December  3,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
507 
Vanda  caerulea. 
Vanda  caerulea  is  one  of  the  most  popular  in  the  genus,  its 
beautiful  blue  flowers  never  failing  to  arrest  attention.  It  is 
often  treated  to  far  too  much  heat,  and  is  never  so  satisfactory  as 
when  growing  in  a  light,  airy  house  not  any  wanner  than  where 
Cattleyas  thrive.  Its  roots  seem  to  delight  in  being  packed 
closely  together,  consequently  small  pans  or  baskets  only  should 
be  used.  Its  flowers  appear  in  autumn,  when  Orchids  usually 
are  scarce,  and  lasts  well  in  good  condition  till  December.  A 
smaller  species,  V.  cserulescens,  comes  from  Burmah  and  makes 
a  very  pretty  basket  plant.  The  spikes  are  many-flowered, 
these  individually  beiim  pale  mauve,  with  a  deeper  purple  or 
violet  lip. — A  Biustol  Grower. 
Vanda  Insignis. 
'  Vanda  insigiiis  is  a  strong  growing  plant,  flowering  in  early 
summer,  its  blossoms  large,  the  sepals  and  petals  yellowish  brown, 
the  lip  rose  and  white.  It  likes  a  moderate  heat.  The  popular 
y.  Kimballiana  Ls  one  of  the  finest  of  Vandas,  easily  grown  in  a 
oool,  light  house,  and  presenting  a  fine  flowering  return  for  the 
little  trouble  necessary  in  its  culture.  It  may  be  grouped 
several  together  in  flat  pans  or  baskets,  or  grown  as  single¬ 
stemmed  plants.  I  prefer  the  latter  plan,  as  made-up  plants 
do  not  always  flower  all  over  simultaneously,  while  the  restricted 
rooting  space  is  also  beneficial.  This  plant  dislikes  overhead 
watering,  but  a  slight  spray  on  hot  days  may  be  allowed. — ■ 
B-  G.  j  ^.1..  1 1.1  III j 
“The  Orchid  Review.” 
This  interesting  magazine  of  Orchidology  for  last  month  con¬ 
tains  notes  on  the  collections  at  Kew,  Chelsea,  Bradford,  and 
Highbury ;  also  communications  and  notices  in  reference  to 
Cattleya  x  granulo.sa,  C.  x  Hardyana,  Masdevallia  tovariensis, 
&c. ;  Orchids  from  seed.  Reversion  in  Odontoglossum,  and  other 
subjects.  The  piyce  is  6d.  monthly,  from  the  Editor  of  “The 
Orchid  Review,”  Lawn  Crescent,  Kew. 
PhAIOCYMBIDIUM  X  CHARmV.ARENSE. 
We  are  indebted  to  “The  Orchid  Review”  for  the  following 
references  and  descriptions  of  this  new  bigeneric  hybrid.  Our 
illustration  is  from  a  drawing  by  Mr.  G.  Shayler.  “  It  may  be 
remembered  that  last  year  a  very  remarkable  hybrid  from  the 
collection  of  G.  P.  Moore,  Esq.,  -Bburton-on-tiie-Water,  was 
exhibited  under  the  above  name  (O.IL,  x.,  pp.  117,  190).  Two 
flowers  have  now  been  sent  by  Mr.  Moore’s  present  gardener, 
Mr.  W.  Page,  with  the  following  note  ;  — The  enclosed  is  a 
supposed  hybrid  between  Phaius  Wallichi  x  Cymbidium 
giganteum.  It  has  been  shown  at  a  R.H.S.  meeting,  and  there 
was  some  doubt  as  to  its  parentage  by  those  who  saw  it  there, 
but  according  to  the  records  of  our  seedlings,  it  must  be  correct, 
because  it  is  the  only  Phaius  cross  recorded.  The  plant,  so'  far 
as  I  can  see,  is  identical  with  P.  Wallichi ;  there  is  nothing  in  the 
growth  of  the  plant  to  suggest  Cymbidium,  but  the  flower 
certainly  looks  to  me  as  though  it  has  Cymbidium  strain  in  it. 
We  have  about  two  dozen  seedlings,  three  of  which  are  in  flower, 
and  are  the  same  as  the  samples  sent.’  The  two  flowers  sent  are 
typical  Phaius  in  structure,  but  one  is  much  smaller  than  the 
other,  the  sepals  measuring  respectively  Ifin  and  2|in,  while  the 
spur  of  the  larger  is  five  lines  long,  and  the  other  only  three 
lines.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  deep  yellow  at  the  back,  slightly 
suffused  with  light  coppery  brown  in  front  in  the  smaller  flower, 
and  more  .strongly  so  in  the  larger.  The  ground  colour  of  the  lip 
is  deep  yellow,  striated  throughout  on  the  inside  with  deep 
maroon  brown.  The  margin  is  distinctly  undulate,  while  on  the 
disc  of  the  larger  flower  occurs  a  pair  of  fle.shy  keels,  and  a  few- 
short  hairs  on  the  surface  of  the  lip.  Mr.  Page  has  pollinated 
one  of  the  flowers  with  Cymbidium  giganteum,  to  see  whether  a 
second  crossing  will  not  bring  out  more  of  the  Cymbidium 
character.  It’ is  intere.sting  to  note  that  there  are  also  seedlings 
obtained  from  Zygopetalum  x  Mackayi  x  Cymbidium  giganteum, 
and  Mr.  Page  remarks  that  they  .seem  large  enough  to  flower 
at  any  time.  The  event  will  be  awaited  w-ith  curiosity,  as  it  may 
prove  tO’  be  another  case  of  monolepsis.  We  should  like  to  see 
an  attempt  made  to  reverse  these  crosses.  It  must  now  bo 
added  that  the  plant  was  exhibited  at  the  R.H.S.  meeting  on 
October  27  last,  and  vvas'  aw-arded  a  First-class  Certificate.  It 
was  like  a  strong  Phaius  Wallichi,  with  spikes  over  a  yard  high, 
and  was  very  effective.” 
The  Week’s  Cultural  Notes. 
Now  that  w-ork  among  Orchids  is  slack,  it  is  well  to  look 
round  and  see  in  what  way  the  pre.ss  of  work  later  on  may  be 
eased,  and  what  can  be  carried  out  now.  Those  who  take  a  real 
interest  in  their  work  will  always  find  something  requiring  atten¬ 
tion.  Thunias,  for  instance,  are  now  quite  at  rest,  the  leaves  all 
fallen,  and  the  annual  roots  dead,  their  work  being  over.  These 
do  not  really  need  repotting  for  another  month  or  two,  but  thi.s 
would  bring  us  to  a  busy  time,  and  as  they  can  be  repotted  now 
with  just  as  satisfactory  residts,  it  is  well  to  do  so.  ’ 
Preparation  of  the  compost  will  be  the  first  consideration, 
good  flbry  loam  mixed  with  a  third  of  peat,  and  a  liberal 
sprinkling  of  chopped  sphagnum  and  finely  broken  crocks  making 
an  excellent  medium  for  the  new  roots.  Many  growers  mix  a 
small  quantity  of  a  good  concentrated  manure  or  a  larger  amount 
of  dried  cow  manure  with  it,  but  though  a  stronger  growth  may 
re.sult  I  should  advise  beginners  to  be  very  careful  in  the  use  of 
either.  A  bin  pot  is  quite  large  enougli  for  the  strongest  of 
single  stems,  but  when  three  or  five  are  grouped  together  the 
pots  must  be  larger  in  proportion,  and  in  all  cases  especially  well 
drained  pla.nts  with  several  stems  make  a  fine  show ;  but  the 
principal  objection  I  have  tO'  them,  i,s  the  fact  that  the  stems  do 
not  always  flower  simultaneously,  and  then  the  result  is  not 
pleasing.  After  repotting,  the  specimens  must  be  stood  in  a  warm 
house,  and  the  compost  kept  quite  dry  until  growth,  and 
eventually  roots,  make  their  appearance.  It  may  be  noted  that 
growth  in  all  cases  precede.s  root  action,  and  although  few  Orchids 
like  more  moisture  than  healthy-growing  plants  of  Thunias,  yet 
just  at  this  stage  mentioned  they  may  be  ruined  by  an  overdo.se 
of  water. 
Much  the  .same  may  be  said  of  the  Indian  Crocu.ses,  as  the 
various  species  of  Pleione  are  called,  but  as  the  flowers  of  these 
charming  plants  appear  in  the  centre  of  the  young  forming 
growths,  and  not  at  the  apex  like  those  of  Thunias,  it  follows 
that  the  dry  state  must  not  be  unduly  prolonged,  for  often  roots 
are  to  be  seen  starting  at  the  time  of  repotting.  The  deciduous 
species  and  hybrids  of  Calanthe,  too,  may  have  attention  as  soon 
Phaio=cymbidium  x  Chardwarense. 
as  the  .flower.s  are  past,  the  treatment  being  almost  exactly  the 
same  as  for  Thunias.  Being  dwarfs,  the  plants  may  be  placed 
close  up  to  the  glass  on  a  shelf  in  the  lightest  part-  of  the  East 
Indian  house. — H.  R.  R. 
- - »  9 
Principles  of  American  Forestry. — A  volume  of  334  pages, 
with  seventy-three  illustrations,  mostly  half-tones,  has  just  been 
issued  by  John  Wiley  and  Sons,  New  York.  The  author  is 
Samuel  B.  Green,  of  the  University  of  Minnesota.  The  work  is 
exceptionally  practical  and  readily  adapted  to  the  beginner,  and 
valuable  as  well  to  him  who  has  already  made  extensive  plantings. 
Protection  of  Frames. — Do  not  leave  necessary  protecting 
until  severe  frost  or  snow  arrives.  If  the  frames  are  of  brick 
or  wood,  and  rise  some  distance  above  the  ground,  they  will 
require  at  least  a  foot  wide  of  leaves  or  straw  manure  boxed 
in  all  round  them.  Have  the  protecting  materials  as  dry  as 
po.ssible  and  board  over  the  top  snugly  to  throw  off  water  and 
snow.  Mats  and  wooden  shutters  should  bo  had  in  readiness. 
Give  the  latter  a  coat  of  paint,  both  for  appearance  sake  and  to 
make  them  wear.  Where  frames  are  level  with  the  ground  a 
thick  bedding  of  litter  or  leaves  over  the  surface  of  the  ground 
will  exclude  a  lot  of  cold. 
