LYCASTE SKINNERI. 33 



Lycaste Skinneri, says the " Gardeners' Chronicle," seems 

 about to have as great a future as the Tulip. Already some- 

 thing like a dozen varieties of colour are known among its 

 exquisitely beautiful flowers, and we can entertain no doubt 

 that it will break into plenty more, especially if recourse is 

 had to hybridising. From deep rose to a skin only less 

 white than the Hawthorn we have a complete set of transi- 

 tions, and this is a plant conspicuous for its fine broad 

 foliage, and most glorious in its ample floral garments. 



It is not, however, wholly on account of its disposition to 

 reward us by an endless variety of colour, and perhaps form, 

 that we wish to attract attention to it, but because of all 

 tropical Orchids it is one of the hardiest and most easy to 

 cultivate. This has been very decisively shown by some late 

 experiments by Mr. Skinner, to whose untiring energy we 

 English owe this and many another treasure. In a note 

 received from him the other day he writes as follows : 



" On the 2nd February, 1861, I received from Mr. Veitch 

 a fine specimen with seven flower spikes all out, and took it 

 to Hillingdon Cottage, placed it on the drawing-room table 

 in an ornamental pot, and gave it every three days or so 

 about four tablespoonfuls of water, occasionally wiping the 

 leaves with a wet sponge when the dust got on them. There 

 this plant stood throughout the severe weather we had a 

 fire in the room only during the afternoons and evenings, 

 and on some days none at all. It never showed the least 

 decay until the 16th of May, when it was for some purpose 

 or other put into the greenhouse, and our gardener sprinkled 

 water over it along with the other plants. Next morning I 

 was shocked to see the flowers all with brown spots and 

 withering. On the 18th May I took it back to Mr. Veitch, 

 still in full bloom (seven spikes) to bear testimony to its 

 condition, and it lasted, though then much injured, a week 

 on the stand by the seed-room in their place. This expe- 

 riment induced me to try again. On. the 18th December,- 



D 



