1873] WINTER-FLOWERING ORCHIDS. 57 



Thougli as yet only seen in this country as a large shrub, or at 

 most but beginning to assume the tree form, and chiefly confined to 

 parks and pleasure-grounds, it has been widely distributed and exten- 

 sively planted, so that its thorough hardiness, freeness and rapidity 

 of growth in almost every district and variety of soil, have been amply 

 demonstrated, and there is every reason to believe that it will yet 

 come to be regarded as one of the most valuable of British forest-trees. 



In a young state, and as seen in our pinetums and parks, it is 

 one of the most beautiful of its tribe, having a handsome conical habit 

 of growth, clothed to the ground with long graceful branches, much 

 divided into feathery branchlets, of a shining, warm green colour, 

 which is maintained all over the year. 



Among varieties, of which many may be detected in almost every 

 lot of seedlings, Craigiana is the most distinct and constant. This fine 

 form was raised from the original seeds sent here by Jeffrey, and 

 differs from the species chiefly in having a more open habit of 

 growth, with the branches sKghtly pendant, and turned up at the 

 extremities. It is quite as hardy and of as free growth as the parent, 

 and makes a very pretty specimen-plant. Hugh Eraser. 



WINTER-FLOWERING ORCHIDS. 



ODONTOGLOSSUMS. 



We have here a genus of plants from the highlands or mountain- 

 ranges of the New AVorld, and particularly noted for their adaptability 

 to what is popularly termed 

 "cool treatment." Nearly all 

 the species of this large genus 

 are very handsome, neat in 

 habit, and bear a rich profusion 

 of blossoms. 



Odontoglossa are favourites 

 with most Orchid-growers, as 

 they may be grown without any 

 great expense either for fuel or 

 labour. The best erection in which to cultivate these plants is a low 

 span-roof house or pit. The house need not be more than 8 feet high in 

 the centre, and the side walls 5 feet. The breadth of the house may be 

 12 feet; this gives 4 feet for the side benches or tables and 4 feet 

 for the path. Provision must be made for thorough ventilation, 

 covering the openings with perforated zinc or wire gauze so as to ex- 

 clude cold currents of air or draughts. A house of these dimensions, 



Fig 8. 



