iSy, 



WINTER-FLOWERING ORCHIDS. 



231 



allowed to shrivel, since a shrivelled bulb will never produce such fine 

 flowers or strong growths as will those that are fresh and plump. 

 When well grown, Lycastes are very valuable for conservatory decora- 

 tion, and help to give variety to the supply of cut-flowers. Specimens 

 of Lycaste Skinnerii have occasionally borne from thirty to fifty 

 flowers. I recently saw upwards of a dozen nicely-bloomed plants in 

 the collection of 0. 0. Wrigley, Esq. of Bury, Lancashire. These had 

 been grown by Mr Thos. Hubberstey ; and the following table speaks 

 well of the results obtained by his system of treatment, which does 

 not differ materially from that advocated above : — 



1 FLOWERING BULB EACH. 



ISTo. 1 bore 7 flowers 



„ 2 „ 7 „ 



,, 3 „ 14 „ 



n 4 , , J ,, 



2 FLOWEPJXG BULBS EACH. 



No. 1 bore 14 flowers. 

 ,, 2 ,, 20 

 „ 3 „ 14 „ 

 „ 4 „ 18 „ 

 „ 5 „ 19 



This gives a total of 122 flowers from 9 plants, which collectively have 

 only 14 leads (?'. e., flowering bulbs). Some of these flowers were 

 models in form, size, and colour ; while next year there is every reason 

 to suppose that the numbers here given will be nearly doubled. This 

 plant and the valuable Dendrobium nobile will amply repay any one 

 who cultivates them for their winter's crop of flowers. The Dendro- 

 bium is perhaps the most useful, as its flowers being smaller are better 

 adapted for gentlemen's " buttou-holes " or ladies' bouquets. The 

 Lycastes, however, come in handy for vases and dinner-table decora- 

 tions, having a very distinct and handsome appearance when grouped 

 with graceful Terns and Lycopods. Some of the lighter coloured 

 varieties with small flowers form artistic adornments for ladies' hair. 

 For this latter purpose take a small flower and a bud, arranging a 

 frond of Davallia or Adiantum behind them, and they will look very 

 pretty, and are not so common as Camellias. 



In its native country (Guatemala) this beautiful Orchid is largely 

 used in the decoration of the altars and in religious rites. It is an 

 old inhabitant of our gardens, having been introduced thirty years ago 

 from Central America, but its cultivation has not been general until 

 the last few years. 



Eobert Warner, Esq. of Broomfield, who successfully cultivated 

 many beautiful Orchids under the partial shade of his Grape vines, 

 found this species to luxuriate in such a position ; and a recent writer 

 in a contemporary hopes the day is not far distant when this plant 

 and some of the Odontoglots shall be grown in cottage-windows side 

 by side with Fuchsias and Pelargoniums. F. W. B. 



