HINTS OX PURCHASING ORCHIDS. 1 '> 



latum closely resemble each other in their foliage and psendo 

 bulbs. Cypripedium caudatum and Uropedium Lindeni are 

 identical in habit, and but little difference exists between 

 Cattleya Skinneri and the orange-flowered Epidendrum auran- 

 tiacum. Some forms of Dendrobium Pierardi very nearly 

 resemble plants of the elegant D. Devonianum, more espe- 

 cially when denuded of their foliage, as is generally the case 

 after importation. The pseudo bulbs of Odontoglossum Pesca- 

 torei somewhat resemble those of 0. triumphans, but in this 

 case but little disappointment will follow if a mistake is made, 

 since both are beautiful. Cattleya labiata and C. Warneri 

 are much the same in habit, as, indeed, are all the numerous 

 forms of this beautiful group. 



After a little study and close habits of observation, the dis- 

 tinctive appearances of Orchids will be fixed in the eye and 

 mind, although even the most experienced are occasionally 

 s deceived in their external characteristics, which, as a matter 

 of course, are liable to much variation according to the different 

 local surroundings to which they have been exposed in their 

 native habitats. There is always a possibility, as before 

 stated, of obtaining new or rare varieties, and the chances are 

 much more in favour of this occurring when, as is frequently 

 the case, the collector does not see all the plants in bloom. Of 

 course when they are collected by resident botanists, they are 

 in most cases found to be correctly named on their arrival in 

 this country, and are then sold as named plants. Imported 

 plants are sold by most of the principal Orchid growing nur- 

 serymen at rates considerably lower than those demanded for 

 established plants. More pleasure will be derived from growing 

 the cooler Orchids, in proportion to the capital expended, than 

 can possibly be obtained by cultivating the far more expensive 

 species from the tropical lowlands. Many of the finer species 

 may now be obtained at prices scarcely above those of the 



