ENPages That Mention Masdevallia octhodes
[Descriptions of orchid genera] [manuscript], 1880-1908. Manuscript 09
Page 94
754 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. [DECEMBER 10, 1881.
Orchid Notes. WORK IN THE HOUSES.--Whilst the present exceedingly mild weather continues the houses can be kept at their proper temperature with little anxiety on the part of those who have charge of the fires. There can be no doubt that with such weather out-of-doors the treatment now being given is much better for the plants than when there is heavy snow on the ground, and a continuance of severe frosts for days and nights together. Still whilst it is so mild, the thermometer may safely indicate a few degrees higher than it would be wise to keep if much firing were now being used. The object now, let the weather be what it may, is to induce many to remain in a state of rest, or but slight growth; it will not do, therefore, by excessive heat unduly to excite any into growth, or to hasten on the blooming period. There are always among the cool Orchids some pushing-up flower-spikes, or starting again into growth, and the difference of treatment these require at any period of the year is comparatively slight when the other sections are taken into consideration. These must not be drived off in a bulk, though a partial rest after blooming must be individually encouraged by a slight withholding of water; and so, whatever the season may be, the treatment in this section will be a careful and consistent round of a regular and uniform character, bearing in mind the requirements of indviduals. The temperatures of the houses in the early morning, at 7 A.M., should now be as near the following figures as possible : — East India-house, 60[degrees]; Dendrobium-house, 58[degrees]; Cattleya-house, 55[degrees]; Odontoglossum-house, 50[degrees] to 53[degrees]. If the Phalænopsis, and a few recently imported East India plants, are placed in a separate divisiion, it may range a little higher; but if less air is given it will cause this department to be a little warmer and closer, and will answer the same purpose. When it is practicable, give air on all occasions, especially to the Odontoglossum-house; with the glass outside ranging from 40[degrees] to 50[degrees], little fear need be felt that any harm will follow. The rare and distinct Vanda Cathcarti, where it has been secured, should now be well advanced with flower spikes. This generally commences to show as early as August and September, and the spike and buds come slowly on until the flowers expand by Christmas, or sometimes not till January is far advanced. The flowers last a long time, which is some compensation for the lenght of time one has to wait for their appearance. This will in some cases grow as free as can possibly be desired; in other instances it is just as difficult to manage. One cause of this I believe to be that it is grown in too much heat. This encourages yellow thrips, and once this pest has settled upon it it seems to have the plant completely in its power. The leaves being of a thin papery texture are soon disfigured, and must be cut away; smoking or dipping must then be resorted to, and repeated if the first operation is not successful. The coolest end of the East India-house, where it can have plenty of light, will suit it best. Being a quick grower naturally, it doubtless soon lifts its head above the plants or foliage at its base, and reaching upward it would therefore enjoy an abundance of light. It is also much benefited when growing by being syringed overhead morning and evening, and is most at command when grown in a pot. Among the late additions to the Dendrobium few were distributed more quietly than the singular-growing Findleyanum, and probably not one has given more pleasure, or caused greater surprise, than this. At first, with many growers, it did not appear very deserving, but now it is admitted to be a most beautiful species—very free in blooming, the flowers of fine size, and the colours soft and pleasing. This is best managed in baskets, and during the summer grows very quickly. It flowers on the new growths whilst the leaves, in some instances, are still upon the bulbs; but if these miss blooming the first year they will generally do so the second. It will now be showing flower along its knotted bulbs, and will soon prove it is worthy of all the care that has been bestowed upon it. Wherever it can be obtained it should be added to the collection without delay. Another choice thing of recent introduction is Maxillaria grandiflora. This succeeds best in a pot, in peat and sphagnum, and, grown in the Cattleya-house during the summer, it will have made stout bulbs and leaves, and will now be flowering from the base of the newly formed bulbs. Its erect showy blooms rival in some respects the rare Lycaste Skinneri alba, and should
be represented in the collection by more than a single specimen. Miltonia spectabilis, virginalis, rosea, Moreliana, &c., will now be pushing new growths. Pick out the old peaty soil, and top-dress them with some fresh sphagnum and peat, using some crocks among the soil. Do not shake them out unless it is absolutely necessary, as they do not like to be often disturbed; it causes the leaves to turn yellow and fall off, and the plants become weaker in a very perceptible manner. The Cattleya-house will suit these, as well, too, the taller growers, as Clowesii, Regnelli and its variety purpurea; candida grandiflora requires a little more heat than any of them. W. Swan, Fallowfield.
ORCHID SEEDS. I am not sure that the instructions given at p. 733 are quite sufficient for a beginner in the field of raising seedlings. It would depend very much upon how or where the living sphagnum was placed before I should care to trust Orchid seeds on it. If they were sown on a pot or pan of luxuriant living sphagnum I would not expect to see a plant come up. The method usually pursued, and which I have found successful, is this. For instance, if the seeds to be sown are those of a Cypripedium I would select a plant of the same species as one of the parents that had been potted some time—say six months; and I would prefer one that had not too much living sphagnum about it. The surface where the seeds are to be sown should be one of bits of charcoal, tufts of fibrous peat and potsherds, with live sphagnum at intervals. The seed-pods will riper on the plant, and the seed should be sown as soon as the pods open. The seed, which resembles very much the dust in the sunbeams, should be shaken out on to the surface; and if there are any thick roots on the surface the seeds may vegetate on them, and nowhere else (at least, I had an experience of that kind once). I merely took the Cypripedium as an illustration, but it is a fact that the best way to rear seedling Orchids is to sow the seeds on the surface of the compost on which other plants of the same kind are growing. There are, however, such an enormous number of seeds in a pod that it is easy to try them in various ways. I think it was the late Mr. Donald Beaton who sowed Orchid seeds in rather an eccentric manner; but he was successful in raising plants, which was the first point gained, although he stated at the same time that he never reared one. Mr. Beaton filled a flower-pot with water, in which were some good-sized lumps of charcoal; his fingere were held over the hold in the bottom of the pot. The seeds were then sown on the surface of the water, the finger was withdrawn, and the water rushed out, leaving the seeds attached to the charcoal, which was kept moist afterwards. In this way he raised a large number of plants; but it takes a long time before they are ready to be pricked off, and they did not derive sufficient sustencance from the charcoal to bring them on to that stage. J. D.
ORCHIDS IN FLOWER AT GLASNEVIN On December 1 there were sixty-one species and varieties of Orchids in flower here, and of these thirty-one were in flower on November 1. The following is a list of them:— [two columned table]
PILUMNA FRAGRANS This is one of the choicest Orchids we have for flowering this season. Mr. Low has also a large importation coming into flower; and as the flowersopen the plants are arranged in two sections. The large-flowered variety is grown under the name of P. nobilis. Why it should be elevated to the rank of a distinct species merely because the flowers are larger does not seem to be so easy to answer. P. fragrans nobilis it ought to be, if a distinctive name is necessary. The large-flowered variety is the best certainly, although both ought to be grown in every collection. The sweetly-scented flowers are of teh most delicate white, with a lemon or yellow mark at the base of the labellum. This is also a free-growing plant, and should be potted like Cattleya Mossiae. It favours either the cool or Cattleya-house. J. Douglas.
MR. BULL'S COLLECTION. The following are now in flower at Mr. William Bull's establishment, King's Road, Chelsea, S.W.:— [two columned table]
ONCIDIUM CHEIROPHORUM. In entering one of the Orchid-houses in Messrs. Low's nursery at Clapton, the other day, the visitor might observe what seemed to be a bed of the dwarf yellow Wallflower coming into bloom, but on a closer inspection it was found to be a quantity of exceedingly healthy plants of O. cheirophorum; many spikes are fully opened, and numbers more are coming on to succeed them. The flowers open pale yellow, and when fully opened they are of a golden-yellow, and most sweetly scented. Mr. Low grows this in quite a cool house, and I saw it doing well since in one with a night temperature ranging from 60[degrees] to 65[degrees]. Now that there are large importations of this it may soon beomce an inmate of most Orchid-houses. J. D.ORCHIDS IN MIXED COLLECTIONS: FERGUSLIE. Mr. Williams, in the Orchid Album for last month gives a very just and appreciative notice of the Orchids grown by Mr. Thomson at Ferguslie, the seat of T. Coates, Esq., and remarks that they were not grown in a house or houses specially set apart for them, but in houses mixed up with stove and finefoliaged plants. My reason for noticing this is, that I remarked the same success attended similar treatment of Orchids by the late Mr. Ingram, at Alnwick Castle. I saw them last autumn, and never saw plants in more robust health grown in a large plant-stove, with fine-foliaged and other stove plants. The Dendrobiums were quite remarkable