December  31,  1303.  JGURi\AL-  CF  llOBFIGULTURE  AND  cottage  GARDENER. 
599 
Notes  on  Vandas. 
V.  Parishi  is  a  d^varf,  stout  growing  species  bearing  large 
fleshy  flowers  on  erect  spikes.  In  the  type  these  are  yellowish- 
brown,  but  a  higher  coloured  variety,  V.  P.  Marriottiana  is  far 
superior.  It  likes  ample  heat  and  moisture.  V.  Roxburghi  is 
the  oldest  Vanda  in  cultivation,  the  type  species  upon  which 
the  genus  was  founded.  It  is  a  tall  growing  handsome  plant, 
bearing  towards  the  top  six  to  eight-flowered  racemes  of  sweetly 
scented  blossoms.  These  are  greenish  with  lines  and  spots  of 
‘brown  on  the  sepals  and  petals,  the  lip  violet.  Fairly  large 
pots  or  baskets  suit  it  well,  and  it  does  best  in  an  intermediate 
house. 
The  beautiful  V.  Sanderiana  is  certainly  the  finest  in  the 
genus,  and  one  of  the  grandest  Orchids  in  cultivation.  In 
growth  it  resembles  V.  ccerulea,  but  the  flowers  are  larger  and 
of  gi’eat  substance.  In  colour  they  are  rosy-pink,  with  a  peculiar 
buff  suffusion,  the  centre  area  crimson.  It  likes  plenty  of 
heat  and  moisture  while  growing,  must  be  well  consolidated  in 
Phalaenopsis  Mariee. 
season’s  growth,  and  that  I’equii'e  rest  afterwards;  but  this  is 
not  the  ca.se  with  Cypripedium  insigne  and  its  hybrids,  or  many 
of  them.  At  the  time  the  flowers  are  forming  in  one  set  of 
growths  another  set  is  growing,  and  to  stand  the  plants  about  in 
dry,  draughty  rooms  and  corridors,  and  yet  expect  a  good  flow'er- 
ing  return  another  season,  is  going  a  little  too  far.  Yet  this  is 
the  fate  of  hundreds  of  plants  at  this  time  of  year. 
After  a  reasonable  flowering  time  the  flowers  should  be  re¬ 
moved,  as  they  will  still  last  well  in  a  cut  state,  and  the  plants, 
after  a  thorough  cleaning  and  overhauling  of  the  compost  if  this 
is  necessary,  should  be  taken  to  the  growing-  quarters  at  once. 
An  intermediate  temperature  with  plenty  of  atmospheric  moisture 
is  what  this  section  likes,  and  as  soon  as  the  roots  are  really  active 
full  supplies  of  water  may  be  given.  This  will  result  in  fine  growth, 
with  vigorous,  healthy  leaves  and  stout  flowering  crowns  If  they 
re.st  at  all  it  is  in  summer,  and  a  few  weeks’  sojourn  in  a  cool  and 
lightly  shaded  airy  frame  is  then  advisable. 
The  pre.sent  is  a  very  trying  season  for  small  growing  Orchids 
such  as  the  lonopsis  and  the  smallest  growing  of  the  Oncidiums, 
and  I  am  led  to  speak  of  these  from  seeing  some  pans  of  the 
pretty  little  O.  tetrapetalum  in  flower  recently.  There  is  so 
little  stamina  in  them,  and  our  houses,  no  matter  how  well  con¬ 
structed,  are  often  draughty,  especially  near  the  roof,  where 
such  iilants  are  u.sually  grown.  When  they  have  obtained  a 
really  good  hold  upon  the  compost  or  block  there  is  less  risk,  as 
water  can  be  safely  supplied;  but  when,  on  the  other  hand,  roots 
are  few  and  weak,  there  is  a  danger  of  losing  even  these  if  an 
extra  dose  of  moisture  is  given  in  dull  weather. 
These  Orchids  appear  to  me  to  relish  a  dry  and  wet  time 
every  day,  rather  than  a  wet  and  dry  sea.son  at  opposite  times 
of  the  year.  If  it  could  be  so  arranged,  I  believe  that  every  one 
of  them  would  be  bettor  for  being  dry,  say  from  an  hour  before 
noon  till  closing  time  in  the  evening,  when  a  light  dewing  from 
the  syringe  would  replenish  the  power  wa.sted  and  form  a  restful 
moi.st  atmosphere  around  them  for  the  night.  But  this,  of  course, 
is  impossible  in  most  cases,  and  we  must  do  our  best  by  maintain¬ 
ing  the  temperature  as  even  and  regular  as  possible,  and  prevent¬ 
ing  draughts  on  the  one  hand  and  a  stuffv  heat  on  the  other. 
— H.  R.  R. 
the  former  named  is  supposed  to  bo  a  variety  only  of  the  latter, 
it  is  the  better  of  the  two,  the  pure  waxy  whiteness  of  the 
segments  being  far  superior  to  the  yellowish  tint  on  V.  tricolor. 
They  need  plenty  of  head  and  elbow  room,  ample  moisture  both 
in  the  atmospliere  and  at  the  roots  while  growing,  and  an  inter¬ 
mediate  temperature.  For  cultural  puiq^oses  V.  teres  and  V. 
Hookeriana  may  be  bracketed.  Not  every  one  has  the  conveni¬ 
ence  to  cut  them  down  and  jjlace  a  compartment  entirely  to 
them,  and  in  such  cases  they  do  fairly  well  in  the  ordinary  way, 
though  nothing  like  the  number  of  flowers  will  bo  produced. 
Although  several  species  have  been  left  out,  the  above  named 
will  make  a  very  interesting  and  beautiful  collection. — H.  R.  R. 
The  Week’s  Cultural  Notes. 
One  often  feels  sorry  for  Cypripediums  when  in  flower  and 
afterwards  at  this  time  of  year.  There  are  Orchids  that  grow  to 
flowering  time,  the  blos.soms  forming  the  apex,  as  it  were,  of  the 
autumn,  and  kept  in  an  intermediate  house  in  winter.  Small 
pots  or  baskets  are  best,  and  clean  sphagnum  and  charcoal 
suffice  for  the  compo.st.  V.  suavis  and  V.  tricolor  arc  noble 
exhibition  plants,  easily  grown  if  given  due  attention.  Although 
Phalaenopsis  Mariae. 
This  Orchid  was  discovered  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Burbidge  in  the 
Sunda  Isles,  and  bears  the  name  of  the  discoverer’s  wife.  The 
flowers  (a  small  raceme  of  which  is  illustrated)  grow  in  a  lateral, 
drooping  raceme,  and  are  about  l^in  across.  The  sepals  and 
petals  are  white,  and  have  transverse  bans  of  chestnut  colour. 
The  lip  is,  deep  magenta  purple,  margined  with  white.  Messrs. 
Veitch  were  the  introducers. 
Cattleya  guttata  Prinzi. 
Cattleya  guttata  PrInzI. 
This  is  one  of  the  mo.st  distinctive  Cattleyas  we  have,  and  the 
markings,  as  well  as  the  form  of  the  flower,  are  pleasing.  The 
sepals  and  petals  are  delicate  creamy  yellow,  spotted  with  violet, 
while  the  lip  is  of  a  bright  magenta  shade.  It  is  found  in  a 
number  of  collections,  while  the  species  itself  is  well  known. 
