'Botanical, Floricidtural, and Arboricultural Notices. 557 



other in a close room, and throw a damp mat over them. Some 

 of the strongest and driest sorts are left in this state for several 

 days, sometimes a week or two. Without receiving any stimulus 

 to growth, they imbibe sufficient moisture to enable them to push 

 their eyes and shoots freely, when taken into the Orchideae house. 

 Sometimes it is more convenient to place them in drier houses 

 than the Orchideae house ; in that case they are kept moist by 

 being placed on wet moss, and syringed occasionally ; in either 

 case they are not potted, nor put into baskets, till their roots are 

 beginning to appear. The beginning of the rainy season is the 

 best time for collectins: them in their native habitats, as their 

 growth is then beginning. We had some home lately, gathered 

 in that state, which were fit to be hung up as soon as they arrived. 

 In ordinary cases, most of the species will do well enough in 

 the common moisture of the Orchideae house, when first ar- 

 rived ; but the excitement of this treatment is too much for 

 some, till they have slowly imbibed moisture sufficient to sustain 

 stimuli. Of this kind are the beautiful Epidendrum bicornutum 

 and tibicinis, and all those with hollow tubes or hollow bulbs. As 

 a proof of this, plants of a species of Epidendrum, the IFlor 

 del Mayo of La Guayra, may now be seen in Messrs. Loddiges's 

 very damp and very hot Orchideae house, with little or no growth ; 

 while at Clapton the same species, received at the same time, is in 

 active growth, Mr. Low not keeping much stimulus: and, here, 

 the same sort, having had a fortnight's cold damp treatment, is 

 now in the most vigorous growth. A species of Schomburgkm, 

 or the spread eagle, as it is called, which is well known to be 

 shy at vegetating soon after arriving in this country, under this 

 treatment grows as freely as Epidendrum cochleatum. Lae v lia 

 grandiflora, autumnalis, albida, &c, and some others, from the 

 higher parts of Mexico, are very difficult to start, but, treated in 

 this way, and placed in wet moss in a cool house, with a constant 

 draught of air, are pushing away as regularly as any of the tribe. 

 But time and room will allow of no further details at present. 

 Kingsbury, Sept. 14. 1839. 



Art. VIII. Botanical, Floricultural, and Arboricidtural Notices of 

 the Kinds of Plants newly introduced into British Gardens and 

 Plantations, or which have been originated in them ; together with 

 additional Information respecting Plants (whether old or new) already 

 in Cultivation : the whole intended to serve as a perpetual Supplement 

 to the " Encyclopaedia of Plants," the " Hortus Britannicus," the 

 " Hortus Lis;)iosiis," and the " Arboretum et Fruticetum Britan- 



Curtis' s Botanical Magazine ; in monthly numbers, each containing 

 seven plates; 3s. Qd. coloured, 3s. plain. Edited by Sir William 

 Jackson Hooker, LL.D., &c. 



p p 3 



