CATTLEYAS. 67 



have three : the flowers are large, elegant in form, and 

 scarcely surpassed in their brilliant richness and depth of 

 colours ; the most frequent of which are violet, rose, crimson, 

 white, and purple, with their intermediate shades. The 

 flower-scape, which is enclosed in a sheath, rises from the top 

 of the bulb, and a single spike sometimes contains as many 

 as nine perfect flowers ; and I have seen as many as thirty. 

 As soon as the flowering is over, the Cattleyas generally begin 

 to make their growth for the next season ; but some of 

 them, as C. Walkeriana, G. violacea, C. superba, and several 

 others, flower while making their growth. In the cultivation 

 of Cattleyas I have found them thrive best in pots, with the 

 exception of C. Walkeriana, C. marginata, and C. citrina, 

 which grow best on blocks with a small quantity of moss. 

 If room be not abundant, all the kinds may be grown on 

 blocks, but they will require more attention, and seldom 

 thrive so well as in pots. They require a good depth of 

 drainage. I generally fill the pot about half full of pot- 

 sherds, which I cover with a layer of moss, and then fill up 

 the remaining space with peat, taking care always to have 

 the plants elevated above the rim of the pot. 



I grow all the Cattleyas in the Mexican house, and am 

 accustomed to give them a good supply of heat, and not too 

 much water, while they are growing. Water applied to the 

 roots once or twice a-week will be sufficient for those in most 

 vigorous state of growth : too much water is apt to cause the 

 bulbs to rot. So long as the soil remains moist no water is 

 required ; and when the soil becomes dry, water should be 

 applied to the roots, not to the bulbs, as it is apt to injure 

 them greatly. When the plants have made their growth they 

 should be allowed to rest, and be kept rather dry, giving them 

 just water sufficient to prevent their shrivelling. 



A long season of rest is very advantageous to the plants, 

 causing them to flower more freely and grow more vigorously 

 afterwards. Those plants growing on blocks will require a 



-F 2 



