Zygopetalum Mackayi is a large-growing evergreen plant, which may easily be 
grown to a fine specimen, and if good strong growth is made, it will flower freely, 
although we were informed recently by a gentleman that he had a large plant 
which grew well, but had not flowered for the last five years, which we look on as a 
most unusual occurrence, There are, however, numerous varieties of this species, 
and it might be the case that a shy bloomer has fallen to his lot. The plant has 
large ovate pseudobulbs, and long green distichous leaves. The scape rises with 
the young growth, and attains to a foot or eighteen inches in length, bearing some 
six or eight flowers, which are large and delicately fragrant. They last a long 
time in full beauty, but the spikes should be cut before the plant suffers 
in health, in order that good well-ripened bulbs may be made for the next season’s 
blooming. We are of opinion that this is a plant which, to flower freely, requires 
to be slightly pot-bound, and, therefore, although willing to admit that a good-sized 
pot is necessary for its sustenance, and to accommodate its large roots, frequent 
re-potting should not be resorted to. Therefore see that the drainage material is 
properly adjusted, and every season the old soil should be taken out, and it must 
be replaced with new. The soil in which to grow this plant should be a mixture 
of good peat fibre and sphagnum moss, to which may be added a little light turfy 
loam, from which all the fine particles have been shaken: this must be packed in 
very tightly. During the growing season a good heat is necessary, the Cattleya 
house being about the right temperature; it also requires a moist atmosphere, and 
a liberal supply of water to its roots. 
AWARDS MADE BY THE ORCHID CoMMITTEE or THE Roya HorricuLTuRAL SocrETy 
(Continued from Plate 426). 
March 10th, First Class Certificate to Messrs. F. Sander and Co., St. Albans, 
Herts, for Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum var. Amesianum, a form of this variable 
plant having a pale yellow or yellowish green ground colour, with blotches of 
dark chocolate on the sepals and petals, the lip being pale yellow heavily fringed. 
Award of Merit to G. Hardy, Esq., Pickering Lodge, Timperley, Cheshire, for 
Cattleya Triane Hardyana, a charming variety with very broad sepals and _ petals, 
making a round full flower, the lip having a rich deep purple front lobe with 
a narrow, pale, marginal band. 
