58 L^LIA. 



situations where it has been found in a wild state 

 is in the crevices of rocks in Guatemala, sheltered 

 from the northern winds of that climate; in these 

 places its flower spikes arc said to attain the 

 immense length of four yards. 



This will require a large block of wood to be 

 grown upon, with plenty of sphagnum fastened 

 round it with lead- wire; the plant should be 

 placed on the block and more sphagnum applied 

 over the roots ; during its growth too much water 

 cannot be given to it provided it be not saturated. 

 The reason that it does not flower more freely, in 

 my belief, is, that it is grown in too high a tem- 

 perature; that which I have found to succeed 

 best is from 54° to 60" while growing, but a 

 still lower one while at rest, little or no water 

 during that time should be given to it ; pot culti- 

 vation will also do for it provided there is a 

 good drainage, and it is grown in a compost 

 of chopped sphagnum, turfy peat, and rotten 

 wood, with a few potsherds mixed together. 

 Water should be but moderately supplied to all 

 of them at the first, but increasing by degrees 

 as they become more strongly rooted, for those 

 on wood will require looking over every day 

 during their growth ; the temperature for all of 

 them is in the coolest part of the house devoted 

 to the South American species, and if a free 

 circulation of air can be given to them the better 



