July  25,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
73 
Broughtonia 
sanguinea,  agaiD, 
% 
'b 
The  Week’s  Cultural  Notes. 
When  a  house  is  set  apart  for  the  Mexican  section  of  Laelias  it  is 
an  easy  matter  to  treat  them  exactly  as  they  should  be,  but  when 
they  are  mixed  up  with  others  in  the  Cattleya  house,  it  is  difficult  to 
give  them  sufficient  sunlight  and  air  without  damaging  the  foliage  of 
the  more  tender  kinds.  In  the  latter  case  I  have  found  it  beneficial  to 
place  L.  majrlis,  L.  purpuracea,  L.  anceps,  and  on  occasions  L.  albida, 
■outside  in  the  full  sun  in  order  to  thoroughly  consolidate  the  growth. 
Naturally  it  will  not  do  to  turn  plants  out  that  have  been  growing  in 
a  moist  and  shady  house,  as  the  foliage  would  suffer,  but  if  the  growth 
has  been  made  in  ample  light  and  air  the  plants  will  take  no  harm. 
That  grand  species  L.  superbiens  is  never  satisfactory  in  small 
houses  that  have  to  be  heavily  shaded  ;  but  in  a  large  or  com¬ 
paratively  large  house,  where  ample  light  and  air  may  be  given 
without  injury,  it  is  usually  thrifty, 
dikes  similar  treatment,  but  perhaps 
rather  more  warmth,  and  a  good 
drying  occasionally  in  the  midtile  of 
the  day.  This  is  also  very  suitable 
now  for  the  West  Indian  heat-loving 
Oncidiums,  all  of  which  delight  in 
having  their  heads  up  close  to  the 
light,  and  with  plenty  of  atmospheric 
moisture  morning  and  evening.  Where 
the  small  growing  clinging  species  of 
■Orchids,  such  as  Ionopsis,  Burling- 
tonias,  and  some  of  the  lesser  types 
of  Dendrobiums,  are  grown  on  blocks, 
rafts,  and  other  contrivances,  there  is 
often  an  insufficiency  of  moisture  in 
the  air,  and  this  should  be  counteracted 
as  far  as  possible  by  syringing  the 
plants  morning  and  evening,  and 
lightly  dewing  again  several  times  in 
the  day  should  it  be  very  hot.  Watch 
the  compost  meanwhile,  and  see  that 
this  does  not  get  soddened,  or  the 
roots  will  be  killed. 
Newly  imported  plants  of  the 
pretty  Lselia  grandis  tenebrosa  must 
not  be  stinted  for  moisture,  for  it  is 
a  singular  point  in  connection  with 
this  species  that  it  will  take  more 
water  than  many  stronger  growing 
kinds.  With  others  it  will  be  necessary 
to  use  great  caution,  especially  until 
roots  have  lormed,  or  the  basal  eyes  will  decay  and  back  breaks  will 
have  to  be  depended  on.  In  all  departments,  whether  cool  or  hot, 
growth,  of  course,  is  the  order  of  the  aay,  and  everything  possible 
should  be  done  to  encourage  this.  Early  closing  is  advisable  on 
sunny  days,  and  the  damping  of  every  dry  spot  in  the  house ;  also 
occasional  moistenings  with  liquid  manure  or  soot  water.  The 
presence  of  ammonia  in  the  atmosphere  is  very  stimulating  to  the 
growth  of  all  Orchids. 
Odontoglossum  grande. 
This  fine  Orchid  is  now  growing  freely,  and  the  flower  spikes 
will  soon  be  forming,  so  that  especial  care  should  be  taken  that  no 
-check  is  given.  All  this  class  of  Orchids  are  easily  incommoded 
during  hot  summer  weather.  In  their  native  country  the  tempera¬ 
ture  keeps  much  more  steady  ;  there  is  not  so  much  rise  and  fall 
as  with  us,  so  that,  although  in  winter  they  pine  for  the  light  that 
we  are  not  particularly  well  blessed  with  at  that  season,  in  summer 
'heavy  shading  and  plenteous  moistening  of  the  atmosphere  is  necessary. 
The  roots  will  now  be  seen  to  be  very  active,  a  sure  sign  that  nutriment 
in  plenty  is  needed.  These,  then,  must  not  be  allowed  to  get  dry  for 
long  at  a  time,  or  the  pseudo-bulbs  will  be  small  and  finish  prematurely, 
the  flower  spikes  being  correspondingly  weak.  Light  de wings  over 
the  foliage,  the  air  being  at  the  same  time  kept  moving  about  them, 
will  insure  their  well-being.  0.  grande  is  one  of  the  finest,  if  not  the 
finest,  species  in  the  genus,  its  rich  yellow  and  brown  flowers  making 
a  grand  display  on  well-cultivated  specimens.  The  plants  should 
be  potted  in  a  loose  open  compost  with  plenty  of  rough  lumps  of 
icharcoal  and  crocks  to  insure  aeration.  It  is  a  native  of  Guatemala, 
introduced  in  1839. 
Odontogloasum  maculatum  Thompsonlanum. 
#A  first-class  certificate  was  awarded  to  this  remarkably  large  and 
handsome  variety  of  this  pleasing  Mexican  species  at  Chiswick,  on 
Tuesday,  July  16th.  The  plant  had  eight  large,  finely  formed  flowers 
of  great  substance  and  superior  colouring.  The  inflorescence  was  stout 
and  over  20  inches  in  length.  Our  illustration  shows  the  exact  size 
and  form  of  this  pretty  var.,  which  was  staged  by  W.  Thompson,  Esq. 
(gardener,  Mr.  W.  Stevens),  Walton  Grange,  Stone,  Staffordshire. 
The  sepals  are  salmon  brown,  margined  with  yellow;  petals  and  lip 
pale  yellow,  blotched  with  brown. 
Epldendrum  fragrans. 
Though  not  a  showy  Orchid,  this  species  is  very  distinct  and 
attractive.  The  inverted  shell-like  lip,  a  characteristic  it  shares  with 
E.  cochleatum  and  one  or  two  others,  is  pale  creamy  yellow,  with 
radiating  lines  of  violet  purple.  As  its  name  implies,  the  flowers  are 
very  fragrant,  and  if  properly  treatel  the  plants  are  very  free 
flowering  ;  but  if  always  kept  in  a  moist  warm  house  the  probability 
is  that  no  flo  wers  at  all  will  be  forthcoming,  growth  following  growth 
in  quick  succession.  What  it  needs  is  a  distinct  resting  season  in  a 
cool,  dry  atmosphere  after  the  growths  are  complete,  this  insuring 
flowering  growths  the  ensuing  season.  Ample  light  and  air  during 
the  summer,  and  exposure  to  tne  full  sun  in  autumn,  is  also  necessary. 
Regarding  the  roots,  these  are  easily 
managed.  They  object  to  a  great 
thickness  of  compost,  and  delight  in 
ample  drainage;  if  the  pots  are  filled 
for  two-thirds  of  their  depth  with 
crocks,  and  a  little  rouzh  moss  placed 
over  this,  there  will  still  be  plenty  of 
room  for  compost.  During  the  time 
growth  is  active  a  full  supply  of 
moisture  is  needed  both  overhead  and 
— .  at  the  root,  but  while  at  rest  only 
■«**,,  .  l"-,  sufficient  to  keep  the  pseudo-bulb  from 
shrivelling  is  necessary. 
;  <&&&$ 
}  *  ■  ' 
OnONTOGLOSSCM  MACULATUM  ThOMPSONIANUM 
Bollea  coelestis. 
The  Bolleas,  Warscewiczellas,  and 
Pescatoreas  form  a  verv  interesting 
s°ction  of  bulbous  Orchids,  the  only 
drawback  being  that  they  are  rather 
more  difficult  to  grow  and  keep  in 
health  than  the  majority  of  pseudo- 
bulbous  kinds.  This  Bollea  is,  per¬ 
haps,  as  good  a  grower  as  any,  and  on 
this  account  may  be  recommended, 
while  it  is  reallv  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  all.  The  flower  spikes  are 
upwards  of  1  foot  in  height,  usually 
bearing  a  single  blossom,  this  being  a 
very  pretty  light  blue  tint  with  purple 
and  violet  shading.  It  thrives  best  in 
a  fairly  warm  house  as  near  the  glass 
as  possible,  but  with  a  broken  light.  The  tender  foliage  is  not  able 
to  stand  sunlight,  but  delights  in  being  under  the  shelter,  so  to 
speak,  of  larger  plants,  while  at  the  same  time  enjoying  the  light. 
The  atmosphere  must  always  be  kept  very  moist,  and  the  roots 
like  moisture  too,  but  they  like  it  fresh,  and  anything  like  close 
or  sodden  compost  is  very  distasteful  to  them.  Sphagnum  and 
crocks,  with  a  very  little  loam,  suits  them  better  than  peat.  In 
winter  the  roots  must  not  be  dried,  as,  having  no  pseudo-bulbs  to 
retain  the  nourishment,  the  plants  soon  suffer.  A  flat-trellised  raft 
or  basket  is  better  than  a  pot  for  it.  B.  coelestis  is  a  native  of 
Colombia,  and  was  introduced  in  1878. 
Phalsenopsis  Manni. 
Although  small  the  blossoms  of  this  species  are  very  pretty  and 
bright,  and  it  may  well  be  added  to  the  choicest  collection.  They 
are  creamy  white  with  chestnut  markings  on  the  sepals  and  petals, 
and  purple  on  the  lip.  It  is  an  Indian  species,  and  I  have  seen  it 
thriving  well  in  the  same  house  as  the  Burmese  Dendrobiums,  the 
latter  being  removed  for  their  resting  season.  Not  much  c  'tnpost  is 
needed,  and  a  little  new  moss  should  be  added  annually.  The  best 
time  to  do  this  is  about  April  when  the  plants  begin  to  grow  freely, 
the  temperature  at  the  same  time  being  slightly  increased. 
Dendrobium  speciosum  Bancroftianum. 
As  compared  with  the  type,  this  is  a  far  prettier  and  more  elegant 
Orchid,  and  a  point  in  its  favour  is  its  less  bulky  habit.  It  does  not 
appear  to  be  very  widely  known  or  grown,  but  it  is  worthy  of  every 
care.  It  does  best  in  rather  less  warmth  than  Dendrobiums  generally, 
and  endeavour  should  be  made  to  ripen  or  consolidate  the 
giowth 
