HOT ORCHIDS. 155 
the dwarf beneath is seen in all its beauty. As 
they cling together in great masses the pair must 
make a flower-bed to themselves — above, the 
clustered spikes of C. amethystoglossa, dusky-lilac, 
purple-spotted, with a lip of amethyst; upon the 
eround the rich chocolate and rose of C. Acklandie. 
Cattleya superba, as has been said, dwells also on 
the Rio Negro in Brazil ; it has a wide range, for 
specimens have been sent from the Rio Meta in 
Colombia. This species is not loved by gardeners, 
who find it difficult to cultivate and almost impos- 
sible to flower, probably because they cannot give 
it sunshine enough. I have heard that Baron 
Hruby, a Hungarian enthusiast in our science, has 
no sort of trouble; wonders, indeed, are reported 
of that admirable collection, where all the hot 
orchids thrive like weeds. The Briton may 
find comfort in assuming that cool species are 
happier beneath his cloudy skies ; if he be prudent, 
he will not seek to verify the assumption. The 
Assistant Curator of Kew assures us, in his 
excellent little work, “ Orchids,” that the late Mr. 
Spyers grew C. superba well, and he details his 
method. I myself have never seen the bloom. 
Mr. Watson describes it as five inches across, 
“bright rosy-purple suffused with white, very 
fragrant, lip with acute side lobes folding over the 
