The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

December 2, 1882.] THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 717

will soon induce disease, especially if the temperature of the house gets low, and the latter practice carried to excess will lead to loss of the foliage at the base of the plants. Where these have to be grown in the same house the Vandas must be placed at the coolest end, as a temperature of 55° to 60° is sufficient to maintain them in perfect health during the winter. One of the best winter Orchids now showing flower is Phaius grandifolius. This should be grown in quantity, as it is one of the few Orchids that will stand being used for room decoration without injury. Where it is used for this purpose it should be prepared by keeping it cooler for a few days before taking it into the room, and while there should be kept drier at the root. Any shy flowering Orchids, such as Schomburgkia tibicinis, Eriopsis biloba, Epidendrum bicornutum, and Cyrtopodiums, must be specially treated at this season of the year, by placing them on dry elevated shelves, maintaining a dry but moderately warm atmosphere around them, and

[black and white illustration] Fig. 127.—CYPRIPEDIUM INSIGNE, VAR. PUNCTATUM VIOLACEUM.

giving only sufficient water at the roots to keep them from excessive shrivelling. A couple or three months of this treatment will throughly ripen the bulbs, when a good show of flower will follow. J. Roberts, Gunnersbury Park Gardens.

CYPRIPEDIUM INSIGNE PUNCTATUM VIOLACEUM AND C. INSIGNE MAULEI.—Well known as the superior merits of the former variety have always been to the few who have been lucky enough to obtain it true, so many have expressed an opinion that it is nothing but C. insigne Maulei that we are glad to receive from R.P. Percival, Esq., of Birkdale, Southport, a properly authenicated flower of each, taken from strong plants grown on precisely the same conditions. So vastly superior is C. insigne punctatum violaceum to the other variey that we could not refrain from having drawings made of them (figs. 126, 127) in order to set the matter to rest once for all. The variety under notice came to this country as a stray seedling-like plant among some imported Orchids in the year 1855; chance and its own distinct

appearance favoured it, and it was carefully tended. On blooming it amply verified the good opinion formed of it, as the flowers, although borne on a small plant, were of a better shape and more brightly and distinctly marked than those of any other variety. Mr. O'Brien, in whose care it was, jealously nursed and guarded it, but it was not until about the year 1869 that any of it was parted with, and soon the sale of it had to be stopped, as Mr. Dominy (who was one of the first to recognise its merits) and a few more who were waiting for the plant would soon have taken the stock in spite of the rather prohibitory prices. The alternate selling and withholding of the plant according as the stock increased or decreased no doubt has often caused C. Maulei to be passed off for it, as indeed in after years, when C. insigne punctatum violaceum became more plentiful, it may sometimes have found its way into gardens as C. Maulei, and hence the confusion. In small plants the error is not so easily detected, but

when both are grown strong there is scarcely any comparison, particularly in point of size of flower, as a glance at our illustrations will prove. The confusion in the names of this section of C. insigne was further confounded some few years ago by the introduction of the variety called Chantinii, which was nothing but C. insigne Maulei. Although at present C. insigne punctatum violaceum may sometimes be found under that name, there is no doubt that C. insigne punctatum is distinct, and one of the finest of Cyripediums, and Mr. Percival has no cause to regret the forty odd guineas he gave for it.

ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM.—In Messrs. Jackson's collection at Kingston the show of flowers promises to be unusually fine in a week or two. A good many of the most vigorous plants are suspended from the roof of a low span-roofed plant-house, and the flowerspikes are both strong and plentiful. The varieties vary a good deal. We noticed one fine variety with four spikes, and as many as twelve flowers to a spike. This variety is beautifully marked with clear spots.

O. Andersonianum has two branching spikes; this variety is sweet-scented, and is extremely vigorous. Upon the whole the condition of the collection is remarkably satisfactory, and the show of flowers about Christmastide will be worth going a long way to see.

ARPOPHYLLUM GIGANTEUM.—A fine specimen of this rare Orchid is now showing flower in Messrs. Jackson's collection at Kingston. It is the same variety that Mr. Carson used to grow at Nonsuch Park a dozen or fourteen years ago. It has a broader leaf, throws up a much finer spike of flower, and blooms more freely than the small-leaved variety which is commonly cultivated.

LÆLIA AUTUMNALIS ATRO RUBENS.—Go when one will be there is always something interesting to be seen in Messrs. Veitch's Orchid-houses, but a specimen of the above plant having seven flowers upon one spike is a sight that excites one's admiration for these flowers to the highest degree. The flowers are of a purple hue, the labellum being of a rather deeper purple than the sepals and petals, and the throat is white.

SOPHRONITES GRANDIFLORA.—Whoever thinks of cultivating Orchids should make this pretty little plant one of their first purchases. This is the natural season for the plant to flower, and its scarlet blooms are the brightest objects in the Orchid-house at the present season.

SACCOLABIUM BLUMEI.—Messrs. Heath & Son, Exotic Nurseries, College Road, Cheltenham, have kindly forwarded me an unusually grand, and at the same time very curious, inflorescence of this plant. The superior half of the flower has nota single petal, all the flowers being trisepalous, and with a lip not superior to that organ in the petalliferous flowers. It belongs to the Saccolabium macrostachyum, Lindl. Finally, we may learn whether those things are constant or merely varieties of one protean type. H.G. Rchb. f.

DENDROBIUM LEECHIANUM ×.—From Mr. Swan, gr. to W. Leech, Esq., Fallowfield, Manchester, come several blooms of this free-flowering and very desirable hybrid, which was figured and described at p. 256 of our last volume. A spike of four flowers, Mr. Swan informs us, was taken from a bulb that has produced eighteen blossoms, yet which is little more than 1 foot in height. The stock of plants at Oakley consists of eighteen, which are either in bloom or showing flower; and though some of the flowers before us have been open five weeks, they are still bright and fresh. A fine spike of the lovely Calanthe Veitchii superba also came to hand in the same box.

ODONTOGLOSSUM LUTEO-PURPUREUM (Lindl.) RADIATUM (Rchb. f.)—A very charming specimen of this is in flower just now with Messrs. Heath & Son, Exotic Nurseries, College Road, Cheltenham. An old bulb produced twin bulbs, and between the two stands a very fine deeply coloured inflorescence, the flowers being of very strong good texture. It would be interesting to know (of course I got but a sketch and half the inflorescence) whether in all probability the peduncle belongs to one of the bulbs, or whether it is the product of an especial break which would be quite georgeous. H. G. Rchb. f.

PHALÆNOPSIS, with which one house at Rendlesham is mostly occupied, continue to thrive admirably; the house in which they are grown, like the others devoted to Orchid culture at Rendlesham is a low span, constructed so as to give all the light possible, and standing away from everything that could intercept it. The plants are hung well up to the roof, with air on at all times in all weathers; it is admitted freely through openings in the walls at both sides, beneath the side stages. The temperature as near as may be is kept at 70° in the night in summer, and 65° by night during winter. Under such treatment the leaves attain more than ordinary substance, lasting proportionately long. All the kinds seem to do well. Of Phalaenopsis amabilis|P. amabilis]], P. grandiflora, and P. Schilleriana, there are numbers of splendid examples; the largest, P. grandiflora, is just upon 2 feet from point to point of the leaves. The scarce P. Portei has six good leaves, the biggest 9 inches long, by 3 3/4 broad. Cattleya superbiens, hung up in the same house close to the roof, keeps on year after year blooming freely, and gaining additional strength. A couple of plants of Vanda Denisoniana are doing finely. T. B.

clxx [170] PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Habit dwarf. Flowers five ona short spike, white, tinged with green on the speals.

Cultural Commendation.

To Mr. May (gr. to J. B. Joel, Esq., Potter's Bar), for a very large specimen of Cypripedium Rothschildianum with three spikes, each of five flowers and one bud.

Other Exhibits.

The Right Hon. Rothschild (gr. Mr. Dye) sent the finely coloured Lælia purpurata, 'Tring Park variety.'

The Right Hon. Lord Auckland (gr. Mr. Matthews) showed cut spikes of Lissochilus Krebsii.

Frances Wellesley, Esq. (gr. Mr. Hopkins), sent Lælia purpurata 'Mrs. R. A. H. Mitchell,']] Cattleya-Skinneri 'Minnie,' Cypripedium Lawrenceanum 'Majestas,' and Lælio-Cattleya × Lucia 'Westfield variety.'

Messrs. Hugh Low staged a small group.

Messrs. John Cowan showed Odontoglossum crispum 'Edith Bolton.'

John S. Moss, Esq., sent a good spotted Odontoglossum crispum.

ORCHID COMMITTEE, TEMPLE SHOW, MAY 30, 1905.

Mr. N. C. Cookson in the Chair, and twenty-seven members present.

[For the Cups and Medals awarded by the Council, see page xxiii [23] ].

Awards Recommended:—

First-class Certificate.

To Cattleya citrina maxima (votes, unanimous), from the Marquis de Wavrin, Somerghem, Belgium (gr. M. de Geest). Flowers very large, rich yellow, fragrant.

To Zygopetalum Ballii (votes, unanimous), from Elijah Ashworth, Esq., Harefield Hall (gr. Mr. Holbrook). Probably a natural hybrid of Zygopetalum rostratum, and resembling the garden hybrid Z. × Roeblingianum. Flowers white, with purple markings up each of the segments, and at the base of the lip. (Fig. 49.)

To Odontoglossum × amabile 'Ixion' (Harryano-crispum × crispum) (votes, unanimous) from M. Chas. Vuylsteke, Loochristy, Ghent. A fine blush-white flower, with reddish-rose markings on the sepals and petals. (Fig. 50.)

Award of Merit.

To Odontoglossum × Lawrenceanum 'Adonis' (triumphans × Rolfeæ) (votes, unanimous), from M. Chas. Vuylsteke. A fine yellow flower, heavily barred with chocolate-purple. Lip white, with purple marks around the crest.

To Odontoglossum × loochristyense 'Arddarroch variety' (crispum × triumphans) (votes, unanimous), from R. Brooman-White, Esq., Garelochhead, N. B. Flowers large, the basal ground-colour of the segments whitish, the apical halves yellow, both colours blotched with chestnut brown.

ORCHID COMMITTEE, JULY 4. clxxv [175]

Botanical Certificate.

To Brassavola Perrinii, from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart. Leaves terete, flowers with narrow greenish sepals and petals and white lip.

To Bulbophyllum radiatum from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart. A small tufted plant with umbels of slender white flowers.

To Epidendrum pterocarpum from Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart. Sepals and petals greenish brown; lip white, with purple lines on the extended side lobes.

Cultural Commendation.

To Mr. W. H. White, orchid-grower to Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., for Brassavola Perrinii with many fragrant flowers.

To Mr. Luckhurst, gr. to Sir John Edwards-Moss, Henley-on-Thames, for a finely flowered specimen of Lycaste Deppei.

Other Exhibits.

Francis Wellesley, Esq. (gr. Mr. Hopkins) sent Cypripedium Sanderæ allied to C. Concolor; Cattleya Mossiæ 'Miss Ethel Harting,' and LælioCattleya × 'Mrs. Reginald Brade' (C. Schröderæ × L.-C. × Aphrodite).

R. Brooman-White, Esq., showed cut Odontoglossum crispum.

R. Briggs-Bury, Esq., Accrington (gr. Mr. Wilkinson), showed Cypripedium Lawrenceanum Hyeanum, 'Bank House variety,' a strong grower with large flowers.

W. A. Bilney, Esq., Weybridge, showed Dendrobium Dalhousieanum, 'Fir Grange variety,' a sulphur-yellow flower, with claret blotches on the lip.

ORCHID COMMITTEE, JULY 4, 1905.

Mr. J. GURNEY FOWLER in the Chair, and sixteen members present.

Awards Recommended:—

First-class Certificate.

To Cymbidium Huttonii (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. Charlesworth, Bradford. A reintroduction of the Java plant to which a Special Certificate was given May 5, 1868, the plant having then been collected by H. Hutton for Messrs. Veitch. The species connects Cymbidium and Grammatophyllum, the large grooved two- to three-leafed pseudo-bulbs much resembling G. multiflorum. The pendulous racemes are produced like Cymbidium Devonianum, ten- to fifteen-flowered. Flowers about 2 inches across, yellowish, densely spotted with purple, the petals also tinged with dark purple on the outer halves. Two forms were shown, the one darker than the other in colour.

To Cypripedium × 'Daisy Barclay' (Godefroyæ leucochilum × Rothschildianum) (votes, unanimous), from J. Gurney Fowler, Esq., Glebelands, South Woodford (gr. Mr. J. Davis). A handsome dwarf, large-flowered species, with extended ivory-white petals bearing numerous claret-purple lines. Upper sepal white, with broad dotted lines of claretpurple; labellum ivory-white, with purple spotting on the face.

ORCHID COMMITTEE, NOVEMBER 7. cxci [191]

R. Briggs-Bury, Esq. (gr. Mr. Wilkinson), sent Odontoglossum × 'Vuylstekei variety.'

Francis Wellesley, Esq. (gr. Mr. Hopkins), showed Lælio-Cattleya × 'Miss Gilberta Blount' (L.-C. × Ingrami × C. × Mantini), L.-C. Norba superba, Cypripedium × 'Abraham Lincoln' ('Niobe' × orphanum) and other Orchids.

De B. Crawshay, Esq. (gr. Mr. Stables), sent Odontoglossum × crispodinei (crispum × Coradinei).

[black and white illustration] Fig. 61.—CYPRIPEDIUM × TRIUMPHANS. (Journal of Horticulture.)

Norman C. Cookson, Esq., showed Lælia × 'De Geestiana' (flava × Jongheana alba) with white sepals and petals.

F. M. Ogilvie, Esq., Oxford (gr. Mr. Balmforth) showed Cattleya × Portia magnifica.

R. I. Measures, Esq., Camberwell (gr. Mr. Smith), showed a selection of cut spikes of hybrid Orchids.

Messrs. Cowan, Gateacre, showed a fine white Cattleya labiata with pale-rose lip.

Messrs. William Bull, Chelsea, showed varieties of Cattleya × Iris, Odontoglossum crispum and others.

cxcii [192] PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ORCHID COMMITTEE, NOVEMBER 21, 1905.

Mr. H. J. VEITCH in the Chair, and eighteen members present.

Awards Recommended:—

Silver Flora Medal.

To Messrs. Charlesworth, Bradford, for a group of hybrid Orchids.

To M. Chas. Vuylsteke, Loochristy, Ghent, for hybrid Odontoglossums.

To Messrs. Jas. Veitch, Chelsea, for a group.

Silver Banksian Medal.

To Messrs. Low, Enfield, for a selection of Cypripediums, Cattleyas, &c.

To Messrs. Stanley, Southgate, for a group.

First-class Certificate.

To Cypripedium × 'The Baron' (Hitchensiæ × nitens 'Sander's variety) (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. Sander, St. Albans. Dorsal sepal white, spotted with dark rose and with a green base. Petals and lip yellowish, tinged and marked with purple.

Award of Merit.

To Disa pulchra 'Tring Park variety' (votes, unanimous), from the Right Hon. Lord Rothschild, Tring Park (gr. Mr. A. Dye). Inflorescence a foot in height and bearing ten pale-lilac pink flowers bearing a resemblance to those of a gladiolus. Native of Griqualand East, South Africa.

To Mormodes Badium (votes, unanimous), from the Right Hon. Lord Rothschild. The type plant, bearing an erect inflorescence of ruby-red flowers. The yellow variety was shown from Tring Park, January 12, 1897, and was voted an Award of Merit.

To Cypripedium × Thalia giganteum (insigne Chantinii × 'Baron Schröder) (votes, 9 for, 3 against), from Francis Wellesley, Esq., Westfield, Woking (gr. Mr. Hopkins). Dorsal sepal broader and rounder than in any previously shown; white, with a green base and many spotted lines of rose-purple colour. (Fig. 62.)

To Cattleya 'Mrs. Pitt' var. magnifica (Harrisoniana × Dowiana aurea) (votes, 12 for, 2 against), from Major G. L. Holford, Westonbirt (gr. Mr. Alexander). Sepals and petals rose-pink; lip orange, darkest in the centre.

To Odontoglossum × Hallio-crispum Theodora (Hallii × crispum roseum) (votes, unanimous), from De B. Crawshay, Esq., Rosefield, Sevenoaks (gr. Mr. Stables). Flowers equal to a good O. crispum, primrose-yellow, spotted with red-brown.

To Odontoglossum × Phœbe (cirrhosum × crispum) (votes, unanimous), from Messrs. Charlesworth. Flowers nearest to those of O. cirrhosum, but with broader and shorter segments; white, tinged with pink and evenly spotted with reddish-brown.

Cypripedium × Actaeus chardwarense (insigne × Leeanum) (votes, unanimous), from G. F. Moore, Esq., Bourton-on-the-Water (gr. Mr. Page). Flowers nearest to C. insigne; greenish with white upper half to the dorsal sepal, which has a green base and some purple blotches.