Cattleya Whitei is an evergreen plant with handsome, good-looking dark o-reen 

 foliage. In growth it is much like the dark variety of C. labiata, its foliao-e and 

 pseudohulbs being similar; it produces three flowers on a spike, the sepals and 

 petals being bright magenta-crimson, with a flush of brown on the front portion 

 the lip pale magenta distinctly veined with intense magenta-crimson, and the throat 

 bright yellow. It blooms in July, and Mr. Davies, the gardener, tells us that it 

 lasts two or three weeks in beauty. 



This novelty requires treatment similar to that given to C. Mossice and 

 C. lahiata — namely, to be potted in good rough fibrous peat, with thorough drainage. 



It should have the heat of the Cattleya house, with all the light possible, durin 



the whole year, which will enable the plant to properly mature its stems and 



foliage, after which we may expect good results. A slight shading must be given 

 during hot sunny days. . 



Orchids at Melrose, the residence of A. Curie, Esq.— We paid a visit to this 

 ace a short time since and were well pleased with the collection. The mansion is 

 prettily situated on rising ground, well backed up with trees, while the view of the 

 ruins of the old abbey in front gives the place a quaint aspect which renders it 



specwlly interesting to visitors. There is a range of glass houses consisting of 



and gi-ccnhouses. Then we come to the Orchid houses, in which there is a well- 

 gro^Ti collection of these plants, which are doing well and making fine growth. The 

 centre tal)le has a row of good plants, such as Vanda tricolor Dalkeith variety, 

 also a beautiful Vanda suavis which was reported to be a fine variety, and some 

 other good Yandas. We, moreover, noticed a telling plant of Cattleya HarHsoniana 

 violacea finely in bloom, which, with its violet-coloured flowers, is very sho^y. There 

 are some grand specimens of Cattleya gigas, C Mendelii, and C Mossice, show 

 excellent growth, and many other Cattleyas and L^lias making rapid progress 



O 



Suspended from the roof we noticed a plant called Lcelia pumila spectahiUs, but it 



was not in blossom; since our visit, however, we have received a fresh bloom of 

 from Mr. Sharp, the gardener, and a most beautiful flower it is, being of good shape, 

 the sepals and petals dark rose, the lip rich purple and of stout substance. The 

 fohngc^ is very dark which is the case with some of the varieties of L. prcestans, 

 of which there are several in cultivation, this being one of the best we have seen. 

 In the same house was a good Vanda ccerulea showing fine spikes, and associated 

 with It were some handsome forms of Cypripedium Spicerianum in bloom. We 

 noticed also some well-gro\\Ti specimens of DendroUum Wardianum giganteum 

 making strong growth, several plants beinrr five feet hio-h 



In the next house were many fine examples of Odontoglossimi Alexandres, 0. 

 rescatorei, and others making good pseudohulbs; also Masdevallias and many other 

 good plants. We noticed a splendid Zygopetalum Machayi, so called, but we think 

 It was distmct from any we have seen, the colour being intense, and the lip of a 

 very rich purple.— B. S. W. 



