/ 
April  22,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
337 
Oncidiums  op  the  Macranthum  Group. 
So  varied  and  beautiful  are  the  species  belonging  to  this  genus 
that  one  may  almost  be  satisfied  with  a  collection  of  them  alone. 
There  would  not  be  a  month  in  the  year  but  some  of  them  would 
be  in  flower,  and  the  exquisite  combinations  of  colour  occurring  in 
some  of  the  species,  the  immense  panicles  of  others,  and  the  refined 
yet  telling  appearance  of  one  and  all,  would  make  the  choice  a  good 
one.  Not  the  least  charming  are  the  kind  with  long  twining  scapes 
of  showy  blossom*  included  in  the  0.  macranthum  set,  and  as  these 
are  often  set  down  as  difficult  plants  to  manage  a  few  lines  on  their 
■culture  may  prove  of  interest. 
Perhaps  the  most  frequent  of  all  mistakes  in  their  culture  is 
trying  to  force  them  to  rest,  and  here  it  may  be  noted  that  the 
flower  spikes  must  not  be  looked  for  at  the  side  of  the  natural 
pieudo-balb  as  in  many  other  species.  This  fact  is  sufficient  to 
account  for  some  failures.  The  beginner  sees  the  young  shoots 
breaking  at  the  side  of  the  pseudo-bulb,  and  comes  to  the  conclu¬ 
sion  that  he  has  been  treating  it  wrongly,  and  commences  a  starving 
course  of  treatment.  This  is  quite  wrong.  The  spikes  usually 
appear  when  the  new  shoots  have  made  some  inches  of  growth, 
and  to  withhold  sustenance  from  them  at  the  outset  gives  them 
about  the  worst  start  possible. 
I  have  in  a  somewhat  lengthened  experience  of  this  class  of 
Orchid  found  it  much  better  to  let  the  plants  have  their  own  way, 
and  by  observation — timely  observation  by  the  way — of  the  roots 
to  encourage  them  when  they  are  seen  to  be  extra  active  and  vice 
versa.  Note  the  root,  for  instance,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  when 
the  spike  is  growing,  and  the  pseudo -bulb  beginning  to  take  its 
true  shape,  as  distinct  from  a  growing  shoot.  The  plant  has  the 
dual  strain  upon  it,  and  the  roots  will  be  seen  plainly  foraging  as 
it  were  for  moisture,  to  maintain  the  lengthening  spike,  and  to 
3tore  a  due  quota  of  nutriment  in  the  forming  pseudo-bulb. 
This  is  the  time  to  be  on  hand  with  a  full  supply  of  moisture, 
and  afterwards,  when  the  plant  has  matured  its  growth,  and 
the  strain  of  flowering  is  over  if  they  seem  inclined  to  rest  let 
them  do  so.  This  seems  to  me  to  be  the  crux  of  the  whole 
affair  as  far  as  root  moisture  is  concerned,  and  by  following  up 
this  mode  of  treatment  I  have  been  fairly  successful.  Another 
point  not  to  be  loit  sight  of  is  the  fact  that  these  spikes  are  many 
months  upon  the  plant  coming  to  maturity,  and  the  strain  of  them 
should  be  relieved  by  cutting  the  spikes  as  soon  as  possible  after 
they  open.  It  is  a  good  deal  better  to  cut  them  after,  say,  a  fort¬ 
night  or  three  weeks’  flowering,  than  to  leave  them  on  until  they  fade, 
and  run  the  risk  of  severely  checking  the  plants.  The  little  side 
sprays  last  a  long  time  in  water,  but  if  cut  entire  the  spikes  will 
soon  flag. 
The  most  airy  part  of  the  cool  house  should  be  chosen  for 
them,  as  here  they  will  be  least  likely  to  be  attacked  by  thrips, 
a  deadly  foe  to  all  in  this  class.  The  atmosphere,  as  well  as  the 
roots,  must  always  be  kept  moist,  and  during  the  summer  months 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  shade  too  heavily.  Any  slackening  in 
the  atmospheric  moisture  at  the  time  when  the  spikes  are  just 
forming  will  assuredly  cause  these  to  become  blind  and  dry  off, 
and  if  during  very  severe  weather  the  cool  house  is  at  all  likely  to 
be  kept  on  the  dry  side  for  any  reason,  I  should  certainly  remove 
any  of  these  plants  that  chanced  to  be  forming  their  spikes  to 
warmer,  because  moister  quarters. 
With  regard  to  root  run  for  them,  they  are  best  grown  in  a 
-rough  and  very  open  description  of  compost.  Good  peat  fibre  and 
sphagnum  in  equal  proportions  should  be  mixed  with  nearly  its 
own  bulk  of  crocks,  potters’  ballast,  or  charcoal  in  lumps  as  large  as 
a  Walnut.  The  pot  must  be  fairly  large  in  comparison  with  the 
size  of  the  plant,  as  the  roots  are  strong  and  vigorous,  and  are 
better  inside  than  rambling  about  over  the  outside  of  the  pot.  In 
repotting  keep  the  leads  fairly  low  down,  as  the  plants  are  in  the 
habit  of  pushing  one  pseudo-bulb  considerably  above  the  last  one, 
and  if  too  much  elevated  they  soon  get  out  of  touch  of  the 
compost. 
The  typical  O.  macranthum  (fig.  71)  is  one  of  the  best  and 
showiest  of  all,  the  flowers  occurring  in  great  numbers  upon  the 
scapes.  The  sepals  are  brownish  yellow,  the  petals  bright  golden 
yellow,  the  lip  purple  with  a  white  crest.  Another  beautiful  kind 
is  0.  serratum,  very  similar  in  colour  to  the  last  named,  the  petals 
having  the  peculiarity  of  turning  inward  until  they  meet  over  the 
column.  Others  more  or  less  similar  are  0.  chrysodipterum, 
O.  luteuB,  0.  hastiferum,  possibly  a  variety  of  0.  macranthum, 
0.  superbiens,  and  0.  lamelligerum.  These  it  is  hardly  necessary 
to  describe  in  detail,  but  one  more  at  least  is  worthy  of  this, 
O.  undulatum.  A  good  form  of  this  is  a  really  beautiful  sight 
when  in  bloom  ;  the  sepals  are  reddish  brown,  the  petals  pure 
white,  streaked  and  spotted  with  yellow  and  purple,  the  lip  deep 
purple,  a  truly  beautiful  disposition  of  colour. — H.  R.  R. 
Orchids  at  Aston  Hall. 
When  visiting  Aston  Hall,  Oswestry,  some  time  ago,  I  was 
much  struck  by  the  fine  collection  of  Orchids  growing  there.  One 
house  especially  attracted  my  attention,  it  being  almost  entirely 
devoted  to  Oattleyas  and  Cypripediums,  all  of  which,  whether  in 
or  out  of  flower,  are  a  picture  of  health,  cleanliness,  and  high 
cultivation.  Colonel  Lloyd,  who  is  a  very  enthusiastic  gardener, 
has  spared  no  pains  in  getting  together  not  only  a  large  collection 
but  a  choice  one,  and  many  rare  kinds  were  to  be  seen  in  flower. 
Although  the  autumn  Cittleyas  were  over  the  Cypripediums  were 
just  at  their  best,  C.  Leeanum  being  in  strong  force.  This  beau¬ 
tiful  variety  appears  to  be  a  great  favourite  everywhere  amongst 
Orchid  lovers.  It  resembles  C.  Spicerianum,  but  the  scapes  are 
rather  longer.  The  flowers  have  an  emerald  green  base  and 
radiating  mauve  spots  running  upwards  into  the  white  parts,  while 
the  lip  is  of  a  shining  brownish  red.  Amongst  many  others  I 
noticed  C.  Charlesworthi,  C.  violaceum,  and  C.  Chamberlainianum, 
all  producing  flowers  of  good  size  and  substance. 
Sophronitis  grandiflora  is  also  grown  remarkably  well,  and  several 
plants  were  in  flower.  The  Cattleyas  were  a  picture  to  those 
interested  in  them,  for  never  have  I  seen  a  healthier  collection. 
No  gardener  need  feel  afraid  at  allowing  his  Cattleyas  to  shrivel 
in  the  resting  season  after  the  success  that  has  followed  that 
process  at  Aston.  Mr.  Townsend,  the  gardener,  considers  it  is 
the  making  of  them,  and  is  not  satisfied  by  allowing  the  bulbs  to 
begin  to  shrivel  before  watering  them,  but  allows  them  to  get  to 
such  a  stage  as  would  frighten  many  an  orchidist.  Certainly  it 
makes  them  break  more  freely  afterwards,  but  few  would  care  to 
follow  it  to  such  an  extent. 
Not  only  are  Orchids  a  speciality,  but  also  R^ses  and  Chrys¬ 
anthemums,  and  it  is  difficult  to  say  which  are  done  the  best.  The 
fact  that  Mr.  Townsend  secured  the  cup  at  Liverpool  this  last 
season  with  his  ’mums  speaks  for  itself  ;  but  the  Roses  have  to 
be  seen  in  their  home  before  anyone  is  able  to  form  an  idea  what 
they  are  like.  Most  of  them  are  Teas,  and,  like  the  Cattleyas, 
are  the  strongest  I  have  ever  seen  under  glass.  They  are  most 
of  them  grown  in  pots  in  a  house  between  60  and  70  feet  long. 
The  fruit  trees  indoors  are  also  in  good  condition,  and  everywhere 
appeared  in  perfect  order,  reflecting  great  credit  on  the  energetic 
gardener. — Geo.  Burrows. 
