Up the Cuyuni in 1837. 329 



latter will be highly valuable at Chatsworth, particularly 

 of Oncidium Lanceanum, Maxillaria cristata, and Cory- 

 anthes speciosa, and the species I before mentioned to 

 you with long drooping rush-like leaves ; it has flowered 

 with Mr. LODDIGES and is called Maxillaria Steelii ; the 

 flowers are large and handsome. We possess two varie- 

 ties of Oncidium Lanceanum, one from Demerara and 

 the other from Surinam, but I am informed that the 

 flowers of the former are much superior to those of the 

 latter both as respe6ls size and colour. I am sorry it is 

 so scarce with you. 



Our method of treating Cryptopodiums is to plant 

 them in broken sandy fibrous peat and pieces of pots, 

 keeping them moderately wet in summer and partially 

 dry in winter ; this system we prefer to any other ; although 

 I believe rotten wood to be very good for them, yet I 

 consider fibrous sandy peat and pots better. There is 

 such a similarity between decaying oak bark and wallaba 

 wood that I think it would not be advantageous or even 

 advisable to send any, still I am much obliged by your 

 promise to do so. The Ca6teae you sent reached me 

 safe, and from your description, they will form a new 

 species nearly allied to C. triangularis. We pay great 

 attention to the plants and I am glad to say they are 

 thriving well, so that I hope to have flowers soon. I am 

 much surprised that the long-bulbed Oncidium should 

 grow so fine and produce such long flower scapes on the 

 sterile surface of a granite rock ; this is a new feature in 

 Orchideae culture and will probably assist much in 

 treating this one. I have no doubt we shall succeed 

 well with it, for from its appearance, no plant can be in 

 a more prosperous state. I have not had an opportunity 



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