lower portion of the sepals. The blossoms are produced during the months of 
May and June, and last three or four weeks in perfection if they are kept free 
from damp—for as is the case with all white flowers, they soon become spotted if 
they are wetted. It is a native of New Grenada. : 
One of the principal matters to be attended to in the cultivation of O. vezil- 
larium album is to keep it free from insects. The plants are subject to be 
attacked by the thrips, which, if allowed to increase, will soon make sad_hayoe, 
disfiguring the foliage, and thus causing them to look unsightly. The same is. 
also the case with O. Roezli, which requires the same treatment. Full instructions 
respecting the cultural requirements of O. vexillarium were given under plate 171, 
in our fourth volume. 
These plants are easily increased by dividing them just as they begin to make 
new growth, that is, sometime after the flowering season; the proper time may 
easily be known by the young growths making their appearance. When the plants 
have attained a large size it is generally a wise plan to divide them, as they are 
apt to damp off towards the centre of the mass; and, should this occur, it must 
be seen to at once, or the bulbs will soon rot away and the plant perish, whereas, 
by taking it in time some portions may be saved if the decayed parts are carefully 
eut away. In such cases, it is a good plan to wash the roots of the live 
portions and repot them, or place them for a time in a shady place until they 
make fresh roots. 
CLEANLINESS IN OrcHtD CuLrurt.—This is undoubtedly a virtue; indeed, it 18 
very important in all plant culture. The houses should be kept sweet and clean, 
together with the stages and pathways. The plant structures, as well as the plants, 
should always have a neat, tidy, clean appearance, -for this gives satisfaction both 
to the employer and the gardener. The pots in which the plants are growing should 
be kept scrupulously clean; it is very annoying to those who value this quality to 
see good and handsome plants in dirty pots; the begrimed disorderly appearance of 
the surroundings detracts from the beauty of the flowers. It is to us a great delight 
as go into a clean plant house. There are persons who do not take the slightes? 
pride in their plant houses, but it is equally as necessary there as in a dwelling 
house, and it is not only satisfactory, but pleasant, to hear visitors remark how clean 
and sweet one’s Orchid houses are kept. In the case of amateurs, if the plants a 
untidily kept, no doubt the owner gets dissatisfied with them, and does not take 
the same degree of interest in them which he otherwise would do.—B. 8. W. 
