106 OR CHID -grower's MANUAL. 



flowers at different times. A few years ago, I saw some large 

 masses of this plant in excellent health growing on blocks, 

 in the collection of T. Bewley, Esq., of Black Rock, Dublin. 

 To grow this species in perfection a good supply of moisture 

 is necessary at the roots ; indeed, it should never be allowed 

 to get dry. 



B. decora. — A beautiful fi'ee- flowering species from Brazil, 

 but a straggling grower, as it makes long stem-like growths 

 between each pseudobulb, from which the roots proceed. 

 The flowers are produced on upright spikes, and are of a 

 delicate white, pencilled with light rose. It blooms during 

 the winter months, and succeeds best in a basket, or on a 

 block suspended from the roof. 



B. decora picta. — This is a very fine form of the preceding, 

 stronger in growth, with much larger flowers ; the colour is 

 richer, and it is altogether a superior variety. Native of 

 Brazil. I saw a fine plant of this, grown by Mr. J. Williams, 

 gardener to the late C. B. Warner, Esq., Hoddesdon. It had 

 many branching spikes of its beautiful flowers, some of them 

 numbering twenty blossoms on each, and was grown in a 

 basket with moss and peat. 



B. Farmeri. — This is a very pretty species, and well 

 worthy of general cultivation. It resembles B. Candida in 

 habit and appearance, and is a very free bloomer, producing 

 its elegant white and yellow flowers in early summer. It 

 succeeds best grown on a block or in a basket with sphagnum 

 moss, suspended from the roof in the Cattleya house. 



B. fragrans. — A charming Orchid from Brazil. The flowers 

 are deliciously fragrant, the perfume resembling that of the 

 hawthorn ; sepals and petals white ; lip white, stained with 

 yellow down the centre ; they are produced in April and May, 

 on a drooping spike, and last three or four weeks in beauty if 

 kept free from damp. 



