100 orchids: how to grow them successfully. 



are of a rose colour, with a small blotch of light yellow on the hp. 

 A variety known as C. Harrisoni is very similar to this species, the 

 flowers being darker in colour with the blotch on the lip of an 

 orange colour. Peat and sphagnum is the best compost in which 

 to pot this plant, and as to general treatment, see that recom- 

 mended for C. Gaskelliana, giving it a position where it can 

 have plenty of light. 



Good plants of this species should be bought for about 5/- for one 

 or two strong leading growths. Newly imported or established. 



Cattleya citrixa. From Mexico. 



This is totally unlike any other species of Cattleya in growth 

 and habit, and is one of the very few Orchids wliich I recommend 

 for block culture because of its habit of growing downwards, the 

 pseudo bulbs, fohage and flowers always drooping towards the 

 ground. If the plants when first received from the importer were 

 placed on a block or in a pan in an upright jjosition — which to an 

 inexperienced person amongst Orchids may be thought to be its 

 natural one — the first new growths formed would turn and grow in 

 an opposite direction. This Orchid appears to be most plentiful in 

 its native habitat, as it is imported in large quantities, and this is a 

 very fortunate circumstance, for without new suppHes it would in a 

 iew years become very scarce, as it is one of those kinds which 

 deteriorate after about the third year. Some growers cultivate it 

 better than others, and keep it in good condition a longer time, but 

 I have never heard of anyone hitting upon the exact treatment that 

 would keep the plants in a permanently flourishing condition and 

 give an increase in size. It is a handsome Orchid well worth 

 growing and renewing the stock occasionally, and should be grown 

 on a block as advised for Oncidium varicosum on page 87; suspend 

 it in a light position and water when dry, by dipping the block and 

 plant into water for a few moments, once every evening if the 

 weather is very dry or hot, and keep at the warmest end of the 

 house in winter time. The flower is of a beautiful bright yellow 

 colour, deHciously fragrant, and the plant always grows actively 

 during the winter, flowering from April to June, and when in 

 flower should be watered without immersion or the flowers will at 

 once decay. 



Nice httle clumps range from 2/6 to 10/6, for from one to three 

 leading growths. Newly imported in spring. 



