It thrives best in a pot with rough peat and good drainage, and requires the same treatment as C. Mossiæ and C. Trianæ, beginning to grow after it has finished blooming. These make their flower sheaths in summer, much earlier than most of the Cattleyas, which secures to this section more light and heat in which to finish off their growth before winter sets in. Their pseudobulbs must be kept dry during winter, as if allowed to get wet they will probably rot away; therefore, when their growth is finished, give only sufficient water to keep the pseudobulbs in a plump state.
Orchids at Gouville.—The Comte de Germiny, Chateau de Gouville, France, has a noted collection of Orchids, which we recently had the pleasure of visiting. We found many grand specimens that interested us exceedingly, including fine Cattleyas, Lælias, Saccolabiums, Aërides, Vandas, Angræcums, Cypripediums, Phalænopsis, &c. We gave a short notice of this splendid establishment in our second volume, and now confine our remarks to the specimens we saw in flower. Of Cattleya labiata pallida there were two wonderful specimens, with over one hundred pseudobulbs on each; the first had forty-eight expanded flowers on it, and the other twenty-eight, a most gorgeous sight. Contrasting well with these were several good plants, in full bloom, of Epidendrum nemorale majus, with their drooping spikes of showy delicate rose-coloured flowers. These were backed up with a fine specimen of Sobralia macrantha, bearing thirty spikes of its rich purple and crimson flowers, of a large size. Then came Epidendrum vitellinum majus, suspended on a block, with twelve spikes of its bright orange-scarlet flowers, which always form a fine contrast with the surrounding colours. Near this were fine specimens of Cattleya crispa superba, and a specimen of Cattleya Mendelii. There were also some fine Vandas in full beauty, as well as Oncidiums with bright yellow blossoms, and Dendrobium suavissimum, with orange yellow and brown spotted flowers. A fine specimen of Epidendrum prismatocarpum was showing fourteen spikes. M. Rondeau, the energetic gardener, informed us that they had at one time three hundred and ninety expanded flowers of Cattleya Mossiæ, Mendelii Warnerii, and others, which must have been a gorgeous sight; also Cattleya citrina, different plants, that produced fifty-two of their yellow fragrant flowers. It is always a delight to a lover of good plants to visit a place where gems like these are the pride of the owner; and in this case we found that the Comte de Germiny not only has a good knowledge of his plants, but took the greatest interest in showing them to us.—B. S. W.
PL. 109. CYPRIPEDIUM MELANOPHTHALMUM.
CYPRIPEDIUM MELANOPHTHALMUM.
[[Plate 109].]
Garden Hybrid.
Epiphytal. Acaulescent. Leaves distichous, coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate, acute, of a pale dull green colour, chequered with coarse elongate reticulations of a darker green. Scape (peduncle) greenish, clothed with purple hairs, having near the apex a short acuminate hairy bract, which is strongly ciliated. Flowers medium-sized, of a rather showy character, solitary; dorsal sepal broad ovate-acuminate, an inch and a half long, white flushed with purple towards the base, distinctly marked with green veins, of which the two pairs on each side the central one are alternately long and short, while the rest become gradually shorter as they approach the edge; united lateral ones narrow ovate, whitish with green veins; petals glossy, linear oblong, dull purple on the upper side towards the base, and marked with a series of blue warty hairy dots on the upper edge, the apical portion bright reddish purple or wine-red, the lower half somewhat greener, both margins ciliate; lip bold, an inch and three-quarters long, with a somewhat compressed pouch an inch long, of a dull reddish purple suffused with green—the green colour most apparent towards the tip and back—and distinctly marked with darker purple reticulations, the sides veined, pale yellowish spotted with crimson warts within, their upper angles produced into auricles. Staminode very prominent, hexagonal, emarginate in front with a small tooth inside, veined with green in the centre, pale purplish green at the edge, the surface shortly downy.
Cypripedium melanophthalmum, Reichenbach fil., Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.S., xiv., 525.
This is one of the numerous hybrid Lady’s Slippers that have been raised by R. Warner, Esq., Broomfield, Chelmsford. All these are of free-blooming character, every small growth bringing its quota of flowers. The foliage of the several forms is differently variegated, while the flowers of all the kinds are of long duration, which is an excellent quality in any plant. It will be seen from our illustration that Cypripedium melanophthalmum is a pretty plant, and one well worthy of cultivation, since it produces flowers which are valuable for cutting purposes, the stems being firm and long, which makes it useful for vases and other decorations for the adornment of living rooms. The plants are grand for exhibition purposes, as they carry well without injury by tying each flower-stem to a small stick.
The Cypripedia are of easy cultivation. They may, moreover, be freely hybridized, and are more readily produced from seed than many other subjects, as may be seen from the number which have been brought before the public, by those who make it their study to raise them in this way. Some persons are more successful in this branch of culture than others. There is no doubt that it requires a good deal of skill and tact to find out the best sorts for crossing, and also to effect the best crosses; moreover, it occupies a good deal of time, but we do not know of anything more delightful than this self-imposed task of improving the beauties of nature, and where one can devote attention to it, there must be a great deal of pleasure in watching the progress of one’s pets and noting the results of one’s labours when they put forth their blossoms.