0'2 OKCHID-GKOWEil S MANUAL. 



succeed in cooler houses. Odontoglossum r/rande and many 

 others, for instance, do better in a cool-house than in a warm 

 one ; how desirable it would be to communicate this quality 

 to others. Cypripedium insujne will thrive well in a green- 

 house, and if we could cross this with some of the other kinds, 

 such as C. siiperbiens, C. hirsutissinmm, C. Lowii, or C. harha- 

 tum superhum, something good might be the result. There 

 are also several hardy Cyprij^edhims, such as C. macranthum, 

 C. puhescens, and C. spectahile, which might be induced to 

 play an important part in the operation. At least, the several 

 hybrid Cypripediums which have flowered in the establishment 

 of Messrs. Veitch fully bear out our argument. Phajus 

 yrandifolius and P. Wallichii are likewise two noble plants 

 for winter decoration, which do well in a warm greenhouse, 

 and may probably be the means of producing some very 

 ornamental plants, if crossed with various Culantlws. 



Since the publication of the fifth edition of this Manual, 

 numerous Orchid growers have been turning their attention 

 to this subject of hybridising, and many of them have suc- 

 ceeded in raising seedlings, from which we trust ere long they 

 may realise something startling. 



ORCHIDS FOE ROOM DECORATION. 



Y CASTES thrive admirably in a cool-house, L. Skin- 

 ner i for instance, which is one of the finest, and of 

 which mauy^splendid varieties are now cultivated. 

 This plant is reported in the Gardeners' Chronicle to have been 

 kept in a room in flower for seven weeks- — a fact which shows 

 what might be done with these fine plants in a cool-house. We, 

 ourselves, have had plants of this Lycaste all the winter in a 



