8 
JOURNAL  OF  nORTTOULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  6,  1898. 
CyPEI TEDIUM  CONCOLOR. 
•This  is  one  of  the  prettiest  of  the  section  known  to  Orchid  grotvers 
as  the  hellatuluin  group,  and  there  are  few  more  interesting  or  beautiful 
species  in  the  genus.  It  is  a  native  of  Moulmein,  and  was  first 
discovered  by  the  recently  deceased  and  distinguished  traveller,  the 
llev.  C.  Parish,  wdio,  however,  did  not  succeed  in  sending  it  home 
alive.  This  was  about  the  year  1860,  and  a  few  years  after  Colonel 
Benson  sent  it  home  to  Kew.  In  habit  the  plant  is  very  dwarf,  the 
leaves  about  5  inches  in  length,  deep  green,  with  a  greyish  mottling 
above  and  purple  beneath.  The  spikes  rise  about  C  inches,  and  carry, 
as  a  rule,  a  single  bloom,  though  twili- flowered  scap;  s  are  not 
uncommon. 
The  individual  blossoms  are  upwards'  of  2i  inches  across,  the 
ground  colour  being  very  pale  yellow.  The  number  of  spots  about 
the  base  of  the  segment  seems  to  make  the  specific  name  inapplicable, 
but  some  forms  have  few  or  no  spots,  and  possibly  from  one  of  these 
it  was  named.  A  somewhat  similar  species  is  C.  niveum,  and  for 
cultural  purposes  they  may  be  bracketed.'  This  was  introduced  to 
this  country  by  Messrs.  Veitch  of  Chelsea,  -who  imported  it  in  1868 
by  chance  among  plants  of  C.  concolor,  or  what  was  supposed  to  be 
this  species.  Both  have  been  fre(juently  imported  since  then  by  our 
principal  nurserymen,  and  though  hundreds  of  ])lants  have  been 
imported,  only  to  flower  for  a  time  and  then  die,  both  are  now  well 
represented  in  collections.  . 
Although  hardly  to  be  described  as  a  difficult  species  to  grow, 
C.  concolor  requires  care  and  judgment  beyond  that  necessary  for  the 
usual  Cypripediums  as  represented  by  the  barbatum  and  other  groups, 
or  the  kinds,  such  as  longifolium  or  Schlimi,  that  are  referred  to  as 
Selenipediums.  The  roots  of  the  iMoulmein  species  are  not  so  strong 
as  those  of  the  types  with  which  I  have  contrasted  them,  consequently 
special  preparation  of  the  compost  is  needed.  The  generally  accepted 
theory  is  that,  as  these  kinds  grow  often  on  limestone  rocks  in  their 
native  habitat,  this  material  is  necessary  to  their  well  being  under 
cultivation,  and  possibly  there  is  not  much  fault  to  be  found  wdih 
this. 
But  it  is  certain  that  in  many  cases  the  plants  thrive  well 
without  it,  growing  finely  in  good  fibrous  loam,  a  little  peat,  and 
chopped  sphagnum  with  charcoal  added.  In  the  loam  of  wdiich  I  am 
speaking  there  is  a  certain  amount  of  lime,  and  this  may,  of 
course,  have  some  bearing  on  the  satisfactory  condition  of  the 
jdants.  At  any  rate,  limestone  can  do  no  harm  in  the  compost,  and 
I  would  not  like  to  recommend  anyone  who  had  been  successful  by 
using  it  to  discontinue  it.  It  may  be  utilised  in  lieu  of  crocks  as 
drainage,  mixed  with  the  compost  or  placed  round  the  base  of  the 
plant  after  potting.  I  have  seen  this  latter  plan  very  successfully 
adopted,  and  I  believe  that  it  acts,  to  a  certain  extent,  as  a  deterrent  of 
the  souring  of  the  upper  layers  of  compost  so  frequent  when' some 
descriptions  of  peat  are  used. 
The  roots  do  not  apparently  in  most  cases  take  hold  of  these  loose 
lumps  of  stone,  and  there  is  an  advantage  in  this,  for  they  can  be 
removed  and  replaced  with  fresh  as  often  as  necessary.  When  newly 
imported  these  plants  are  not  usually  very  well  rooted,  and  to  get 
them  to  produce  new  tiers  of  roots  must  b5  the  grower’s  first  care. 
Obviously  it  is  no  use  potting  them  in  the  usual  way,  and,  unlike 
])seudo-bulbous  kinds,  they  do  not  much  relish  being  laid  out  on  the 
stage  in  the  way  usually  practised.  They  are  best  potted. in  lime¬ 
stone  crocks  or  similar  material,  through  which  the  water  passes 
freely,  keeiring  the  base  of  the  plant  moist  without  wetting  the 
foliage  much. 
Established  plants  must  be  very  carefully  repotted  Avhen  this 
becomes  necessary,  and  in  turning  them  out  of  the  old  pots  fracture  of 
the  roots  should  be  avoided.  Large  pots  are  unnecessary  ;  they  hold 
too  much  compost,  and  this  gets  sour  about  the  roots  before  they 
have  time  to  take  proper  hold  of  it.  Small  or  very  weak  plants  may 
have  the  advantage  of  suspended  pans,  the  proximity  to  light  being  of 
great  importance.  Lay  the  roots  out  carefully,  retaining  any  chance 
hits  of  charcoal,  crocks,  or  other  material  that  may  be  still  clinging  to 
them.  While  not  raising  them  much  above  the  level  of  the  pot  or 
pan  see  that  the  cx'own  of  the  plant  is  not  deeply  buried  in  compost. 
After  potting,  water  very  moderately  until  the  young  roots  are 
getting  about  the  new  material,  but  when  again  thoroughly  established 
they  may  have  a  full  supply.  With  regard  to  position  in  the  house 
C.  concolor  dislikes  sunshine,  but  on  no  account  must  it  be  idaccd  in  a 
dark  corner.  If  it  can  be  arranged  tlmy  do  sjdpudidly  suspended  from 
the  roof,  but  these  positions  cannot  always  be  spared  for  Cypripediums. 
The  next  best  place  is  on  an  open  stage  over  some  moisture  conducting 
material,  such  as  rough  coal  ashes  or  finely  broken- spar  .or  shingle. 
I'he  aspect  ought  to  be  such  that  no  direct  sunlight  reaches  them  at 
midday,  as  this  is  injurious  to  the,  foliage. 
The  heat  of  the  East  Indian  house  is  most  suitable,  and  a  very 
moist  atmosphere  is  congenial  to  rapid  progress  and  freedom  from 
insect  pests.  Bed  spider  is  perhaps  the  worst  of  these,  and  often 
attacks  the  under  side  of  the  leaves.  Frequent  spongings  have  to  be 
resorted  to  if  once  these  insects  obtain  a  hold  on  the  plants,  but,  as 
hinted,  a  moist  atmosphere  goes  far  to  keep  them  in  check.  Other 
"inds  needing  this  treatment  are  C.  bellatulum  and  C.  Oodefroyse,  both 
rather  variable  species,  and  all  are  related  to  each  other.  Tfiese  have 
proved  themselves  invaluable  to  the  hybridist,  such  splendid  hybrids 
as  C.  Law’rebel,  C.  conco-Lawri,  C;  microchilum  (not  macrochilum), 
and  the  newer  C.  Chapmani  and  its  variety  magnificum,  being  a 
small  number  only  of  their  progeny. — 11.  B.  B. 
Orchid  Growing  in  the  North. 
The  cultivation  of  Orchids  in  the  North  of  England  is  becoming 
an  increasingly  favourite  pursuit  with  those  favoured  residents  of  the 
(.Duntry  who  have  the  means.  The  Orchid,  as  is  well  known,  is  a 
beautiful  flowering  plant  which  owes  its  Greek  name  to  the  peculiar 
shape  of  its  root. 
The  South  American  Andes  arc,  as  compared  with  other  parts  ot 
ihe  world,  the  richest  in  useful  species,  bnt  the  number  of  Orchids 
■growing  wild  in  various  ]»arts  of  the  world  has  of  late  years  greatly 
d  creased  owing  to  the  immense  (juanities  that  have  been  taken  away 
to  various  countries.  In  South  America,  however,  what  has  done  more 
than  anything  else  to  reduce  tneir  numbers  is  the  continual  increa.se  in 
the  Coffee  plantations,  before  the  rapidly  extending  ad' ance  of  which 
great  zones  of  forest  trees  have  been  cut  doAvn  lately,  the  trees  on 
which  the  Orchids  grow  having  thus  had  to  make  room  for  Coffee 
plantations.  Few  people  imagine,  when  they  .see  beautiful  Orchids 
in  luxuriant  and  gorgeous  floAver,  how  much  trouble,  work,  and 
hardship  have  to  be  endured  to  secure  them,  to  say  nothing  of  tlie 
great  expense. 
Travelling  in  the  Orchid-bearing  districts  of  South  Ameiica  is 
extiemely  tedious  and  costly,  and  the  transportation  of  the  Orchid  to 
Europe  or  North  America  from  its  native  home  by  the  collector  is  a 
difficult  and  uncertain  process,  which  accounts  to  a  great  extent  for 
tlie  high  cost  of  the  Orchid,  Orchids  do  not  grow  on  trees  plentifully 
as  do  fungi.  To  begin  with,  they  never  occur  in  large  quantities, 
even  where  most  plentiful,  and  after  the  plants,  collected  with  so  much 
I  rouble,  have  been  carded  long  distances  to  the  packing  place  strapped 
m  bags  on  to  the  backs  of  mules,  and  taken  across  primitive  narrow 
trails  used  by  the  Indians  before  the  advent  of  the  Spaniards,  between 
rocks  and  trees  and  across  rivers  xvhich  have  to  be  waded,  often  being 
delayed  in  course  of  transit  for  weeks  together  through  having  to  wait 
till  the  low  water  in  the  streams  is  sufficiently  enlarged  in  volume  to 
enable  a  journey  by  canoe  to  be  undertaken,  only  a  limited  number  of 
Orchids  survive.  . ,  . 
It  has  only  been  after  the,  lapse  of  a  considerable  time  that  prac¬ 
tical  knowledge  of  the  culture  and  common  sense  treatment  of  the 
})lants  has  led  to  their  great  popularity  in  this  country,  where  most 
people  who  have  good  greenhouses  grow  them  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent ;  and  the  North  of  England  has  of  late  become  unusually 
famous  for  its  Orchids  through  the  enterprise  of  several  Orchid  growers 
who  have  paid  special  attention  to  these  pfiimts. 
Fancy  Prices  for  Fragile  Plants. 
It  used  to  be  considered  that  Orchid  growing  was  a  harmless  and 
amusing,  if  expensive,  mania,  somewhat  after  the  style  of  stamp 
collecting,  only  more  so.  Now  it  is  almost  a  separate,  and  that  the 
leading,  branch  of  gardening,  professional  or  amateur.  Oichids  are 
cultivated  in  England  from  seeds,  and  seeing  that  it  requires  generally 
sohie  eight  or  nine  years,  and  about  four  years  in  the  most  quickly 
maturing  plants,  before  they  bloom,  it  will  be  easy  to  see  how  £5  or 
£10  for  a  very  ordinary  and  unpretentious  Orchid  seedling  may  be  a 
not  uncommon  price. 
IMr.  Fred.  Scott  of  Preston,  North  Shields,  has,  for  an  unambitious 
amateur  in  a  small  way  of  growing,  a  large  collection  of  fine  Orchids, 
and  the  Bev.  IMr.  Burden  of  lleddon  House,  Ileddon-on-the-Wall,  has 
.some  good  specimens,  including  a  few  rare  hybrids.  The  hybrids, 
many  of  which  arc  exceedingly  lovely  and  often  very  curious,  naturally 
fetch  the  highest  prices,  and  Mr.  Norman  Cookson  of  Oakwood,  near 
Wylam,  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  growers  in  the  country  in 
this  department,  suiiplyiug  a  great  m  my  Orchid  collectors  in  the 
South  of  England  from  his  well- stocked  Orchid  houses.  Not  many 
days  ago,  for  an  Orchid  in  a  pot  of  less  diameter  than  a  drinking 
tumbler,  a  South  country  Orchid  grower  was  glad  to  pay  l\Ir.  Cookson 
180  guineas  for  a  hybrid,-  the  unique  rarity  of  the  plant  being,  ot 
course,  what  gave  it  such  high  value. 
