June  21,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
523 
Dendrobium  Dalhou-nobile. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  committees  of  the  Roj’-al  Horticultural 
Society,  held  in  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  5th  inst.,  Orchids  were  not  very 
numerous  ;  indeed,  they  were  not  expected  to  bo,  following  so  closely 
upon  the  Temple  Show.  Tliere  were,  however,  several  pi  mts  of 
exceptional  interest,  and  amongst  these  must  bo  included  the  hybrid 
Dendrobium  Ualhou-nobile,  of  which  a  flower  is  represented  in  the 
illustrathm  (fig.  141).  It  will  be  seen  that  in  the  new  comer,  whose 
parentage  is  made  quite  clear  in  the  specific  name,  wo  have  the  colour 
and  size  of  a  good  variety  of  1).  nobile,  while  the  presence  of  D. 
Dalhousianum  is  shown  in  the  flattened  lip  and  the  strength  of  the 
plants.  D.  Daihou-nobile  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  \V.  H.  White, 
gardener  to  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart,  Ibirford  Lodge,  Dorking,  and 
was  recommended  for  an  award  of  merit  by  the  Orchid  Committee. 
Cattleya  cltrlna. 
Wk  have  few  Cattleyas  that  vary  so  little  in  colour  as  this  fragrant 
species.  The  only  variations  I  have  seen  are  a  whitish  margin  to  the 
lip  in  some  flowers,  and  a  dull  browny  tinge  to  the  petals  in  others. 
This  may  be  owing  to  the  absence  of  bright  colours  on  the  labellum, 
as  when  growing  wild  bees  and  other  insects  are  attracted  by  these 
colours  on  many  varieties  and  cross  fertilisation  thereby  effected. 
Some  persons  have  expressed  a  doubt  as  to  whether  this  Cattleya 
can  be  successfully  grown  in  an  upright  position.  Tin  re  can  be  no 
reason  why  it  should  be  so  grown,  fl'o  keep  0.  citrina  in  health 
frequent  spraying  is  very  helpful,  and  Nature  has  provided  a  means 
whereby  the  superfluous  water  is  carried  off.  The  flowers,  too,  are 
shown  to  greater  advantage  when  growing  naturally.  After  flowering 
this  species  should,  if  possible,  be  induced  to  rest  awhile  by  kee[)ing 
cool  and  rather  dry  at  the  roots  in  the  Odontoglo-isum  house  When 
it  is  seen  to  be  starting  into  growth  the  cool  end  of  the  Cattleya  house 
is  the  best  position  for  the  plants.  Here  they  may  remain  until  the 
flower  sheaths  ap  >ear,  usually  eaily  in  the  new  year,  when  cooler 
quarters  will  again  be  advisable. 
C.  citrina  will  grow  well  on  bare  charred  blocks  or  on  blocks  lightly 
dressed  with  sphagnum.  They  must  be  wired  on  firmly,  and  look 
best  if  suspended  at  an  angle  corresponding  with  the  roof  of  the  house 
in  which  they  are  growing. — II.  * 
The  Phalacnopsis  at  Home. 
It  may  be  of  interest  to  growers  to  know  under  what  conditions 
the  Bhalsenopsis  grow  best  in  their  native  land,  so  that  a  method  of 
cultivation  which  will  suit  them  best  may  be  afforded.  Newly 
imported  plants  are  the  best  f  r  cultivation.  It  is  often  the  case  that 
plants,  which  succeed  well  witli  one  grower,  will  give  an  entirely 
different  result  if  transferred  to  another  place,  and  from  this  standpoint 
fresh  imported  stock  is  to  be  preferred. 
In  order  to  give  the  grower  a  proper  idea  of  the  climatic  conditions 
of  the  Philippine  Islands,  I  think  it  best  to  describe  their  situation. 
These  islands  extend  from  the  5th  to  the  1.8th  degree  northern  latitude ; 
they  are  bordered  on  the  east  by  the  Northern  Pacific  and  on  the  west 
by  the  China  Sea,  being  v  sited  by  north-east  winds  from  October  till 
May,  and  from  south-west  winds  from  May  till  October.  Both  winds 
carry  rain  with  thbm,  wh'ch  reaches  the  parts  of  the  inlands  nearest 
to  them.  While  one  side  has  rain,  the  other  is  absolutely  dry.  The 
limit  of  these  rains  is  the  mountains  which  traverse  the  islands  from 
south  to  north  ;  but  it  would  not  be  right  to  think  that  the  rains  do 
not  pass  this  limit,  all  depending  on  the  force  of  the  wind.  Through 
these  circumstances  the  mountains  ha  e  a  continuous  moisture,  more 
or  less,  according  to  the  winds;  and  in  the  valleys  of  this  region 
grow  the  Phalmnopsis.  I  do  not  want  to  say  that  it  pours  continu¬ 
ously  in  the^e  valleys,  although  it  happens  that  during  a  typhoon  the 
rain  will  last  for  fourteen  days.  Otherwise  rain  is  about  the  same  as 
in  Europe,  only  that  the  rainy  period  is  steady  for  a  lew  months. 
There  are  also  very  hot  days,  oftentimes  weeks,  without  any  rain 
whatever. 
To  speak  again  of  Phalmnopsis,  I  will  say  that  these  plants  are 
found  especially  on  the  driest  places,  and  only  grow  on  the  highest 
branches,  where  the  winds  and  the  sun  rays  can  strike  tlnm  btst; 
on  low  branches  and  on  the  lower  stems  of  the  trees  Phalaenopsis  are 
rarely  found.  The  want  of  air  and  light  and  too  much  moisture  soon 
kill  the  plants  in  such  places,  and  on  this  account  few  large  plants  are 
to  be  found.  Plants  which  are  too  low,  or  in  places  overgrown  with 
creepers,  soon  die.  Air  and  light  are  the  principal  conditions  for 
the  welfare  of  the  Phalaenopsis.  Bees  and  other  insects  carry  the 
seeds  from  tree  to  tree,  and  there  is  a  Cvinstant  vegetation.  The 
period  of  rest  seems  to  be  only  a  short  time  after  blooming.  All  plants 
are  strong,  the  weaker  plants  seeming  to  be  overgrown  by  stronger 
ones. 
We  will  consider  now  the  transferring  of  the  plants  from  the 
woods  to  the  greenhouse,  the  collecting  and  establishing  before  the 
plants  come  into  the  bands  of  the  grower.  During  this  period  plants 
suffer  greatly.  Phalffinopsis  rarely,  or  rather  never,  are  troubled  by 
insects  or  scales  in  their  native  habitat,  but  if  a  collector  does  not 
look  after  the  plants  while  they  are  in  the  hands  of  the  natives  the 
buyer  will  not  get  any  healthy  ones  and  experience  more  trouble  than 
the  whole  business  is  worth.  There  are  especially  two  insects  from 
which  Phalaenopsis  suffer  terribly  ;  one  is  a  red  fly  that  deposits  her 
eggs  in  the  leaves  or  the  heart,  and  the  other  is  a  scale,  which  is  on 
the  wood  to  which  the  Phalaenopsis  are  tied.  The  presence  of  the 
red  fly  is  easily  discovered.  The  leaves  look  as  if  punched  with  fine 
needles ;  they  get  riale,  and  the  whole  plant  becomes  poorer  and 
poorer.  Plants  infested  with  these  flics  should  be  brought  to  the 
light  and  dipped  into  hot  water  every  day  till  all  the  flies  are  dead. 
Scales  must  be  carefully  washed  off. 
Phalaenopsis  Sanderiana  is  often  attacked  w'th  a  trouble  when  it 
comes  from  the  woods.  The  leaves  show  small  holes.  It  seems  as 
if  a  butterfly  deposits  its  eggs  into  the  leaves,  and  after  a  time  a  worm 
comes  out.  It  is  the  best  to  cut  off  all  such  leaves.  The  plant  does 
•  Fig.  14L. — Denuhobidm  Dalhou-nobile. 
not  suffer  at  all  as"  long  as  there  are  healthy  roots  on  it.  A  grower 
cannot  be  careful  enough  in  inspecting  newly  imported  plants  before 
they  are  ])Otted,  as  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  have  clean  stock,  if 
good  results  are  expected.— (Tran.sfa^ecZ  for  the  “  Florists’  Exchange” 
from  “  M  oilers’  Deutsche  (Lirtner-Zeitung.”) 
Orchids  for  Beginners. 
Beginners  in  Orchid  culture  are  often  at  a  loss  to  know  what 
kinds  are  most  suitable  to  commence  with.  A  succession  of  bloom 
throughout  the  year,  as  far  as  practicable,  is  usually  desired,  price  has 
also  to  be  considered,  and  those  p  ants  chosen  that  are  easiest  to  grow. 
The  species  and  varieties  named  below  will  make  a  very  interesting 
collection. 
Oncidiums  are  essentially  Orchids  for  beginners,  their  only  draw¬ 
back  being  a  somewhat  limiti  d  range  of  colour,  most  of  them  containing 
a  good  deal  of  yellow.  Their  long-lasting  qu  dities,  however,  combined 
with  freedom  of  flowering,  will  always  secure  them  a  prominent  place 
in  collections.  Oncidiums  crispum,  flexuosum,  sphacelatum,  incurvum, 
■\nd  varicosum  of  the  warm  house  section,  a  d  O.cucullatvim,0.  concolor, 
0  macranthum,  0.  Marshallianum,  O.ornithorhynchum, and  0.  tigrinum 
of  the  cooler  species  will  be  found  a  good  selection. 
Among  the  Odontoglossums  it  is  difficult  lo  know  where  to  stop, 
as  there  is  hardly  a  species  that  may  be  called  difficult  to  cultivate, 
and  all  arc  beautiful.  0.  crispum,  0.  cirrbosum,  0.  luteo-purpureum, 
0.  maculatum,  0.  odoratum,  0.  Pescatorei,  0.  Rossi,  and  0.  triumphans 
are  all  sterling  cool  house  varieties  and  where  a  slightly  higher 
temperature  is  maintained  0.  citrosmum,  0.  grande,  and  0.  vexillarium 
may  be  added.  Cattleyas  Trianae,  Percivaliana,  intermedia,  Mendeli, 
Mossise,  Gaskelliana,  lab  ata  autumnalis,  and  Bowringeana  will  provide 
a  succession  of  flowers  nearly  the  whole  year  through.  Among  the 
Lmlias  anceps,  purpurata,  harpophylla,  Perrini,  and  autumnalis  are  all 
worthy  of  a  ]>lace. 
When  •  judiciously  managed  Dendrobiums  add  greatly  to  the 
