Oncidium intermedium is a distinct and beautiful evergreen plant, compact in 
growth, producing light green, fleshy leaves, a foot or more in height; the spike is 
erect, and attains to about eighteen inches in length, and bears a much-branched 
raceme of showy flowers, which are very numerous. The sepals and petals are 
yellow, distinctly spotted and barred with chestnut-brown. It blooms during the 
months of May and June, and continues in full beauty for several weeks. 
This species requires the heat of the Cattleya-house, and thrives best when 
placed in a position to obtain all the sun and light possible, just giving it 
sufficient shade to prevent its leaves burning. Treated in this manner it will be 
found to grow and flower most freely, and doubtless many other Oncidiums would 
thrive better under the same conditions than they do at present, as many _ species 
grow naturally in exposed situations. 
We find O. intermediwm thrives well in a basket suspended from the roof, and 
near the glass: the baskets should be well drained, and the most suitable potting 
material is a mixture of good peat fibre, living sphagnum moss, and a considerable 
quantity of nodules of charcoal, in different sizes, mixed with it. This mixture 
will enable the roots to easily penetrate it, and throw out their tender points to 
absorb the moisture, with which the atmosphere should be well charged in the 
growing season. When growth is completed the plants must not be entirely dried, 
as they have but very small bulbs to support any great drought; but the water 
supply should be considerably diminished, and the plant kept in just that happy 
medium which prevents shrivelling, but does not force it into growth prematurely. 
SAccOLABIUM C@LESTE.—This charming species is totally distinct from any other 
plant yet introduced to cultivation, and when thoroughly established, will prove a 
great acquisition to this genus. The colour is exquisitely beautiful, being of just 
that shade of blue which is so highly appreciated, and which is so rare amongst 
Orchidaceous plants. It is a free-blooming species, belonging to the section of 
which S. curvifolivm and S. ampullaceum are such well-known and highly admired 
examples; and this plant, with colours so distinct, forms a charming contrast. 
Since its first discovery several importations have been received in this country, 
and amongst them several varieties have appeared, varying more or less in intensity 
of colour, but the one here noted, which bloomed in the Victoria and Paradise 
Nurseries, and was exhibited by us before the Committee of the Royal Horticultural 
Society on Tuesday, July 25th, was exceptionally fine; it was much admired, and 
was awarded a First Class Certificate. This species produces fleshy, carinate, 
deep green, recurved leaves, some six inches in height. The plant in question 
bore two erect spikes, each nearly a foot high, and many-flowered. The sepals 
and petals are white, tinged and tipped with azure-blue; the lip being wholly of 
a deep shade of the same colour, We intend figuring this species in the Orchid 
Album in order that our numerous subscribers may be able to draw their own 
conclusions as to the merits of this lovely plant.—B. 8. W. 
