144) Floricultural and Botanical Notices, 



placed. To give stability to the cone of peat, every stratum of 

 lumps, as it is put on, is pegged down with wooden pegs, with- 

 out which firmness no plant whatever will venture to protrude 

 its roots. The general temperature ranges from 60° to 85°. 

 Great advantage is found in having a tan-bed in which to plunge 

 the plants, which causes them to grow with the greatest vigour. 

 Very little water is given to the roots, especially in winter ; the 

 great desideratum in the cultivation of Orchidacese being to pre- 

 serve the roots, which, by over-watering, especially in winter, are 

 apt to be destroyed. 



Mr. Paxton concludes with the following summary of rules, 

 which, as coming from so successful a grower, will be highly 

 prized by the gardener who has this interesting description of 

 plants under his care. 



Aiy: Terrestrial Orchidacese should never have a great vo- 

 lume of external air admitted at once, however fine the Vv'eather 

 may be. To prevent the house becoming too hot, a thick canvass 

 shading should be drawn over it during sunshine. 



Light. The best aspect for an orchidaceous house is due 

 south ; and the house should be made to admit as much light as 

 possible. In summer, a thick canvass is always put on the house, 

 to prevent the bright sun damaging the plants. In winter, every 

 ray of light is advantageous to the plants. 



Heat. During the growing season, Orchidacese require a 

 moderately moist heat, varying from 65° to 85° ; in the dormant 

 season, from 60° to 75° is- quite sufficient; in the season of rest, 

 the house should be kept dry. 



Water. With this element more damage is done than by all 

 the others put together. Orchidacese in pots should be sparingly 

 watered in the growing season : in the dormant state, little or no 

 water should be given. The secret of growing these plants is, 

 to take care never to kill the old roots : when too much water is 

 given, while the plants are not in a growing state, almost all the 

 old roots invariably perish. 



The brief account here given refers entirely to plants potted 

 in a peat soil : those grown in moss, and on bits of wood, I'e- 

 quire quite a different treatment. 



Lindleyz Zuccar Lindley's ^ [Z3 or 1 au Br.R Mexico ... D p.r.w 



It does not appear to be distinct from S. oculata, differing 

 principally in the colour of its flowers, which are a dull, pale, 

 brownish red on the sepals and petals, while the spots on those 

 parts are comparatively inconspicuous. The bright yellow, so 

 great an ornament to the lip of the original S. oculata, is want- 

 ing, and is replaced by the dull vinous (port v/ine) stain of the 

 other parts. {Bot. Reg., n. s,, p. 3.) 



[D p.r.w Sert. orchid. 1. 1. 

 *Aeifominsis Lindl. Di^ie 0/ Devonshire's ^[23 s.pl 2 au O. spotted with R Mexico P1837 

 Synonymes : Coatzonte Coxockitl sen Lyncca Hernandez Thesaur. Ker. Med. Nov. Hisp., p. 266. ; 

 Angulbo HernandezK Kunth Synops., i. p. 332. ; Maxillaria lyncea Gen et Sp. Orch., p. 151. 



