inches in length. The spike is terminal, from two to five feet long, and bearing 



near the upper part a somewhat dense raceme of flowers. The sepals and petals 



are purplish Ibrown, much undulated, and the lip of a rosy purple hue. It blooms 



in March, and the flowers continue in perfection for several weeks. 



This plant succeeds best when grown in a hanging basket, and roots freely in 



the atmosphere ; it also thrives well on rafts or blocks of wood, but under these 

 conditions it requires more attention to keep it supplied with moisture. The 

 growth commences after the flowers have faded, and during the formation of new 

 bulbs it should be syringed twice a day in warm weather, in order to encourage 

 it to grow vigorously, and thus to produce fine blossoms. This is usually con- 

 sidered a shy-flowering species, but if grown with full exposure to the light, there 

 need be little fear but that it will bring forth its flowers annually. In a state of 



nature this plant is found growing upon trees and on rocks in exposed situations, 



where it is subjected to a decided dry and rainy season, the latter being its time 

 of flowering and growing, at which period it requires great care and attention to 

 keep it properly supplied with moisture, but after growth is completed just a 

 moderate quantity only is requisite in order to keep the bulbs and leaves from 

 shrivelling and becoming impoverished. We find the temperature of an intermediate 

 house to suit it admirably, and that it does not appear to like much soil about its 

 roots ; this should be the same as we have previously recommended for Cattleyas. 



Mr. Corning's Orchids at Albany, U.S.A. — -This collection is one of tlie oldest 

 now existing in the United States of America. The collection is very extensive, 

 and contained very many novelties of sterling merit at the time of our visit in 

 March. About a hundred Cattleya TriancB were in bloom, and many very beautiful 

 forms. Here is a fine collection of all the rare kinds of Cattleyas and Laelias, 

 also a collection of East India Orchids ; hundreds of Phalaenopsids ; and a very 

 extensive collection of Cypripediums, amongst them being many extraordinary specimens 

 over three feet across. Hundreds of Lycastes are grown here, and many were 

 in flower, varying considerably in colour; there were also fine specimens of 

 Cymhidlmn Lowiamim in flower. I was pleased to meet with a fine strong plant 

 of Phajus tuhercuJosus growing most luxuriantly and flowering freely. Of cool 

 Orchids, here is also a grand lot — Odontoglossum Alexandrce and O. Fescatorei were 

 in flower by the dozen ; fine spikes of O. triumphans caught the eye ; but what 

 struck me most was a grand lot of 0. vexillarium, with very strong growths and 

 the picture of health, growing at the warm end of the Odontoglossum-house, " 

 with icicles a foot long hanging over their heads inside the house, and the plants 

 appearing none the worse. Mr. Gray, Mr. Coming's gardener, who has had the 

 charge of them for a great many years, said that they had been there all the 

 winter, and that the icicles frequently hung from the roof as they did at the 

 time of my visit, and that no injury had ever accrued. There is also a fine 

 collection of jMasdevallias here, and many species were in flower. A fine specimen 

 of the rare Nanodes Medusa was beautifully flowered. 



I 



