 
Probably  there  are  many  cases  where  a  little  manuring  of  Orchids, 
even  of  an  epiphytal  character  may  do  good,  but  there  are  many 
others  where  it  certainly  does  harm  eventually,  though  for  a  time 
the  plants  appear  to  be  luxuriating  in  fine  foliage  and  handsome 
Pig.  110. — OnoNTOGLOssuM  crispum  The  Earl. 
The  plants  are  frequently  cut  down  and  re-rooted,  so  that  instead  of 
the  upper  tier  of  ruots  rambling  about  in  an  atmosphere  more  or  less 
unsuitable  to  them,  they  have  the  choice  of  compost  or  air.  -  -- 
1  But  there  are,  of  course,  many  growers  wuth  a  representative 
collection  who  do  not  wish  to  grow  a  largo  number  of  any  individual 
