The cultivation of Lycaste Skinneri is now so thoroughly understood that there is 
little fresh to communicate on the subject, except for those who have had no experience 
with Orchids. To the beginners in the art, therefore, the following brief notes may 
be acceptable. In the first place, we find that these plants thrive best in an 
intermediate house, that is, a house a trifle warmer than the one usually set apart 
for Odontoglossums, say a temperature ranging from 50° to 55° during autumn and 
winter. In summer more heat will by no means be injurious, with a free circulation 
of air; at this season the thermometer may be allowed to run up to 65°, and even 
higher by the sun’s influence. The plants must, however, be kept shaded from the 
sun, or the foliage will rapidly assume a sickly yellow hue. In care and attention 
to such small matters as these lies the difference between good and bad culture, and, 
although Lycastes are easily grown, many fail to realise the fact that it is through 
negligence that they get into bad condition. The pots for Lycastes should be well 
drained; the soil should be rough fibrous peat, from which all the fine soil has 
been shaken; and, in potting, the plants should be elevated above the rim of the 
pot upon a little cone or mound. In the matter of water, a liberal quantity 
should be given during the period of growth. When growth is completed, the 
water supply should diminish, just sufficient to keep the pseudobulbs from shrivelling 
being ample. When the flowers begin to show themselves at the base of the 
growths more water is necessary, and the supply should be judiciously increased up 
to the time when the next pseudobulbs are mature. The new growth generally 
pushes about the end of the flowering season, when, if necessary, the plants should 
be re-potted; should this, however, not be required, remove a portion of the 
surface of the compost, and add some fresh material, which will be found to 
greatly benefit the young roots. 
OrcHips IN Fiower at Gouvitte.—We recently received from the Comte de 
Germiny, Chateau de Gouville, France, a box of grand Orchid blooms, containing 
many fine Odontoglossums of the Alexandre section; some of them represented 
finely spotted forms. There were also the pure white varieties which make such a 
splendid contrast when mixed together with the potted varieties, as they are in 
the collection at Gouville. There were also fine forms of O. Andersonianum and 0. 
hebraicum, and varieties of O. Ruckerianum. Vandas were represented by a goodly 
quantity of flowers, including fine spikes of Vanda suavis with fine spotted sepals and 
petals, and a good-shaped lip of a dark hue; also V. tricolor superba, a fine-coloured 
variety, and V. tricolor insignis. Dendrobe flowers were also included in the box, 
and we understand there were out in flower at the time these blooms were 
eut several hundreds of spikes of Odontoglossum, Vanda, and various Orchids in 
the houses. At Gouville there is a fine well-proportioned house for the reception 
of flowering Orchids, which shows the glorious flowers off to great advantage, and 
Mr. Vincent, the gardener, has great taste in arranging the plants when in bloom.— 
B.S. W. 3 
