Our figure of this charming Lmlia was taken from a finely-bloomed specimen 

 in the well-grown collection of F. A. Philbrick, Esq., of Bickley, under the care of 

 Mr. Heims, who has succeeded in flowering it very successfully. It was a very 

 rare plant a few years ago, and then commanded a high price ; but of late years 

 there have been received large importations of it, and it may now be purchased at 

 a more reasonable cost. The varieties vary to some extent in the size of their 

 flowers and in the particular shade of colour, which is found to be the case with 

 nearly all the imported Orchids. 



Lcelia harpophylla is an evergreen species, with thin stems and long narro\Yish 



pointed foliage, of a dark green colour ; it grows a foot or more in height, the 



flower-spike proceeding from a sheath at the top of the stem, and rising about 

 six inches above it, several flowers growing together on the spike. The blossom is 

 of a beautiful bright orange -vermilion, and the lip is edged with white. It is a 

 free-flowering plant, blooming in March, April, and May, and continuing its 

 inflorescence for four or five weeks. 



We find it to succeed well potted in fibrous peat, to which must be added 

 good drainage, and a liberal supply of water during the time of its growth. The 

 soil should also be kept moist through the resting season, so that the bulbs and 

 foliage may be kept plump, as the bulbs being very thin, they require a more 

 constant supply of nourishment than those of plants which have bulbs of a more 

 substantial character. We have grown these' plants in the Cattleya house, as near 

 the light as possible, for they grow weakly if far off the light, though they require 

 shading from the burning sun. They must also be kept free from insects. 



L^KLiA AMANDA {Cattleya Eothschildiana).— This fine species, or natural hybrid, 

 is cultivated under the two names above quoted, as we learn from a letter which 

 accompanied some flowers of the plant, for which we are indebted to W. E. Brymer, 

 Esq., Hsington House, Puddlcton, near Dorchester, and of which our artist has taken 



advanta^r 



o 



drawing for the Orchid Album. The flowers somewhat 



m chiiractcr those of Cattleya maxima, but the stems (pseudobulbs) and foliage are 

 quite distinct, being two-leaved, while the flowers are more chaste -looking than those 

 of that species. The plant is very beautiful, and is a decided acquisition to this 

 class of Laelias, the flowers being bright rose veined with rosy purple, and produced 

 m October, at a season when there are but few Orchids in bloom, which makes 

 it all the more valuable.— B. S. W 



