Pl.ATB IX. 



A 



L.KLIA CRISP A. IT KIT U KA. 



f 



A remarkably fine variety *»f b&tia crogw, distinguished from the type by its vi*jnrou> habit, mid \\* large ami beim 

 tifnlljr-coloiirod flowers, which are broader in all the parts, the sepals and petal* tinted with purple, and the lip 

 much broader, blunter, ami more richly coloured with deep purple breaking out into radiating lines. 



] . ; i -.\ < RisrA POHPCUtA, A IK. 



HurriA ckisia i>i niojftKA, Reie&tnbatAJiL, Xenia OfcAidQce* t ii. 62. 



The type of this beautiful plant is more familiarly known in gardens by ite old name of Qtlthya 

 rr!*/Ht; but it has now been found to belong to thnt group — a rather artificial one it must be allowed— 

 to which the name of L&lia has been applied It represents a group of fine showy plants affording nume- 

 rous shades of colour, but of which, while some arc exceedingly rich in tint, and others are of paler hue, the 

 one now figured i^ amount tin* mo*l beautiful- That which is named mperba is also particularly line, and 

 produces in great abundance, largo bold Hovers, which stand well up above the foliage ; it is easily distin- 

 guished from the rest by it& strong habil of growth, iis light-gm n bulbs, and its dark-tinted foliage. + Cul- 

 tivators should be careful in purchasing this species-, for some of the varieties ate shy in blooming, and the 

 Qowcrs when produced are comparatively small; but tltero is nothing more channing than some of the 

 hot varieties the rub colouring of the li|> contrasting so finely with the white of the other parts of the 

 (lower. They are of free-growing habit, and make excellent decorative OS well as exhibition plant* during 

 July and August, when other Orchid flowers are Incoming scarce; moreover they are not at all expensive 

 plants, so that most cidtivators. small and large, can obtain them. 



Laliit crispa grows about two feel high, and bears a single leaf at the ton of the stem, which leaf is 

 of n dark-green colour. The Bowers are produced from a sheath in July and August after the growth i* 

 completed, the sepals and petals being of a pure white, and the lip of a rich crimson, fringed and edged 

 with white. The stem produces from four to >ix Dowers on ;■ spike, and these continue about a fortnight 

 in perfection, provided they are not syringed, which i- apt to :*jiot the delicate white of the sepals and jtflak 



This line Lalia requires to be grown in the CatUeya-houSC, with a moderate amount of heal and 

 moisture during the growing season, which is in the winter and spring months. In winter Lrreat en re i> 

 necessary to prevent the young growths from getting any moisture, for this might cause litem to rol, which 

 would probably slop the blooming of the plants as the second growth would become weak. "V haw found 

 pot culture the most suitable, as the habit is sirongand robust* Fibrous peal and sphagnum muss should form 

 the compost, and the pot should be half filled with crocks, in order to secure good drainage, — a thin layer of 

 moss and rough |>cat. mixed, being placed over the crocks, and the pot then tilled with the material recom- 

 mended, in such a manner that the plant ma} stand one or two inches above the pot rim. This is the mode 

 of polling we have always followed, ami we have found it to be the best for all Z&IiM and Calllei/a* requiring 

 pots. Some of the smaller growing kinds thrive best on blocks, or in small pans or baskets suspended 

 from the roof. We have seen them grown \ery successfully by Mr. Anderson, gardener to T. Dawson, Esq., 

 of Meadow Bank, in a kind of basket made of pottery ware, which suits the purpose well ; and this mode of 



M.a>M' BEBDS. 





