THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 241 
tiveness, and could, moreover, be obtained at a cheap rate, as my 
object was to show amateurs that a very beautiful display could be 
had during the greater part of the year without incurring a heavy 
expense in the purchase of the plants. But on the present occasion 
I am desirous of assisting those who have collections more or less 
complete, and are anxious to be well posted up in reference to 
the merits of orchids that have been introduced to cultivation within 
the last few years. In speaking of orchidaceous plants, the term 
“new” is usually allowed to have a much wider signification than 
in speaking of soft-wooded plants, such as the pelargoniums, 
fuchsias, and so forth, because, owing to the impracticability of 
multiplying them at a rapid rate, some years necessarily elapse 
before they can be widely distributed. In several instances the 
introducers of new kinds have been fortunate enough to obtain 
sufficient stocks to enable them to offer plants at a comparatively 
cheap rate. For example, the lovely Odontoglossum Roezli, which 
may be considered one of the most valuable of recent introduction, 
can be obtained in thrifty little plants for a guinea or so, although 
it has only been in commerce two or three years. In years gone 
by, a very small plant of a really good orchid, when sent out for the 
first time, was considered reasonable if obtainable for a sum ranging 
between ten and twenty guineas, but now the most expensive of the 
new kinds may be had for five guineas. As an encouragement for 
cultivators to purchase those of recent introduction, attention may 
be directed to the fact, that owing to the slow rate at which they 
can be multiplied, orchids may be expected to increase in value in 
proportion as they increase in size. There is no risk, as in the 
purchase of other new plants, that a plant for which two or three 
guineas is paid will in two or three years be worth a few shillings 
only, and practically be unsaleable. In certain cases the impor- 
tations may be so large, that the price of small plants are in a year or 
two reduced considerably ; but, speaking in a general way, orchids 
steadily increase in value from the time of their being purchased, 
and can be always disposed of at a fair price, should there be at any 
time a desire to give up their cultivation. 
In speaking of the new orchids, I shall not occupy space in 
discussing the merits of all that have been introduced, and 
instead shall give a brief description of those which are so good 
that they should have a place in the most select collection. First 
we have 
Cattleya gigas, a very beautiful addition to one of the most 
attractive classes of orchids we have. It bears from seven to nine 
flowers on a single stem, each flower from five to six inches across. 
The sepals and petals are of a lovely shade of rose, and the labellum, 
which is two inches and a half across, is of a dark maroon purple, 
with wide blotches of yellow and white. It is impossible to speak 
too highly of this species. 
Oypripedium Argus is evidently a Lady’s Slipper, closely allied 
to the free-growing Cypripedium barbatum, although sufficiently 
distinct to be regarded as a species. Itis of robust growth, and the 
flowers, which are borne on rather tall stalks, have whitish petals 
August. 16 
