106 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



heat by day or night, though the sun heat raised it to 100°. Tlie 

 plant was liberally watered while making its growth, which it does 

 in two ways, — first, by producing young plants from the sides of the 

 pseudobulbs, and, second, by shoots from the base. After com- 

 pleting its growth, it was hung up in the full heat of the sun, and 

 had no water until September. At about Thanksgiving time it 

 was taken back into the orchid house ; if taken in too early the 

 flower buds produce shoots and no flowers. If water had not 

 been withheld it would not have flowered at all, but would have 

 sent out shoots and roots from every joint, which, if potted, would 

 in a year have made strong plants. All orchids must have rest or 

 they will give no flowers. In their native countries there is a dry 

 season when they all look as if dry and dead. 



The Lycaste Skinneri is very showy in flower, and almost imper- 

 ishable. It can be gi'own in winter, and if kept shaded while in 

 growth, it perfects very large bulbs, and will give fine bloom. 

 Coelogyne cristata requires about the same treatment as Lycaste 

 Skinneri. It should have plenty of water. Oncidium Jlexiiosum 

 is well adapted to common cultivation. 



Many orchids, if brought into the parlor when in bloom, will 

 last in full beauty three to six weeks, and Mr. Rand exhibited a 

 spike of Oncidium luridum guttatmn, from a plant which had been 

 in bloom for six weeks, with more than two hundred flowers. Also- 

 a small plant of Epidendrum machrocJiilum, growing on a block of 

 wood, as an illustration of the manner of growth of many orchids ; 

 and a fine plant of Dendrochilum glumaceum, which, however, is 

 not a cool orchid, but one of the most desirable for its grace, free- 

 dom of growth, beauty of foliage, and delightful fragrance. 



President Parkman said that the subject of hardy native Cypri- 

 pediums was closely connected, and called on Thomas 1*. James 

 for information concerning them. 



Mr. .Tames replied that he had not himself grown them, but had 

 seen different species under cultivation at the Botanic Garden in 

 Cambridge. 



Waldo O. Ross saw Cypripedium spectabile flowering freely in 

 the greenhouse at Mr. Menand's, in Albany, a year ago. 



Mr. Rand said that though it might be grown in greenhouses it 

 is hardly worth while, since it does so well out of doors. It is a 

 native of northern Maine and Canada, and perfectly hardy. He 

 had had plants two feet high with two or three flowers on a spike. 



