80 ABOUT ORCHIDS. 
in the gathering of them as attend Odontoglos- 
sums. Easily obtained, easily transported, and 
remarkably easy to grow, of course they are cheap. 
A man must really “give his mind to it” to killa 
Lycaste. This counts for much, no doubt, in the 
popularity of the genus, but it has plenty of other 
virtues. ZL. Skinneri opens in the depth of winter, 
and all the rest, I think, in the dull months. 
Then, they are profuse of bloom, throwing up half 
a dozen spikes, or, in some species, a dozen, from 
a single bulb, and the flowers last a prodigious 
time. Their extraordinary thickness in every part 
enables them to withstand bad air and changes of 
temperature, so that ladies keep them on a draw- 
ing-room table, night and day, for months, with- 
out change perceptible. Mr. Williams names an 
instance where a L. Skinnert, bought in full bloom 
on February 2, was kept in a sitting-room till 
May 18, when the purchaser took it back, still 
handsome. I have heard cases more surprising. 
Of species somewhat less common there is L, aro- 
matica, a little gem, which throws up an indefinite 
number of short spikes, each crowned with a 
greenish yellow triangular sort of cup, | deli- 
ciously scented. I am acquainted with no flower 
that excites such enthusiasm among ladies who 
fancy Messrs. Liberty’s style of toilette; sad ex- 
