March  31,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
277 
D.  pulchellutu,  as  it  is  known  in  gardens,  is  not  a 
difficult  species  to  cultivate,  and  may  as  to  atmosphere 
and  temperature  be  treated  much  the  same  as  recom¬ 
mended  for  the  deciduous  group  generally.  But  even 
less  in  the  way  of  compost  is  needed  ;  in  fact  if  the 
compost  is  provided  it  cannot  he  utilised  by  the  roots, 
and  only  decays  and  makes  the  other  material  about  it 
close  and  sour.  If  baskets  are  used  they  should  be  filled 
to  within  an  inch  of  the  top  rods  with  clean  crocks; 
over  these  a  layer  of  rough  nross,  and  then  the  compost 
consisting  equally  of  peat  fibre,  sphagnum,  and  finely 
broken  crocks.  In  fixing  the  material  keep  the  centre 
well  up  to  avoid  accumulation  of  moisture. 
In  planting  pull  the  plants  to  pieces  and  reject  any 
old  or  shrivelled  bits,  or  at  all  events  lay  them  on  one  side 
and  make  up  the  best  first,  using  the  worst  to  grow  for 
stock  purposes.  If  well  planted  in  good  material  no 
further  disturbance  will  be  necessary  for  a  few  years 
beyond  cutting  away  some  of  the  older  shrivelled  stems,  and 
pegging  down  the  young  ones  to  take  their  places.  It  may  be 
noted  here  tfiat  this  species  breaks  naturally  from  many  of  the  upper 
nodes,  and  not  only  from  the  base — or  principally — as  in  some  other 
kinds.  Each  season  a  few  more  stems  may  be  brought  down,  and 
induced  to  root  between  the  rods  into  the  drainage  material  or  about 
the  rods  of  the  basket. 
Fig.  57. — Odontoglossuji  crispum  Peixcess  Christian. 
D.  pulchellum  is  the  name  under  which  this  plant  is  best  known  in 
gardens,  but  as  a  matter  of  fact  D.  pulchellum  is  an  unknown  plant  in 
this  country.  Many  years  ago  a  species  was  discovered  in  India,  and 
named  D.  pulchellum,  but  probably  it  was  never  introduced  to  cultiva¬ 
tion.  This  was  about  1830,  and  a  year  or  two  after  Messrs.  Loddiges, 
then  a  flourishing  and  important  nursery  firm,  introduced  the  present 
plant,  and  figured  it  under  this  name. 
Dendrobium  pulchellum. 
I  HAVE  seen  this  pretty  Dendrobe  growing  in  a  variety 
of  ways,  and,  perhaps,  in  none  is  it  more  effective  than  in 
baskets  when  allowed  to  grow  out  over  the  sides,  rooting 
through  the  rods  into  the  compost.  The  habit  of  the 
plant  is  very  dwarf,  the  small  stem-like  pseudo-bulbs  lying 
almost  prone,  and  seldom  exceeding  4  inches  or  5  inches 
in  length,  but  so  free  flowering  that  when  thoroughly 
ripened  the  plants  appear  to  be  just  a  mass  of  flower. 
These  occur  singly  or  at  the  most  in  twos  from  the 
nodes,  and  are  a  pretty  rosy  pink  with  a  golden  yellow 
centre  to  the  lip,  which  is  delicately  fringed. 
roots  admirably.  Bare  block  treatment  is  not  good  enough  for  it,  the 
stems  not  swelling  up  to  their  proper  capacity,  or  producing  a  proper 
complement  of  flowers. 
Growth  is  rapid  under  the  conditions  indicated,  and  by  about 
August  the  young  pseudo-bulbs  are  fully  developed  as  to  size.  When 
quite  finished  and  the  terminal  leaves  formed,  hang  the  plants  in  the 
Cattleya  house,  and  gradually  reduce  the  supply  of  water  to  the  roots. 
After  a  few  weeks  the  foliage  will  begin  to  lose  colour  and  fall,  when 
remove  the  plants  to  a  still  cooler  but  light  position,  such  as  the  front 
stage  of  a  vinery,  where  the  fruit  is  hanging,  in  an  ordinary  green¬ 
house.  After  this,  little  or  no  water  will  be  needed  during  the  winter, 
and  the  plants  will  be  quite  safe  in  a  house  that  does  not  fall  below  45°. 
As  long  as  the  bulbs  do  not  shrivel,  they  will  take  no  harm  ;  in  fact, 
in  very  cold,  dull  weather,  they  may  hang  for  w’eeks  without  any 
water  at  all. 
Insects  are  fond  of  this  plant,  especially  of  the  young  growing 
shoots ;  thrips  and  red  spider  often  putting  in  appearance.  Fumiga¬ 
tion  and  repeated  spongings  are  necessary  to  remove  these,  and  must 
be  persisted  in  until  all  the  insects  are  killed.  As  noted  above. 
Odontoglossum  crispum  Princess  Christian. 
No  new  Orchids  receive  a  better  welcome  than  do  varieties  of 
Odontoglossum  crispum  that  are  distinctly  above  average  merit.  It 
matters  not  how  many  there  may  be,  the  best  are  sure  to  find  a  host 
of  admirers.  Such  was  the  case  on  Tuesdav,  March  22nd,  when  Mr. 
II.  Ballantine,  gardener  to  Baron  Schroder,  The  Dell,  Egham,  staged  at 
the  Drill  Hall  Show  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society,  Odontoglossum 
crispum  Princess  Christian.  It  is  one  of  the  handsomest  crispums  that 
has  been  seen  of  late  both  in  its  excellent  form  and  the  chasteness  of 
its  colouration.  A  glance  at  the  woodcut  (fig.  57)  will  convey  an  idea 
of  the  form  of  the  flower,  of  wffiich  the  ground  colour  is  pure  white. 
The  fimbriated  petals  have  occasional  large  bright  chocolate  red  spots, 
while  the  sepals  are  similarly  blotched  and  spotted.  The 
plant  was  in  robust  health,  and  carried  a  grand  spike. 
A  first  -  class  certificate  was  awarded  by  the  Orchid 
Committee. 
After  basketing,  the  plants  may  be  returned  to  the  growing 
quarters,  and  this  should  be  a  hot  and  very  moist  house,  the  baskets 
containing  the  plants  being  suspended  in  a  good  clear  light.  Water 
should  be  plentifully  provided  both  at  the  roots  and  in  the  atmosphere, 
and  a  light  dewing  with  w'ater  from  the  syringe  is  very  refreshing 
and  helpful  on  bright  sunny  days  at  closing  time.  It  produces,  in 
fact,  the  brisk,  buoyant  atmosphere  that  all  Dendrobes  delight  in 
during  the  growing  season,  and  owing  to  the  mist  settling  on  the 
inside  of  the  glass  the  full  force  of  the  sun’s  rays  is  broken,  yet  its 
stimulating  and  quickening  effect  is  unchanged. 
Since  then  many  botanists  have  found  fault  with  the  name,  and 
some  ten  or  more  years  ago  the  plant  was  figured  and  described  as 
D.  Loddigesi  ;  but  so  firm  a  hold  has  the  old  name  taken,  that  it  is 
still,  and  probably  always  will  be,  known  as  D.  pulchellum.  It  is  a 
native  of  the  Island  of  Hainin,  and  probably  also  the  mainland  of 
China ;  but  it  does  not  seem  to  have  been  found  in  India.  It  has  not, 
I  think,  been  very  frequently  importerl,  though  doubtless  this  is  more 
from  design  than  from  any  scarcity  in  its  habitat. — H.  R.  R. 
There  are  various  other  ways  of  growing  this  pretty  Dendrobium, 
some  cultivators  preferring  large  cork  blocks  for  it  lightly  dressed 
with  sphagnum  moss.  In  this  way  the  plants  do  well  if  properly 
attended  to  as  to  moisture,  while  they  may  also  be  grown  in  pots  or 
pans  in  the  usual  way.  On  Tree  Fern  stems,  too,  the  plants  have  a 
pretty  and  natural  effect,  and  the  roughness  peculiar  to  these  suits  the 
Muscari  botryoiues  album  major. — It  does  not  appear  to 
be  generally  known  that  there  are  two  varieties  of  the  pretty  white  forms 
of  the  common  Grape  Hyacinth,  Muscari  botryoides.  The  major  form 
is  much  to  be  preferred  to  the  smaller  one.  The  latter  has  short  racemes, 
with  small  closely  set  flowers  ;  the  former  has  a  raceme  of  considerably 
greater  length,  and  larger  individual  flowers.  It  is  a  very  desirable 
variety,  and  should  be  secured  by  growers  of  early  bulbous  flowers. 
—A.  Hardiman. 
