30 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



streaks of golden network. They must be seen, to be appreciated, for no 

 description can do tliem justice. A variety called pictus has a broad 

 golden stripe down the centre of the leaf. 



A. Lobii, Lowii, and Xyanthrophyllum, are three magnificent species in 

 our collection, of which we defer a description. These plants are most 

 difficult to cultivate. Thty should alivays he grown in the. shade, in the 

 East Indian house, under bell-glasses. Drain the pots well, prepare a little 

 sandy peat, vegetable mould, fine chopped sphagnum and silver sand; 

 elevate the plant a little above the rirn of the pot, and press the compost 

 ■well around it. Then plunge the pot, containing the plant, into another, 

 several sizes larger ; elevate it a little above the rim of the larger pot, and 

 fill all in firmly around with sphagnum. Place a clean bell glass just 

 inside the rim of the larger pot. The glass must be frequently wiped lest 

 too much moisture collect on it. The plants require to be kept damp, but 

 care must be taken to prevent too much moisture. It is often sufficient to 

 only wet the moss in the larger pot. Do not allow the plants to flower, but 

 pinch off the bud as soon as it appears. Plants of the more common varie- 

 ties, (of which there are several we have not described, with silver-veined 

 leaves,) and of A. setaceous may be obtained at about five dollars each. 

 The rarer varieties, such as Lowiij Lobbii, and Xyanthrophyllum, cost from 

 ten to fifteen dollars each. The plants are all small growers, seldom attain- 

 ing a height above two inches. 



Cypripediuins should be in every collection; they are easily cultivated 

 in pots, in a compost of turfy loam, fibrous peat, and leaf mould, ■with a little 

 sand. Drain the pots Avell, as they are impatient of too much moisture. 

 March is the best time to pot them. 



C. insignis. A fine variety. Sepals and petals, yellowish-green, shaded 

 to red, and spotted with brown, the centre petal has the end tipped with pure 

 ■white; the lip is orange, tinged with rich brown. This variety is now 

 quite common, and flowering plants may be obtained for about a dollar. 

 The flowers remain for weeks in perfection. 



C. venustum. Flowers yellowish-green, tinged with red ; leaves mottled. 

 Not uncommon. Price about two dollars. These two varieties will do 

 well in the warm end of a greenhouse. 



C. barbatum. Sepals and petals brownish purple ; lips white, witli red- 

 dish stripes ; leaves mottled. 



C. purpuratum. Like the former, but a deeper purple. A very handsome 

 variety. 



C. Javanicum and C. hirsutissimum are very fine varieties. All these 

 last mentioned are rare, and must be imported from England. Price from 

 five to fifteen dollars each. 



It now only remains for us to give a list of a few easily-grown orchids, 

 which may be obtained at a moderate price, and which require no peculiar 

 treatment, but which, by following the directions we have given, may be 

 grown and flowered in perfection. Those marked with a star may be 

 obtained in this country. 



*Acineta Barkerii. From Mexico; yellow flowers; basket culture. 

 Price five dollars. 



