they are ke^^t free from damp. This is best secured by removing the plant when 

 in flower to a dry house, where although no artificial warmth is necessary in the 

 daytime, heat should be applied during the night, which will dry up the super- 

 abundant moisture, and prevent the flowers from becoming spotted. As a proof of 



the efficacy of the above treatment, the plant from which our plate was prepared 



retained all its pristine beauty for upwards of a month. Thus it will be seen that 

 a little attention to the requirements of the blooms is amply rewarded ; for 

 nothing is more vexing than to find flowers — which are the result of a year's care 



^^^^ r 



and toil — spotted and spoilt in a few days. 



* 



This Cattlcya requires the same cultural treatment as C. Mossice and all the 

 lahiata section — that is to say, they enjoy good exposure to the light, and but 

 very little shade at any season. Although Cattleyas are . plants of easy culture, 

 there is much care and observation necessary in order to manage them well, and to 



r 



maintain them in vigorous health for any length of time. To secure this, our 

 practice has always been to pot them in a mixture of good fibrous peat from 

 which the mould has been shaken, with a little living sphagnum added. Perfect 

 drainage is most essential, as everything must be kept sweet and congenial about 

 them. Watering is the rock upon which the majority of cultivators are wrecked. 

 We have seen Cattleyas flourishing under a system of watering in a profuse manner j 

 but this happy state is only a temporary illusion, for by-and-bye the roots be 



O^^^ ] 



to rot, and the plants fall into ill-health, from which in most instances they never 



recover. We have found that Cattleyas require but a very moderate supply of 



water, which should be given just at the time when it is beneficial to them, and 

 at such times only. 



Insects attack Cattleyas to some extent, and on account of their large foli; 

 will soon disfigure them, rendering the rich deep green of their leaves rusty brown 

 or papery white ; therefore a sharp scrutiny must be kept upon the plants, and 



5 



the marauders destroyed upon their first appearance. White scale is a pest 

 Cattleyas are very subject to, and as it is imported with them sometimes in 

 quantity, they would appear to be a victim to attacks of this in their native 

 wilds. This scale, however, may be exterminated by constant examinations, and 

 removing them by sponging wherever found. To thrips usually must be attributed 

 the greatest disfigurement of these plants ; but they can be destroyed by steaming with 

 tobacco -juice, through the- medium of the new apparatus called "The Thanatophore," 



which we have now used for some time with great success, our experience bein 



o 



corroborated by many other growers of these plants 



J. 





