Here we have a most charming Orchid, and one that blooms very freely on short bulbs or stems. The plant is of less vigorous habit than certain other of the varieties of D. Farmerii, some of which grow as vigorously as D. densiflorum. Indeed, excepting by cultivators who are well acquainted with the plants, it is a most difficult matter to distinguish them readily from each other. The plant we now describe and illustrate is a yellow-flowered variety of D. Farmerii, the typical form of which has pinkish sepals and petals and a rich yellow lip. It is a very lovely species. Our drawing of this rare variety was taken from a plant in the Victoria Nursery, Upper Holloway, where we have had the different forms flowering during the months of May and June, many of them growing on a back wall on blocks of wood, and producing a fine effect with their spikes of yellow blossoms hanging over the foliage. Even when grown in pots or baskets they have a pleasing effect, and take but little space.
Dendrobium Farmerii aureum is a compact evergreen species from Moulmein. It grows about ten inches high, with dark green shining foliage. The flower spikes proceed from the top of the old bulb stems, and are sometimes ten inches in length. The sepals and petals are bright golden yellow, and the lip rich orange. The plant blooms during March, April, and May, and lasts about a fortnight in perfection.
We have found the plants do well in the India House, under the same treatment as D. Farmerii itself. If grown in a pot give good drainage by filling the pot three parts full with crocks, adding a little rough fibrous peat and a small quantity of charcoal mixed with it, so that the plants may be well elevated above the rim, and thus be enabled to throw out their roots freely, while at the same time the water may pass off quickly. If they are grown in baskets, the same treatment may be given. A little water at the roots will suffice, as these plants do not like too much moisture. The soil must be kept moist during the growing season, but in their resting season only just sufficient must be given to keep their bulbs and leaves plump. As soon as they begin to show flower more water may be supplied in order to encourage the spikes to come out more freely. If grown on a block a little live sphagnum moss should be placed about their roots, and this must be kept moist during the growing season. When they are at rest a little less quantity will do until they commence to show their flowers.
Mr. Warner’s Orchids.—Those who wish to see Odontoglossums and Masdevallias grown and flowered as they should be, should pay a visit to the renowned collection of Orchids at Broomfield, Chelmsford. After having inspected the principal collections both in Europe and America, we have not the slightest hesitation in saying that this is one of the finest displays of flowering Orchids ever brought together. These Odontoglossums are grown by the thousand, Mr. Warner having sent a collector to New Grenada, a few years ago, to select and bring home the best varieties. This has resulted in getting together a collection of about 12,000 Odontoglots, comprising all the best species and varieties known to cultivators. On entering the Odontoglossum house we were enchanted with the sight before us. Let the reader imagine a large house sixty feet long by sixteen feet wide, with a centre and two side tables, literally crammed with flowering Orchids, consisting of hundreds of spikes of Odontoglossums and Masdevallias, intermixed with a profusion of the beautiful Epidendrum vitellinum majus and other Orchids, and he will form some idea of the magnitude of this show. Leaving the Odontoglossum house we entered the Masdevallia house, where there was also a grand display, among which we noticed particularly M. Harryana atrosanguinea, a fine form with large crimson-magenta flowers, measuring two and a half inches long by two inches broad; M. Dennisoniana, with richly coloured flowers, two and a half by two and a quarter inches; and M. Harryana longiflora, a variety with immense flowers, having blossoms three inches by two and a half of a rosy magenta colour, faintly striped with a darker tint of the same colour. In addition to these, there was another house about forty feet long filled with flowering Odontoglossums, Masdevallias, and other things, a perfect fairyland as viewed from the door. Leaving this house, we came to the Cattleya house where, although the collection of these plants is not large, there are nevertheless some fine varieties in bloom, more especially of Lælia purpurata and the ever varying Cattleya Mossiæ. Altogether we were highly delighted with our visit, and greatly appreciated the hospitality of our host.—H. W.
PL. 100. LYCASTE HARRISONIÆ EBURNEA.
LYCASTE HARRISONIÆ EBURNEA.
[[Plate 100].]
Native of Brazil.
Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs ovate, tetragonal, furrowed, monophyllous, the young ones sheathed with brown membranaceous bracts. Leaves broadly lanceolate acute, narrowed to the base, strongly ribbed or plicate, rigid, dark green. Raceme two-flowered, radical, erect, shorter than the leaves, the peduncle furnished with appressed bracts. Flowers large end attractive, nearly three inches across; sepals ivory-white, waxy in texture; dorsal one oblong, obtuse, broader upwards, somewhat incurved, the lateral ones spreading horizontally, falcato-oblong, the lower side produced so as to cover the spur of the lip; petals obovate, about as long as the dorsal sepal, of an ivory-white wax-like appearance and stout fleshy texture; lip large, erect, narrowed at the base where it is enclosed by the lateral sepals, broader upwards, three-lobed: lateral lobes incurved and meeting the column, which they exceed, the margin with one or two broadish lobes primrose-yellow, covered with strongly marked forked reddish purple veins: front lobe smaller, oblong obtuse, recurved, undulated, white, with a few finer purple veins at the edge; disk with a broad orange-yellow hairy crest, which is blunt and much thickened in front. Column adnate for much of its length, and meeting the base of all the petals and sepals, the free portion incurved, semiterete.
Lycaste Harrisoniæ eburnea, Moore, supra.