December  27,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
bT6 
Cattleya  Dowiana  Rosita. 
Almost  every  year  sees  the  exhibition  of  new  varieties  of  the  beautiful 
•Cattleya  Dowiana,  and  many  of  them  have  been  specially  honoured  by 
the  Orchid  Committee  of  the  Eoyal  Horticultural  Society.  The  most 
recent  is  0.  Dowiana  Rosita  (6g.  148),  which  was  shown  at  the  Drill 
Hall  on  Tuesday,  December  17tb,  by  Mons.  Chas.  Maron,  Brunoy, 
France.  It  is  a  superbly 
beautiful  variety,  and 
•merited  the  first-class 
•certificate  that  was  re¬ 
commended.  The  stout 
sepals  are  cream  with 
a  pronounced  suffusion 
of  rosy  red  at  the  tips; 
the  broad,  wavy,  and 
somewhat  fimbriated 
petals  have  a  similar 
basal  colour,  but  the 
rosy  red  is  of  a  brighter 
shade,  and  is  far  more 
abundant.  The  superb 
lip  is  velvety  crimson, 
■while  the  golden  lined 
throat  has  all  the 
beauty  of  the  typical 
plant. 
White  Forma  of  Lselia 
anceps. 
Having  been  suc¬ 
cessful  in  flowering 
these  plants,  a  few 
notes  on  the  mode  of 
cultivation  adopted  may 
be  of  service  to  those 
readers  who  have  not 
been  as  successful  with 
them  as  they  would 
like.  Assuming  that 
the  plants  are  of  good 
size  and  properly  estab¬ 
lished,  pans  are  prefer¬ 
able  to  pots,  and  they 
should  not  be  disturbed 
too  often.  When  not 
potted  a  top-dressing 
should  be  given,  if  such 
be  considered  necessary. 
The  compost  for  potting 
ought  to  consist  of  good 
fibrous  peat  with  a 
sprinkling  of  sphagnum 
moss  (rather  more  than 
is  generally  used  for 
Cattleyas).  As  abun¬ 
dance  of  light  and  air  are  required,  the  best  position  for  the  plants 
Xif  there  is  no  special  house  provided)  is  on  the  side  stage  at  the 
cooler  end  of  the  Cattleya  house,  where  they  can  be  especially 
'treated. 
To  produce  strong,  sturdy  flowering  growths,  it  is  necessary  that 
they  should  not  commence  to  grow  too  soon ;  those  that  commence  in 
May  are  more  likely  to  flower  than  those  starting  earlier,  as  they  have 
the  advantage  of  the  longest  and  brightest  days  in  which  to  form  and 
complete  their  growth.  When  growth  commences  give  the  plants  all 
the  light  available,  only  shading  during  the  hottest  hours.  Air  should 
be  given  in  abundance,  the  bottom  ventilators  being  wide  open 
on  all  favourable  occasions,  and  the  side  lights,  where  possible,  on 
the  hottest  days,  should  be  opened  wide  enough  to  admit  air  without 
causing  a  draught. 
A  minimum  temperature  of  70°  should  be  maintained  during  the 
day,  with  a  night  temperature  of  65°,  a  little  air  being  admitted 
through  the  top  and  bottom  ventilators  at  all  times.  After  a  very  hot 
and  bright  day  the  night  temperature  should  be  allowed  to  fall  slightly 
dower  if  possible,  as  this  gives  the  plants  a  rest,  which  enables  them 
l. #''- 
m. 
Fig.  148. — Cattleya  Dowiana  Rosita. 
to  recuperate  their  energies  for  the  next  day,  and  tends  to  solidify  the 
growths.  Syringe  the  plants  twice  daily  during  bright  weather,  taking 
care  that  the  first  syringing  is  done  after  the  temperature  has  risen  to 
the  required  height  for  the  day,  and  that  the  second  is  done  sufficiently 
early  for  the  moisture  to  dry  up  before  nightfall ;  omit  all  syringing 
on  dull  days. 
By  following  these  simple  instructions  success  is  practically 
sure  to  come  as  a  reward  for  the  efforts  made.  Amongst  the 
numerous  forms  that  are  grown,  Lse'.ias  anceps  alba,  Sanderiana, 
Stella,  waddonensia  (fig.  149),  Schroderiana,  Dawsoni,  and  Williamsi 
are  all  excellent. — J.  P.  B. 
Coelogyne  crletata. 
’  ^  This  Orchid  is)  remarkable  for  its  easy  culture,  freedom  of  flower¬ 
ing,  and  endurance  of  a  cool,  dry  atmosphere  when  in  flower,  being, 
indeed,  one  that  may  be 
removed  to  the  draw- 
^_,r\  ing-room  or  boudoir 
/  ^  ’  without  fear  of  injury, 
and  forming  a  most 
attractive  plant  for  a 
period  extending  over 
three  weeks.  It  pro¬ 
duces  drooping  racemes 
of  pure  white  flowers 
I  3  or  4  inches  in  dia¬ 
meter,  with  a  large 
blotch  of  rich  yellow 
in  the  middle,  the  veins 
having  a  golden  crest¬ 
like  fringe. 
*  4  It  may  bo  grown  in 
pots,  in  baskets,  and 
on  blocks.  Plants  in 
small  pots  or  sauce 
(perforated),  and  bas¬ 
kets,  the  latter  when 
neatly  mossed  being 
suitable  for  the  table. 
The  pots  or  baskets 
should  be  well  drained; 
half  the  depth  should  be 
occupied  with  crocks, 
and  the  material  may 
consist  of  equal  parts 
live  sphagnum,  rough 
pieces  of  peat,  and 
charcoal  with  a  sprink¬ 
ling  of  sand,  raised  in 
a  moderately  high  cone 
in  the  centre,  and  well 
pressed  down.  The 
pseudo-bulbs  may  be 
placed  about  their  own 
diameter  apart,  and 
pegged  to  the  surface, 
using  galvanised  pegs. 
The  pseudo-bulbs 
should  not  be  buried, 
I  heir  base  merely  resi- 
ing  on  the  surface  of 
the  material.  A  little 
live  sphagnum  may  be 
placed  ^between  them, 
repot  or  re-surface  is 
rule,  the  early  part  of 
The  time 
over,  or,  as 
to 
which  gives  a  neat  finish, 
just  after  the ^^flowering  is 
February. 
During  growth  the  plants  must  not  ba  allowed  to  become  dry, 
and  copious  supplies  of  water  are  necessary,  keeping  them  constantly 
wet  from  the  time  the  plants  begin  to  grow  in  spring,  and  I  give  a 
light  dash  from  the  syringe  twice  a  day  after  the  pseudo-bulbs  begin 
forming.  Prom  February  to  October  they  require  plenty  of  water, 
but  when  they  are  of  good  size  water  only  need  be  given  to  keep 
them  from  shrivelling.  Whilst  growing  a  stove  temperature  is 
necessary,  or  that  of  the  Cattleya  house,  but  in  winter  thev  may  be 
kept  cool  or  in  a  temperature  of  50°  to  55°,  though  th-^y  will  do  well 
enough  in  a  stove  temperature,  only  do  not  keep  them  very  moist,  or 
premature  growth  may  commence. 
Coelogyne  cristata  does  well  in  an  ordinary  stove,  and  excellently 
in  an  intermediate  house;  notwithstanding  it  is  all  the  better  if 
encouraged  when  making  growth,  as  a  dry  atmosphere  causes  the 
leaves  to  become  stunted,  and  as  these  are  so  are  the  pseudo-bulbs  and 
flowers. — Obchidist. 
