110 ORCHIDS: HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



This species may be purchased either as newly imported or 

 established plants, but a nice healthy established plant is perhaps to be 

 preferred, as, unless Laelia purpurata is imported in first-rate condition, 

 a year or two must elapse before strong flowering growths can be made. 

 On the other hand, newly imported plants can be purchased at a much 

 cheaper rate. Healthy established pieces should be obtained for from 

 5s. to 7s. 6d. per strong healthy growth, whilst newly imported pieces 

 can usually be bought for 3s. to 5s. per leading growth. 



LYCASTE SKINNERI. From Guatemala. 



A very lovely winter-flowering Orchid, the flowers of which are of 

 large size, of a thick wax-like tendency, and are borne on erect foot- 

 stalks. There is considerable variation in the colouring, the light or 

 delicate forms being mostly admired, the sepals and petals of which are 

 of a beautiful blush white. Ly caste Skinneri alba is a pure white 

 variety and very handsome, and much more expensive on account of 

 its rarity. L. Skinneri should be grown in pots half filled with drainage, 

 using peat and sphagnum in about equal parts, and although I do not 

 recommend a bad quality peat to be used, still it need not be of the best 

 fibrous quality for this species. The plants should be repotted in early 

 spring, only doing this when really necessary, say once in two or 

 three years. Some growers use a little fibrous loam in the compost, 

 which may do good, but, generally speaking, I do not regard it as 

 necessary, success in cultivation depending in a much larger degree 

 as with all other Orchids upon temperature, atmosphere, watering, 

 and general attention. 



I have found that every care must be exercised in watering this 

 species, and it is much safer to give too little than too much moisture, 

 even when the plant is in active growth during the summer watering 

 must be very carefully done so as not to get the compost soddened, 

 which causes spot to appear both in the leaves and pseudobulbs, and 

 this is generally known as disease. 



Established plants, if healthy, of this species may be purchased, 

 but those which prove most satisfactory are newly imported or semi- 

 established plants, as they always grow more freely. The flowers 

 appear from the base of the newly made pseudobulb during the autumn 

 or early winter months, according to the health or strength of the 

 plant. This is a deciduous species, losing its leaves in early spring. 



Plants may be purchased from about 3s. to os. per leading growth. 



MILTONIA YEXILLARIA. From Antioqua. 



(Syn. Odontoglossum vexillarium.) 



This, when well grown, is one of the most showy and beautiful of 

 Orchids, and if cultivated under proper conditions makes rapid growth ; 

 with unsuitable treatment it presents a very unsatisfactory appearance. 



