1882 J 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



235 



give only water enough to prevent the plant 

 from becoming absokitely dry. Pruning is best 

 done just before the plant starts into growth. 

 It is altogether useless to try to flower this Big- 

 nonia as a pot plant, — for if either the roots or 

 branches be limited as to room, the result will 

 be very discouraging to the person attempting 

 its cultivation. 



COOL ORCHIDS-L/ELIAS. 



BY W. 



Before taking up the verj* numerous family of 

 Oncidiums I would like to speak briefly in 

 hearty commendation of this beautiful genus, 

 remarkable both for the loveliness of its flowers, 

 and for the ease with which they may be suc- 

 cessfully produced. 



As far as I am aware, there has not been dis- 

 covered a single variety unworthy of cultivation, 

 and it was fitting that the founders of this 

 queenly genus should have connected its lovely 

 qualities with those of that charming Roman 

 maiden, distinguished alike for the purity with 

 which she spoke her native tongue, and the sin- 

 cerity and earnestness of her conversation. 



The number of species comprising this genus 

 is not large, about thirty only being enumer- 

 ated by the several authors, and a few of these 

 are, without doubt, varieties only, or natural 

 hybrids, not to mention several that have been 

 obtained by cross-fertilization with the neighbor- 

 ing genus, Cattleya, with which they are very 

 nearly allied, the only botanical difference being 

 the presence of eight pollen masses instead of 

 four. Some of the species even are indiscrimi- 

 nately known as Cattleyas or Lselias. The dif- 

 ference that presents itself at once to the ama- 

 teur is in the style of inflorescence. The flower 

 scape of the Lselias, with rare exceptions (as for 

 instance in the lovely L. Jongheana), develops 

 directly from the summit of the pseudo-bulb in 

 the axil of the leaf, and in many varieties is 

 long and slender, not displaying its flower buds 

 until well advanced, reaching the length, in the 

 case of L. anceps, of three and four feet. The 

 inflorescence of the genus Cattleya, though start- 

 ing from the same point, makes itself seen 

 through a sheath two or three inches in length, 

 and when the short scapes appear the buds are 

 already developed and increase in size very 

 rapidly, expanding in a few weeks, the stem 

 rarely, if ever, exceeding one foot in height. In 

 size of flower, and breadth of sepals and petals, 

 the latter generally surpass the Lselia?, though 



by no means in the beauty and richness of 

 their coloring or in the substance of the flowers, 

 which embrace all the shades of purple, crimson, 

 rose and lilac, and also in rare instances ame- 

 thyst, red, orange, scarlet and yellow. 



La^lias are exclusively American, and are 

 found in Mexico, Guatemala, and various parts 

 of South America; many from different portions 

 of Brazil. They were first introduced into Eng- 

 land in 1830 to 1835, L. anceps having been first 

 flowered there in 1834; other species followed 

 at intervals until 1840. The only varieties of 

 recent date are Daycana and harpophylla, re- 

 spectively purple, lilac and white and orange- 

 scarlet, both ,from Brazil, which appear in the 

 "addenda" to "Williams' Manual," 1877, fifth 

 edition. 



The Mexican varieties are all best grown on 

 blocks, — directions say, with a little sphagnum 

 moss ; practical experience, as stated very gene- 

 rally by a contributor to the London Garden 

 (page 562 of 1881), which is borne out by tiie 

 observations of others, says without any moss, 

 the roots clinging firmly to the blocks and 

 fastening the plants there, and when too long 

 hanging for two feet or more in mid-air. The 

 same writer verj^ truthfully remarks: "One 

 thing in orchid growing seems now fairly settled, 

 and that is heat, air and moisture being duly 

 proportioned, it matters but little in what com- 

 post the plants are anchored," and in this article 

 he alludes to such orchids as Trichopilias, Cat- 

 tleyas, Lselias, Mormodes, Cateseturus, Brassa- 

 volas, and others from Mexico. Many amateurs 

 are fast becoming convinced of this fact. In the 

 houses to which I have access equally good 

 plants of Lselias are seen grown with or without 

 sphagnum. With proper attention to their 

 wants in these respects an ordinary greenhouse 

 is the best in which to grow them, and the in- 

 creased size of psuedo-bulb spikes and flowers, 

 from year to year, attest its success. The care 

 of a few plants will soon afford to an observing 

 person an insight into their requirements. It is 

 no secret, for even when neglected they will bear 

 more abuse than any plants, possibly Cacti 

 excepted. 



This article, already too long, should not be 

 brought to a close without enumerating a few of 

 the best species for the amateur. 



First and easiest of culture are the lovely 

 Mexican specimens, Albida and Anceps. The 

 former with, waxy blossoms in clusters of three 

 to six, often pearly white, and as often tinged 



