Odontoglossum brevifolium is a dwarf growing plant, and produces its erect 
spikes of flowers from the side of the pseudobulbs. There were seventeen blossoms 
on that which is here represented. The sepals and petals are of a bright chestnut- 
brown, margined and slightly marked near the base with yellow, the lip is rich 
yellow with two light brown patches at its base. It is altogether a strikingly 
showy plant, and one that should be always cultivated amongst Odontoglots for its 
distinctness of colourimg. 
The treatment which we find to suit the plant, is to grow it in a_ basket 
suspended from the roof, as it requires and enjoys all the light that can be given 
to it; but, of course, it needs to be shaded from the burning sun. The most 
suitable material in which to grow the plant is sphagnum moss and fibrous peat. 
It requires also a good supply of water in the growing season, so that it must be 
thoroughly drained. It thrives best in a cool house in which the same temperature 
is maintained as is found congenial to Odontoglossum Alexandre, and others of that 
class. ' 
OpontocLossum LONDESBOROUGHIANUM.—We have been under the impression that 
this species was not so good as it was first reported to be, but we are now of 
a different opinion. There are no doubt many varieties of the plant, as is the 
case with nearly all Orchids. In their native countries they are produced freely 
from seeds, all of the variations not being equally good. If our collectors could 
only pick out the best, when in bloom, we should be saved many disappointments, 
but of course they cannot spend their time in doing this. We were agreeably 
surprised when we paid a visit to the collection of G. W. Law-Scholefield, Esq., 
New- Hall- Hey, Rawtenstall, near Manchester, to see a fine spike of the 0. 
Londesboroughianum with twenty-five of its large blossoms, much finer than any we 
had ever seen before. The sepals and petals are yellow, barred with brown; the 
lip is large, of a bright golden yellow, and very showy, and, as the long spikes 
hung drooping among the white and coloured flowers of the other Orchids the 
effect was very good. No one could complain of having such a species as this, for 
it is a most showy flower. 
CYPRIPEDIUM INSIGNE.—When calling at Mrs. Haywood’s, Norris Green, Liverpool, a 
few weeks ago, we were pleased to see a fine specimen of this old Orchid, which 
was two feet in diameter; on nearly all the numerous scapes there were two 
flowers, and very fine ones they were. Mr. Bardney, the gardener, informed us 
‘that they come so every year, which makes this plant the more interesting, 4 the 
character of the species is merely to produce one flower on a stalk. This plant was 
grown in the grand conservatory, in which there was a most wonderful display of 
blossom, in fact, the grandest lot of greenhouse flowers we ever remember to have 
seen in winter, consisting of Pelargoniumns, Primulas, Camellias, Cyclamens, and the 
Lnculia gratissima, with 40 or 50 heads of bloom. There are not many 
at this place, but, What there are, are doing well, and are well looked after. 
