* 
Oncidium Phalenopsis is a compact evergreen plant, with small pseudobulbs 
and light green leaves about eight inches in length. The flower spike proceeds 
from the base of the pseudobulbs, and bears six or more blossoms. The sepals and 
petals are creamy white, barred and spotted with purple; the lip is large, white, 
spotted at the base with violet-crimson, and the crest is golden-yellow. These 
flowers last a long time in beauty. 
The plant requires great care in cultivation, like many others of its class, but 
it is worth all the care bestowed upon it. We have found it grow well in small 
pots or pans with a little rough fibrous peat and some lumps of charcoal, so that it 
may send its roots over the peat and charcoal. The small-growing Orchids of this 
character do not like their roots covered up, and when they are making new roots 
it is very important that the insects should not be allowed to feed upon them, as the 
plants require all their roots to be sound and good to keep them in a healthy 
condition. They should be placed as much in the light as possible, so that their 
growths may be strong and full of vigour. The plants naturally grow on trees, in 
which position they get a great deal of moisture during the rainy season, while in 
the dry season they get heavy dews, and are shaded a little from the burning sun 
although they get all the light possible. In our artificial treatment of these plants 
we should give them their natural conditions as nearly as possible, for by so doing 
we shall not go far away from the right course. We have found the cool end of 
the Cattleya house to suit most of these small-growing kinds. 
We trust we may soon see a good importation of this rare Oncidiwm, so that 
growers may have a chance to try their skill upon its cultivation, The plants we 
have received at various times have been but small and puny. If only growers 
could get over some strong vigorous clumps, they would have a chance of making 
them into good specimens—an object which is worth the effort, as the “species 1s 
one of the most beautiful and distinct of the family. 
