Cattleya

“ It must not, however, be expected that every purchaser will obtain a plant of the some character as that represented in our Plate, as we have seen but few that have proved to be equal to the one we figure. There is an abundant supply of plants imported as C. Percivaliana, but they vary greatly in merit—more so in this than in any other Cattleya that has come under our notice. Many of the species of Cattleya yield 96 variety both as to the colour and size of their blossoms, though they are generally all good enough to cultivate or to use as decorative plants ”

“ But such are a multitude already, and each year their numbers swell.
Beyond the hybrids are twenty plants of white Cattleya intermedia. The owner of our collection was first among mortals, in Europe at least, to behold that marvel of chaste loveliness. Mr. Sander received a plant of intermedia from Brazil, which the collector labelled ‘white.’ Albino Cattleyas were few then, and Roezl alone perhaps ventured to imagine that every red species had a white sister. ”

“ Vandas, indeed, should flourish where Cattleya superba is at home, or anything else that loves the atmosphere of a kitchen on washing-day at midsummer. Though all the Cattleyas, or very nearly all, will "do" in an intermediate house, several prefer the stove. Of two among them, C. Dowiana and C. aurea, I spoke in the preceding chapter with an enthusiasm that does not bear repetition. Cattleya guttata Leopoldi grows upon [Pg 153] rocks in the little island of Sta. Catarina, Brazil, in company with Lœlia elegans and L. purpurata. ”

“ There is here a newly erected house for Cattleyas, which are doing well, and reflect great credit upon Mr. J. Wise, the gardener, who takes very great interest in his plants, everything being kept in good order.—B. S. W.
Cattleya gigas burfordiensis.—We noticed a wonderful example of Cattleya gigas burfordiensis at a recent meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society. It was exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., and was deservedly awarded a First Class Certificate. The plant bore four very fine blossoms, each measuring more than eight inches in diameter ”

“ We have in cultivation many handsome species of Cattleya, but that now before us is very distinct from any we have previously seen, and is quite new to us. The growers of Orchids are all on the lookout for new species, especially such as are distinct. We are, therefore, glad to be able to bring such a beautiful and charming species as this, under the notice of our readers. There are, indeed, numerous other fine Cattleyas in cultivation, but many of them are much alike in form and colour. ”

“ Cattleya labiata pallida is an evergreen plant, with the stems or pseudobulbs about eight inches in height, supporting one thick bright green leaf, about ten inches in length, and is one of the most compact-growing Cattleyas we have. The 50 sepals and petals are of a deep rose colour, the lip of a yellowish white, with a large patch of bright magenta, the fore part margined with pale rose, and the throat bright orange. It blossoms in July, August, and September, and continues in beauty from three to four weeks. ”

“ Cattleya Mossiæ Hardyana, Williams and Moore, supra.
This is the most extraordinary variety of Cattleya Mossiæ that has ever come under our notice, and, moreover, it is not only most distinct but most beautiful. Its peculiar coloration is constant, for we have received flowers of it in two successive seasons, and the colour and style of marking have not appeared to vary in the least. We believe it has bloomed three years in succession. Our figure was taken from the fine plant in the noble collection of G. Hardy, Esq., Timperley, Cheshire. ”

“ THE CATTLEYA HOUSE
With L. elegans are lodged fine examples of Cattleyas gigas and aurea, with some of their varieties; generated, as we may assume, by natural hybridisation. These rank among the supreme treasures of the orchidist, unequalled for size and rarity—perhaps for beauty. To those who have not seen the offspring it might seem impossible that the stately loveliness of the parents could be excelled. But by a very simple process Nature achieves the feat—she combines their charms. ”

“ Cattleya gigas and C. Dowiana.—These Cattleyas have been considered to be shy-flowering species, and we have sometimes found them to be so in our own experience, but we are beginning to change our opinion on this subject. No doubt there are some plants that grow and flower more freely than others, but a great deal depends on the conditions in which they are placed and the treatment they receive. I recently had the pleasure of visiting the collection of W. Lee, Esq., of Leatherhead, which in time will be one of the finest to be seen in this country. ”

“ We find the different species of Catasetum to thrive very well in the Cattleya house, if provided with fibrous peat and good drainage at the roots, and suspended from the roof of the structure in baskets. They must not receive too much water at any time, and when their growth is completed they should only have just sufficient to keep them in a plump condition, as they have thick fleshy bulbs to be maintained fresh and healthy during their resting season. ”

“ The great botanist declared that he could see nothing in the beautiful new Cattleya to distinguish it as a species from the one already named, C. labiata, except that most variable of characteristics, colour. Modes of growth and times of flowering do not concern science. The structure of the plants is identical, and to admit C. Mossiæ as a sub-species of the same was the utmost concession Lindley would make. This was in 1840. Fifteen years later came C. Warscewiczi, now called gigas; then, next year, C. Trianæ; C. Dowiana in 1866; C. Mendellii in 1870—all labiatas, strictly speaking. ”

“ Of Cattleya gigas we have some two hundred specimens. It is the largest of the genus, saving its own hybrids, a native of New Granada, discovered by Warcewicz in 1848. He sent no plants home, and though a few were despatched afterwards, Roezl practically introduced the species in 1870. Conscious of supreme merit, it is far from eager to bloom; but at Woodlands we do not personally feel this drawback. ”

“ What the rose and carnation are among garden plants, the Cattleya is among Orchids, preëminently beautiful. Not a species but possesses claims of the strongest nature on the culturist’s attention, either for its delicate loveliness or the rich and vivid coloring of its large and handsome flowers. They are natives of the temperate parts of South America, and in cultivation are found to succeed in a lower temperature than is necessary for the majority of plants of the same order. The plants grow vigorously, and consequently flower in perfection. ”

“ When growing it may occupy any part of the Cattleya house, but it should be placed so that it can obtain plenty of light. When hung up near the glass it must be shaded from the burning sun. With us it thrives well in good fibrous peat, and we have found it to be a free-rooting plant, requiring to be kept moist during the growing season; indeed, we never allow the plants to become too dry, but just supply them with sufficient moisture to prevent them from shrivelling. ”

“ Wageneri, though granted a specific title, is a variety of Cattleya Mossiae, from Caracas, discovered by Wagener in 1851; white, excepting a yellow blotch on the lip.
From the roof, among a hundred smaller plants of Cattleya, hangs a specimen of Laelia praestans alba, as rare as [Pg 33] lovely—all purest white, except the lip of brilliant purple with yellow throat. Like many other orchids from the high lands of Brazil, this will grow equally well in the cool house. It is, in truth, a variety of L. pumila; its normal colour rosy purple. ”

“ The Comparettias will not submit to be divided or cut; and we find the Cattleya house the most suitable structure to grow them in. They are subject to the attacks of white scale, and if these are allowed to accumulate, the plants will soon show signs of bad health, but if sufficient care is bestowed to keep them clean they will well repay the trouble which is taken, and afford great pleasure not only to those who are fond of Orchids, but also to those who take an interest in watching these floral treasures as they put out their new growths and beautiful flowers. ”

“ Cattleya velutina requires the same treatment as the other Cattleyas, that is, to be potted in peat soil with good drainage; it does not need so much water at the roots as some kinds, but it should be borne in mind, on the other hand, that it must not be allowed to shrivel, and therefore a little moisture should always be supplied to the roots. If the plant once gets into an unhealthy condition its recovery will be very doubtful. ”

“ He who glances at the endless tricks, methods, and contrivances [Pg 52] devised by one or other species to serve its turn may well come to fancy that orchids are reasoning things.
At least, many keep the record of their history in form unmistakable. Here is a Cattleya which I purchased last autumn, suspecting it to be rare and valuable, though nameless; I paid rather less than one shilling. The poor thing tells me that some cruel person bought it five years ago—an imported piece, with two pseudo-bulbs. They still remain, towering like columns of old-world glory above an area of shapeless ruin. ”

“ No tale hangs upon the discovery of Cattleya Bowringiana, so far as I have heard. A planter named Turkheim sent it from British Honduras to Mr. Bowring of Forest Farm, Windsor, in 1884. The species has a wide range. Mr. Oversluys came upon it in Guatemala very shortly afterwards, and curious incidents followed.
This admirable collector was hunting for Oncidium splendidum, a stately flower not very uncommon once, but long extinct in Europe. No man knew its home, but Mr. Sander, after close inquiry and profound deliberation, resolved that it must be a native of Costa Rica. ”

“ Mr. Percival’s Cattleyas.—We have received from R. P. Percival, Esq. of Southport, a box containing a fine series of Cattleya Mossiæ, C. Mendelii, &c. Mr. Percival informs us that he has now (June) as many as three hundred and thirty-six blossoms of C. Mossiæ open; and taking the flowers sent us as a sample, they are of a very fine strain, and must present a gorgeous coup d’œil in the Orchid house. Accompanying the Cattleyas was a grand spike of Odontoglossum vexillarium splendens, with very large flowers fine in form and deep in colour.—B. S. W.
PL. 102. PLEIONE HUMILIS TRICOLOR. ”

“ This Cattleya is one of those which should always be kept plump in the stems and leaves, for if allowed to shrivel it will be found difficult to get them again into a plump healthy condition. Give all the light possible, so that the stems may be well ripened. A great deal of success depends upon the thorough maturation of the successive growths, for if they are weak or immature they will produce but puny results. ”

“ Another hot Cattleya of the highest class is C. Acklandiæ It belongs to the dwarf section of the genus, and inexperienced persons are vastly surprised to see such a little plant bearing two flowers on a spike, each larger than itself. They are four inches in diameter, petals and sepals chocolate-brown, barred with yellow, lip large, of colour varying from rose to purple. C. Acklandiæ is found at Bahia, where it grows side by side with C. amethystoglossa, also a charming species, very tall, leafless to the tip of its pseudo-bulbs. Thus [Pg 155] the dwarf beneath is seen in all its beauty. ”

“ This is a grand plant for exhibition or decorative purposes, as the pure white and magenta of its flowers are exceedingly effective amongst the other species of Cattleya which flower at the same time of year. The flowering season is May and June, after which time C. Mendelii begins to make its growth. It should then receive a moderate supply of water—not too much, as an over bountiful supply is apt to cause the young growths to rot. After the annual growths are completed the plants should be gradually dried off, only giving them sufficient water to keep them from shrivelling. ”

“ A more troublesome alien is the fly which haunts Cattleya Mendellii, and for a long time prejudiced growers against that fine species, until, in fact, they had made a practical and rather costly study of its habits. An experienced grower detects the presence of this enemy at a glance. It pierces an "eye"—a back one in general, happily—and deposits an egg in the very centre. Presently this growth begins to swell in a manner that delights the ingenuous horticulturist, until he remarks that its length does not keep pace with its breadth. ”

“ A great deal of the success of the plant depends on getting strong and well matured growth, which also causes the flowers to come more freely, to open of a brighter colour, and to last longer in bloom.
We find Cattleya labiata pallida to thrive best at the warmest end of the Cattleya house. It must be kept free from insects, as cleanliness is with all plants a great help towards successful development. The thrips and white scale attack these, and if not removed their foliage soon becomes disfigured, and the growth is often mortally injured. ”

“ We have found the cool end of the Cattleya house to suit most of these small-growing kinds.
We trust we may soon see a good importation of this rare Oncidium, so that growers may have a chance to try their skill upon its cultivation. The plants we have received at various times have been but small and puny. If only growers could get over some strong vigorous clumps, they would have a chance of making them into good specimens—an object which is worth the effort, as the species is one of the most beautiful and distinct of the family. ”