in our collection at Holloway, in the month of January, 1889, although its usual 
time of flowering in a natural state would appear to be April and May. The 
plant is a robust and strong grower, and has distichous leaves, which are 
oblong-ligulate, a foot or more in length, and light green in colour. The scape is 
erect, from two to three feet in length, and under cultivation it usually produces two 
flowers only; but on native specimens we are told that sometimes eight or ten are 
developed. The dorsal sepal is ovate-acute, somewhat hooded at the apex, and narrowed 
at the base, pale green tinged with brownish purple, downy on the outside; the lower 
sepal slightly smaller, but about the same colour. Petals deflexed, three inches or more 
in length, the apical portion soft violet-purple, the basal half greenish, spotted with 
purple ; the edges fringed with black hairs. The lip is oblong and stout, smooth and - 
shining, greenish purple on the upper side, passing into pale green beneath. It 
blooms during the late winter and early spring months, and continues in ful} beauty 
for a very long time, but its flowers must be kept from damp. 
Cypripedium Lowii, although growing naturally as an epiphyte upon the 
branches of trees, we yet -find to succeed best under cultivation when grown in a 
pot; this should be well drained. We have found it thrive best in a mixture 
composed of one part good light turfy loam, the same of peat and leaf-mould, to 
which may be added a little chopped sphagnum moss, and a few moderate-sized nodules 
of charcoal, the whole to be well mixed and incorporated. In potting, the plant should 
be -a little elevated, so that the water may the more readily pass away quickly 
from the crown and young growths. This plant, like all the rest of the genus, has 
no pseudobulbs, and therefore requires attention in watering all the year round. 
In the summer months a liberal supply is requisite, and during the winter 
sufficient will be necessary to maintain the specimen in perfect health. The warmth 
of the East India house suits this species best, it will thrive, however, in the 
Brazilian house during summer, but in winter more heat is necessary than is 
accorded to Cattleyas, wh.re these plants are properly rested. 
Se! ee 
Gui 3 FoRM oF Lycaste SKINNERI AaLBA.—We have received through the kindness 
of T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Whitefield, near Manchester, flowers of -a grand 
variety of this great beauty, the individual flowers measuring eight inches across, and 
being of good substance; the sepals too were unusually large. This is another 
instance of Mr. Statter’s good luck in flowering gems in his collection.—H. W. 
