December  fi,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER 
505 
Cypripedium  Priam. 
This  Cypripedium  was  exhibited  at  the  Drill  Hall,  Westminster, 
on  November  20tb,  by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Ltd.,  Royal  Exotic 
Nursery,  Chelsea,  and  was  recommended  the  first-class  certificate  of 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  by  the  Orchid  Committee.  It  is  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  Cypripediums  we  have  seen  of  late,  the  dorsal 
sepal  especially  being  really  exquisite.  This  organ  is  of  considerable 
size ;  the  colour  is  pale  green  at  the  base,  whence  radiate  in  lines  small 
crimson  spots  that  pass  up  into  the  pure  white  with  which  the  small 
green  patch  is  encircled.  The  petals  are  shining  crimson  brown,  with 
numerous  brown  spots  at  the 
base  ;  the  pouch  is  of  similar 
colour.  Cypripedium  Priam 
(fig.  129)  is  a  hybrid  that 
was  obtained  by  Mr.  Seden 
from  a  cross  between 
C.  X  Niobe  and  C.  insigne 
Chantini. 
Few  things  are  more 
interesting  to  a  lover  of 
Orchids  than  to  trace  the 
parentage  of  a  hybrid  by  its 
flowers,  and  although  in  the 
case  of  this  delightful  plant 
that  was  shown  by  Messrs. 
Veitch  at  the  Drill  Hall  on 
November  20th  it  would  be 
rather  a  difiicult  task  to  say 
exactly,  yet  when  the  parentage 
is  pointed  out  one  can  see  the 
likeness  directly.  At  the  first 
view  it  looks  like  a  form  of 
C.  Leeanum,  then  one  notices 
the  drooped  petals  that  show 
its  affinity  to  C.  Fairrieanum 
throush  the  lovely  C.  Niobe, 
one  of  its  parents.  The  mention 
of  C.  insigne  Chantini  conjures 
up  old  memories  of  the  times 
when  yellow  insignes  were  not, 
and  insigne  Ashworthianum, 
if  in  existence  at  all,  had  not 
been  raised  to  its  high  pedestal 
of  fame.  In  those  days  w^e 
thought  much  of  such  forms 
as  C.  insigne  Maulei  and 
Chantini,  and  the  latter,  used 
in  conjunction  with  C.  Niobe, 
has  given  us  this  beautiful 
hybrid  so  well  described  on 
page  462,  November  22nd. 
was  only  a  small  one,  but 
very  interesting  to  note  as 
Fig.  129. — Cypripeditm  Priam. 
The  plant  shown  by  Messrs.  Veitch 
it  looked  very  healthy.  It  will  be 
time  goes  on  how  far  the  increased 
vigour  enjoyed  by  hybrids  will  be  maintained  in  those  of  the  second 
or  third  class  ;  whether  hybrids  raised  from  closely  related  parents 
such  as  insigne  and  Leeanum  will  be  as  vigorous  as  those  from  parents 
quite  unrelated — if  such  a  thing  is  possible. 
Treatment  of  Deciduous  Calauthes. 
There  is  not  the  slightest  need  to  water  these  p  etty  Orchids  at  all 
after  the  foliage  has  fallen,  although  the  flowers  are  not  all  open. 
In  the  large  fleshy  pseudo-bulbs  ample  nutriment  is  stored  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  latter,  and  in  at  least  the  majority  of  cases  the 
roots  are  dead  or  nearly  so  by  the  time  the  last  leaf  has  fallen,  new 
tiers  being  produced  from  the  young  growths  annually.  Watering 
then  is  not  only  needless,  it  is  very  harmful,  and  likely  to  cause  decay 
of  the  base  and  spotting  in  the  young  growths. 
Then  again  in  standing  the  plants  about  in  cold,  draughty  places 
much  harm  may  accrue.  The  plants — or  their  parents  in  the  case  of 
hybrids — are  not  cool  house  species  at  all,  they  come  from  some  of  the 
hottest  regions,  and  to  expect  them  to  do  well  under  such  conditions 
is  folly.  In  no  case  of  course  is  the  injury  at  once  apparent ;  it  is  all 
too  plain  though  in  spring,  when  the  plants  commence  to  grow,  and 
then  very  often  other  causes  are  assigned  for  the  mischief.  With 
regard  to  the  time  for  potting,  I  b  lieve  in  getting  them  into  their  new 
quarters  directly  the  flowers  are  past.  Nothing  is  gained  by  leaving 
them  in  the  old  material,  and  they  may  on  occasion  be  injured  owing 
to  the  roots  having  started  before  the  potting  was  carried  out. 
There  is  no  need  because  the  plants  are  repotted  to  endeavour  to 
start  them  into  growth.  Let  them  rest  just  the  same,  for  the  dry 
treatment  that  would  mean  mischief  to  plants  with  roots  in  an  active 
condition  is  just  the  right  thing  for  those  that  practically  have  no 
roots.  Respecting  the  planting  compost,  there  is  not  the  least  need 
for  the  very  heavy  and  rich  mixtures  sometimes  advised.  I  have 
never  seen  that  the  flower  spikes  were  any  better  from  bloated-looking 
pseudo-bulbs  a  foot,  or  nearly  so,  high  of  0.  Veitchi  than  from  more 
naturally  grown  plants,  while  the  plethoric  plant  is  usually  the  first  to 
succumb  to  disease. 
Better  by  far  be  content,  then,  in  safety  with  moderate  sized  bulbs 
than  run  a  risk  with  big  ones.  Equal  parts  of  peat,  loam,  and 
chopped  sphagnum  moss,  with  a  good  sprinkling  of  ballast  or  crocks 
in  lieu  of  the  sand  so  often 
used,  will  be  quite  rich 
enough.  If  necessary,  in 
summer  the  plants  may  be 
fed  a  little  with  well-diluted 
liquid  manure,  or  a  slight 
application  of  chemicals,  but 
it  is  very  easy  to  overdo  this. 
A  thorough  cleaning  of  the 
bulbs  previous  to  repotting  is 
always  well  repaid  by  the 
lessened  risk  of  insect  attacks 
upon  the  young  green  foliage. 
Oncidinm  Mantini. 
There  are  many  forms  of 
Brazilian  Oncidiums  more  or 
less  distinct  that  doubtless 
owe  their  origin  to  crosses  in 
a  wild  state.  They  are 
natural  hybrids,  to  use  a 
common  term,  but  it  would 
be  very  difficult  to  say  where 
the  difference  is  between  a 
natural  hybrid  and  a— -so- 
called  —  distinct  species. 
Fortunately  this  does  not 
detract  from  their  beauty  in 
the  least,  and  as  many  of  this 
section  are  at  their  best 
during  the  dullest  and  dreariest 
part  of  the  year,  their  value 
to  cultivators  is  thereby 
enhanced.  There  are  few 
plants  brighter  or  more 
beautiful  than  this,  several 
small  specimens  of  which 
were  exhibited  at  the  Drill 
Hall  on  November  20th. 
It  belongs  to  the  0.  crispum 
section,  and  has  not  been  so 
frequently  imported  as  the  type  and  many  others.  Like  rnost  of 
its  compeers,  it  is  very  free  flowering,  and  takes  a  lot  out  ot  itselt 
in  doing  so.  The  blossoms  are  chestnut  brown  margined  with  yellow, 
the  latter  colour  being  more  displayed  upon  the  lip.  To  grow  it 
well  a  position  near  the  roof  glass  in  an  intermediate  house  is  usually 
selected.  The  roots  are  only  moderately  vigorous,  and  the  plants 
will  be  found  healthiest  when  the<e  have  a  good  hoid  on  the 
compost.  This  is  most  likely  to  take  place  when  the  latter  is 
thin,  and  trellised  blocks  lightly  dressed,  or  small  pans  give  these 
conditions  admirably. 
Habenaria  carnea. 
Very  beautiful  are  the  flowers  (fig.  130)  and  foliage  of  this  species, 
and  it  is  a  pity  that  more  growers  are  not  successful  in  the  culture 
of  this  and  nearly  allied  sorts.  The  leaves  are  deep  green  with 
greyish  white  spots,  and  the  blossoms  are  a  charming  rosy  flesh  tint 
fading  to  white.  The  near  relationship  to  our  own  native  Butterfly 
Orchids  should  point  out  the  error  of  keeping  the  tubers  of  this  and 
kindred  sorts  quite  dry  in  winter,  and  yet  this  has  been  in  many 
cases  the  one  fault  that  has  led  to  their  failure.  Too  much  moisture 
will  not  do,  especially  if  joined  with  a  low  temperature,  but  too  little 
will  kill  the  tubers  outright. — H.  R.  R. 
