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pity the visitor who relies upon ir. A temperature of 7o° to 78° Fah, 

 with a minimum of 60° degrees, the orchids of Trinidad must have, 

 or they will suffer largely, and those who wish orchids to grow in 

 rooms, should select species coming from altitudes where the climate 

 is more nearly akin to that of the temperate zone than is shown by 

 the Trinidad register. 



If however the visitor has appliances which will enable him to 

 maintain proper conditions, there are several Trinidad orchids well 

 worthy of his notice which can be obtained at reasonable rates, and 

 it is proposed to note such, as each species or variety is passed in review. 



The best time for packing and sending away (fixed after many 

 years trial) is during the month of July ; a week sooner or later 

 being a matter of no importance. Orchids should be sent in dry cases 

 at this season with ventilation, and in no instance should any kind of 

 packing or stuffing be used, but simply struts or bars to prevent 

 the plants pressing upon one another in the cases. 



Oncidium anaphatum. —Lindl. 



Onoidium Ampliattim., Lindl, appears to have been first described in 

 Lindley's Orchidaceous plants published in 1830, and the habitat was given 

 as " Panmna et Columbia occidentale." Reference is made to the same 

 plant in Botanical Register in 1835. Grisebach gives the habitat [Costa- 

 Rica to Venezuela] which includes Trinidad. The orchid is known in 

 Trinidad as the " Yellow bee," and is one of our commonest kinds, some of 

 the branches of native trees in the Garden being sufficiently covered to 

 furnish us with basketsfull of bloom at a single cutting, and is in great 

 demand in its season for table decoration. The variety, Oncidium amplia- 

 tum niajus, grows to a much larger size than the type species, and it is said 

 to be obtainable only from Costa-Rica. There is however an indigenous 

 \'ariety which was termed niajus by my predecessor, which is so near the 

 Costa-Rican plant as to be hardly distinguished. The difference between 

 the type and the variety is well marked to the cultivator ; as the first has 

 short peduncles (1-2 feet) and somewhat spreading panicles, while the majus 

 variety is noted for its long (4-5 feet) pedmicles and compact panicles. The 

 latteral lobes of the lip in the type are spotted red, while in the variety 

 majua they are clear and yellow like the lip. Oncidium ampUatuin is 

 always to be found in Trinidad in tiower in the earlier months of the year, 

 its favourite home being on the upper side of the branches of large spreading 

 trees which afford it partial shade. The plant is one suitable for cultivation 

 hi Europe and America. 



Oncidium iridifolium, Kth. 



This Oncidium is really a little beauty, but like many others is a hard 

 one to maintain under cultivation unless the exact condition it requires is 

 supplied. In 1887 I had it first brought in by a native collector and then 

 for seven years I did not again see it — the pieces kept at the Gardens 

 gradually dwindling away. 



