ORCHIDS FOR ROOJI DECORATION. 53 



greenhouse, where they have flowered in great abundance, as 

 many as from thirty to fifty blossoms being open at one time. 

 Indeed, we exhibited a plant of it at one of the Regent's Park 

 spring shows with as many blossoms on it as we have just 

 mentioned, on which occasion a medal was awarded for its 

 magnificent flowers and colour. Particular care must be 

 taken, however, to keep the flowers dry when in a cool-house 

 or room, or else they are apt to become spotted. 



" Lijcaste SIdiineri," says the Gardeners' Chronide, "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 plent}' 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 transitions, 

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

 and 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 

 draw attention to Lycnste Skinneri, but because of all tropical 

 Orchids it is one of the hardiest in constitution and most easy 

 to cultivate. This has been very decisively shown by some 

 experiments of the late Mr. Skinner, to whose untiring energy 

 we English owe this and many other treasures. In a note 

 received from him, 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, 



