October  18,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
349 
OdoutogloBsum  Wattianum. 
The  typical  form  of  Odontoglossum  Wattianum  was  shown  by 
Messrs.  F.  Sander  &  Co.  in  1895,  when  it  received  a  first-class 
certificate  from  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society.  On  that  occasion 
we  illustrated  it  with  the  accompanying  note: — “The  ground  of  the 
sepals  and  petals  of  this  Orchid  is  yellow,  the  brown  spots  aud 
mottlings  being  very  heavy.  The  lip  has  a  white  margin,  pure  in  the 
front,  splashed  with  purple  towards  the  throat.  There  is  a  purple  blotch 
in  the  middie  of  this  organ.”  We  reproduce  the  woodcut  (fig.  96)  and 
reference  at  the  request  of  Mr.  de  Barri  Crawshay,  who  has  succeeded 
in  raising  0.  Wattianum  in  his  garden  at  Sevenoaks.  At  the  time  of 
its  first  being  shown  Mr.  Crawshay’s  views  as  to  the  parentage  were 
not  shared  by  other  experts,  whereupon  he  undertook  to  prove  his 
opinions.  This  he  has  now  done,  and  the  result  is  a  great  tribute  to 
his  keenness  of  perception  in  relation  to  the  parentage  of  Odonto- 
glossums.  Mr.  Crawshay  has  kindly  sent  the  history  of  Odontoglossum 
Wattianum  Crawshayanum,  whych  might 
more  correctly  be  Crawshayi,  and  this  we 
give  below,  together  with  an  excellent 
reproduction  (fig.  97)  of  the  hybrid. 
O.  Wattianum  Crawshayanum 
The  history  of  this  R  sefield  hybrid 
is  as  follows.  The  flowers  were  crossed 
on  September  12th,  1894,  and  the  seeds 
were  sown  on  August  1st,  1895.  A  spike 
of  nine  blooms  was  produced  on  the  third 
bulb  on  August  24tb,  1900.  The  plant 
is  of  extremely  strong  habit,  and  made 
the  largest  first  bulb  I  have  ever  seen  on 
any  Odontoglossum,  it  being  24  inches 
high,  2  inches  broad,  f  inch  thick. 
Compared  to  the  bulbs  of  imported  three- 
bulbed  plants  it  is  a  veritable  giant,  as 
each  is  larger  than  its  forerunner,  and 
the  rising  growth  promises  a  still  larger 
one.  It  has  decided  the  much  vexed 
question  of  the  parentage  of  the  natural 
hybrid  introduced  by  Mr.  Sander  in  1889. 
The  original  plant  was  bought  by  and 
dedicated  to  the  late  T.  R.Watt,  Esq.,  of 
Chislehurst;  when  bought  at  his  sale  it 
was  in  very  weak  health,  and  despite  the 
great  care  given  it  by  a  skilful  amateur, 
it  died. 
The  following  certificates  have  been  Fig.  97. — Odontoglossum 
awarded  to  this  rare  hybrid  :  all  three  to 
Mr.  Sander: — O.W.  Hardyanum,  May 
25th,  1893,  Temple  Show,  A.M. ;  O.W.  superbum,  August  23rd, 
1894,  Drill  Hall,  A.M. ;  O.  Wattianum  August  13th,  1895,  Drill 
Hall,  F.C.C.  Baron  Schroder  owns  the  first  and  last  of  these 
plants.  Curiously  enough  after  two  varieties  taking  A.M.’s  the  type 
takes  F.C.C. 
I  can  recall  stating  at  Temple  Show  on  May  25th,  1893,  that 
Harry anum  was  a  parent  ot  the  plant,  and  that  I  would  prove  it  be 
so  with  the  aid  of  Lindleyanum.  I  have  had  that  satisfaction.  Mons. 
Jules  Hye  has  had  the  honour  of  showing  the  grand  hybrid  from 
Harryanum  x  luteo-purpureum  at  Temple  Show  this  year.  At  last, 
after  many  years  of  secrecy  of  those  who  knew,  the  habitat  has 
been  published  of  Harryanum  as  Varumal  in  Antioquia.  The  com¬ 
mercial  value  could  have  been  no  incentive  to  keep  it  in  such 
extraordinary  darkness. — De  B.  Crawshay. 
Fhalaenopsis  violacea. 
The  scapes  of  flower  produced  by  this  Moth  Orchid  cannot  compete 
for  size  or  showiness  with  many  of  the  species  included  in  the  genus, 
but  few  are  more  refined  and  beautiful.  Of  dwarf  yet  stout  habit, 
the  plants  are  ornamental  either  in  or  out  of  flower,  the  dark  shining 
leaves  being  very  attractive,  and  when  contrasted  with  flowers 
exceptionally  so.  The  spikes  usually  contain  about  three  or  four 
flowers,  these  being  individually  about  2  inches  or  a  little  more  across. 
The  pretty  bright  violet  purple  centre  of  the  blossom  shows  up  well 
against  the  clouded  white  of  the  sepals  and  petals. 
Like  most  dwarf  Phalsenopses,  P.  violacea  is  easily  incommoded  by 
ill-considered  treatment,  but  if  anyone  will  bring  a  little  thought  to 
bear  upon  it  no  great  difficulty  need  be  fewed.  Flowering  now,  the 
roots  are  very  apt  to  be  distressed  by  want  of  water,  aud  unless  the 
atmosphere  is  kept  pleasantly  moist  to  the  last  the  plant  loses  strength 
that  is  not  easily  regained  during  the  succeeding  dark  winter  months. 
It  is  by  DO  means  necessary  to  soak  the  compost  out  with  water,  but 
apply  it  judiciously,  and  see  that  the  roots  are  allowed  to  get  a  little 
on  the  dry  side  before  giving  a  fresh  supply. 
Something  must  be  done,  too,  to  consolidate  the  growth  at  this 
period  of  the  year,  and  ample  light  without  scorching  the  foliage  is 
absolutely  necessary  if  the  plants  are  to  come  through  the  winter 
safely.  It  is  bracing  and  invigorating  to  the  plants  to  have  as  much 
air  as  possible,  consistent  with  the  proper  temperature  and  moisture 
being  kept  up,  moving  about  them.  Plants  so  treated  are  not  nearly 
as  likely  to  contract  the  dreaded  spot  and  kindred  troubles  as  others 
'kept  in  a  very  damp  and  enervating  atmosphere  up  to  the  time  the 
temperature  is  lowered  for  the  winter  season. 
In  spring,  say  in  April  or  May,  the  plants  require  attention  to  the 
compost,  a  little  new  moss  being  dibbled  in  here  and  there  when  they 
do  not  need  rebasketing  or  repotting.  Tbose  that  do  must  be  treated 
with  caution,  for  nothing  is  more  injurious  to  established  Phalaenopsids 
than  rough  treatment  of  the  roots.  When  the  plants  are  doing  well 
the  baskets  in  which  they  are  growing  may  sometimes  be  placed 
entire  in  a  larger  new  one,  but  this  is  a  matter  for  consideration 
individually.  The  decayed  wood  must  always  be  removed,  and  a 
large  shift  to  a  weak  plant  is  very 
injurious. 
Odontoglossum  Scbleiperianum  Havidum. 
To  lovers  of  bright  colours  in  Orchids 
this  variety  may  not  appeal  so  strongly 
as  does  the  typical  form,  but  it  makes  a 
change,  and  has  many  attractions.  The 
flowers  are  paler  in  ground  colour,  and 
the  blotches  or  spots  are  more  of  an 
orange  than  a  brown  tint.  It  thrives 
under  similar  conditions,  and  after  flower¬ 
ing  is  the  better  for  a  rest  in  a  rather 
drier  and  slightly  warmer  house  than  that 
Usually  advised  for  wintering  Odonto- 
glossums.  Grood  peai  and  moss  in  a 
rough  state  is  the  best  compost  for  it, 
and  the  drainage  must  be  very  free  and 
open. 
Cattleya  Eldorado  Wallisi. 
This  is  a  little  gem  among  Cattleyas, 
and  a  charming  autumn  flowering  variety. 
In  some  forms  sold  under  the  name  the 
pure  white  of  the  segments  is  marred 
a  little  by  a  purplish  or  mauve  tint  that 
becomes  more  decided  as  the  flowers  age, 
but  it  is  a  beautiful  thing  in  any  case. 
Not  a  strong  grower,  it  is  advisable  to 
Wattianum  Crawshayanum.  keep  it  rather  pinched  for  pot  room  than 
otherwise,  but  the  Cattleya  house  suits 
it  well,  and  in  all  other  respects  so  does 
Cattleya  treatment.  It  is  a  native  of  dhe  Rio  Negro  district,  and  is 
not  very  plentiful. 
Cypripedium  Spicerlanum. 
There  are  few  of  the  Cypripedium  species  more  beautiful  than  this 
fine  plant,  and  fortunately  it  is  cheap  enough  to  be  within  the  reach  ol 
all  growers.  It  is  very  easily  grown,  and  not  so  fastidious  with 
regard  to  temperature  as  are  many  others.  The  best  of  all  positions 
for  it  is  a  moderately  shady  part  of  an  intermediate  house — shade 
if  possible  from  the  leaves  of  other  plants  rather  than  from  thick 
blinds  or  permanent  shading  of  any  kind. 
The  compost  for  C.  Spicerianum  may  with  advantage  be  more 
substantial  than  is  usually  advised  even  for  terrestrial  Orchids,  and 
I  have  known  instances  of  very  successful  culture  in  almost  clean 
loam,  a  little  charcoal,  chopped  moss,  and  crocks  being  added. 
But  the  drainage  must  be  exceptionally  good  in  this  case,  and  only 
strong  plants  would  stand  such  a  liberal  compost.  Weaker  or  badly 
established  specimens  would  be  better  in  peat  and  moss  for  a  time, 
and  may  be  slightly  elevated  in  the  pots,  this  not  being  necessary 
with  the  stronger  ones.  A  native  of  Assam,  C.  Spicerianum  is 
named  after  Mr.  Spicer,  a  tea  planter,  who  originally  sent  home  plants 
of  it  to  his  mother  in  England.  Stories  are  current  as  to  much 
innocent  sharp  practice  by  collectors  of  various  nursery  firms  who 
attempted  to  find  its  habitat.  That  they  were  successful  in  their 
search  goes  without  saying,  and  few  Orchids  have  so  quickly  dropped 
in  price  as  did  C.  Spicerianum  soon  after. — H.  R.  R. 
