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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  8,\1899. 
CyPRIPEDIUM  MACROCHILUM  GIGANTEUM. 
At  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  16th  ult.  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons, 
Ltd.,  staged  a  singularly  beautiful,  and  at  the  same  time  remarkable 
variety  of  C.  macrochilum  giganteum  carrying  thiee  flowers,  one  of 
which  was  abnormal,  as  shown  in  the  illustration  (fij.  104).  The 
flower  in  question  had  two  upper  sepals,  these  descmding  on  each 
side  of  the  pouch,  the  result  of  the  division  of  the  customary  dorsal. 
This  break  did  not  result  in  disfigurement  or  detraction  m  the  slightest 
degree,  but  distinctly  enhanced  the  beauty  of  the  flower.  There  was, 
too,  in  addition  to  the  two  long  tail-like  petals,  a  central  petal 
depending  gracefully  in  front  of  the  pouch,  and  of  equal  length  with 
the  others.  These,  owing  to  their  great  length,  have  bad  to  be 
curled  upwards  by  our  artist  to  show  them  entire.  The  well 
developed  pouch  was  normal  and  of  handsome  form.  The  parents  of 
this  plant  were  C.  grande  and  C.  caudatum  Lindeni.  It  is  a  matter 
for  regret  that  all  the  flowers  on  the  plant  were  not  of  this  type, 
which  is  well  worthy  of  po-rpetuation  it’  such  be  possible. 
Cattleya  Mossi^  Beauty  of  'Bush  Hill,, 
Toe  average  quality  of  the  Orchids  at  the  recent  Temple  Show 
was  comparatively  high,  but  those  of  extraordinary  merit  were  not 
particularly  numerous.  Of  those  that  attracted  most  attention  one  of  the 
chief  was  Cattleya  Mossiae  Beauty  of  Bush  Hill,  which  was  exhibited 
by  Messrs.  H.  Low  &  Co.,  and  is  represented  by  the  woodcut 
(fig.  105).  It  is  a  strikingly  handsome  flower,  and  the  reticulation 
over  almost  the  whole  surface  makjs  it  very  di^tincr.  The  ])re vailing 
colour  in  the  sepals  and  petals  Is  delicate  rose  purple,  with  reticulations 
of  while,  fl’he  sjtlendid  lip  is  crimson  in  the  centre  lobe,  with  yellow 
side  lobes,  and  a  crimson  veined  throat.  It  was  in  every  way  worthy 
of  the  first-class  certificate  that  was  recommended  by  the  Orchid 
Committee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society. 
OXCIDIUM  CARTHAGIXENSE. 
Though  the  individual  flowers  of  this  species  are  small,  they  are 
produced  on  branching  racemes  that  make  a  pretty  show  for  many 
weeks.  The  plant  has  no  pseudo-bulbs,  the  spikes  s])riuging  from  the 
base  of  the  large  spotted  leaves,  and  growing  a  couple  of  yards  or  more 
in  length.  The  flowers  are  white  spotted  w-ith  rose,  but  very  variable, 
as  may  be  expected  by  the  species  occurring  over  so  large  a  tract  of 
country  in  a  wild  s*ate. 
Odoxtoglossum  Iksleayi  sflexdens.  ^ 
This  is  without  doubt  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  showy  of 
Odontoglossums,  but  the  true  form  is  much  rarer  than  is  usually 
supposed,  some  dealers  labelling  good  forms  of  the  type  as  splendens. 
The  latter,  when  true,  is  quite  distinct  in  having  no  trace  of  the 
reddish-brown  spotting  on  the  sepals  and  petals,  but  a  very  broad 
marginal  band  of  crimson  spots  to  the  lip.  It  is  not  by  any  means 
constant  as  regards  flowering,  some  plants  throwing  up  their  spikes  in 
autumn,  others  in  winter  and  spring.  It  thrives  well  in  the  cool 
house,  treated  as  for  0.  grande,  with  rather  large  pots  and  a  well- 
drained  rough  compost.— H.  R.  R. 
Ljelio-Cattleya  highburyexsis. 
This  is  a  beautiful  hybrid  raised  in  the  collection  of  tlie  Right  Hun. 
J.  Chamberlain,  from  whose  seat  it  takes  its  name.  It  is  a  cross 
between  Lslia  cinnabarina  and  Cattleya  Lawrenceana,  and  there 
appears  to  be  a  great  difference  in  the  various  seedlings  raised,  which 
perhaps  is  only  to  be  expected  from  two  plants  with  such  diverse 
characters  as  these.  The  best  varieties  are  very  pleasing,  as  the  clear 
yellow  ground,  heavily  suffused  with  bright  rosy  purple,  of  the  sepals 
and  petals,  and  the  bright  crimson-purple  lip,  are  most  striking.  It 
will  succeed  under  the  same  treatment  as  either  parent.  On  account 
of  its  beautiful  colour  it  is  worth  attention,  and  w’hcn  mixed  with 
Cattleyas  of  the  lab:ata  section,  such  as  C.  Moss:^  or  C.  Mendeli,  is 
very  telling. 
Leptotes  bicolor. 
A  plant  of  easy  culture,  which  is  most  useful  where  buttonhole 
bouquets  arc  in  demand,  is  Leptotes  bicolor,  as  its  white  flowers,  with 
a  rosy  streak  in  the  lip,  are  very  charming.  It  thrives  well  in  small 
pans  suspended  close  to  the  glass  in  an  ordinary  intermediate  house; 
in  fact,  I  have  seen  nice  plants  grown  in  a  warm  greenhouse.  The 
plant  is  of  small  habit  with  terete  leaves  or  bulbs,  and  when  in  active 
growth  should  be  well  supplied  with  water;  but  when  at  rest  greater 
care  must  be  taken,  and  no  more  than  is  really  necessary  should  be 
applied,  as  excess  favours  decay.  The  usual  Orchid  compost  answers 
its  requirements. 
Cypripedium  callosum  Sakder^. 
This  most  beautiful  albino  is  perhaps  more  sought  after  by  Cypri¬ 
pedium  lovers  than  any  existing  variety,  and  it  is  no  doubt  a  great 
acquisition  to  those  who  are  fortunate  enough  to  possess  a  plant.  It 
is  easily  distinguished  from  the  typical  C.  callosum  by  its  mucli 
lighter  markings  or  reticulations  on  the  foliage.  The  plant  is  a  gcod 
grower  in  a  warm  Cypripedium  house  potted  in  equal  portions  of  peat 
Fig.  104.— Cypripedium  maqrochilum  gigakteum. 
and  moss.  Thrips  should  be  carefully  guarded  against,  as  th(3r 
mark  and  permanently  injure  its  delicate  foliage,  which  is  not  only  a 
great  eyesore  but  also  very  weakening  to  the  plant.  It  is  at  tin- 
present  time  unfolding  its  lovely  green  and  white  flowers,  and  is 
indeed  a  gem,  comparable  only  with  tie  charming  Cypripediunu 
Lawrenceanum  Hyeanum,  which  I  find  is  not  quite  so  vigorous. 
Great  care  must  be  taken  in  applying  water,  especially  in  the  dull 
winter  months;  they  will  both  succeed  under  the  same  conditions. — 
J.  Barker,  Hessle. 
