Lelia elegans Wolstenholmie resembles the species in ede - ate 
being about eighteen inches high, surmounted by a pair of leathery dark green ws 
the: spike is erect, bearing several flowers, each of which is one baile pe 
across. The sepals and petals are white margined with pale purplish tee - ip 
is large, white at the base, with a deep purple curved blotch towards the ee a 
the throat. It blooms during the autumn months, and continues in beauty : 
several weeks. Lelia elegans Wolstenholmie requires the same pee - ; 
elegans, that is to say, it should be placed in the warmest end of the pe 
or intermediate house, where it can obtain the full benefit of the light, w - 
enables the plant to thoroughly ripen its pseudobulbs, and the flowers are produce | 
soon after the growth is matured. | : 
The section of the genus to which this Lelia belongs requires more t an 
ordinary attention, as these plants appear to suffer from want of moisture during ie: 
season of rest to a greater extent than the various Mexican species, and if t elt 
pseudobulbs are allowed to shrivel it is somewhat difficult to restore them to their 
normal plump condition. When the plant becomes unhealthy from over-drying, a 
should be syringed every day, if the weather is warm, or even twice a day a! 
be found necessary; but in syringmg the old bulbs, carefully avoid wetting the 
young growths, for it frequently happens that when the young growths are 
syringed water lodges in the large imbricating sheaths which envelope them, causing 
them to rot. This plant may be grown either in a basket or a pot, according as 
taste or circumstances may dictate; but, however erown, thorough drainage is 2 
the greatest importance. The soil should be good rough fibrous peat, from ae 
all the fine particles have been well shaken, and the plants should be elevate 
upon a cone of soil well above the rim of. the pot, which allows the water : 
pass quickly away, and thus avoids stagnation and enables the roots to sprea 
themselves, and thus derive the full benefit of the moisture in’ the atmosphere. 
Treated in the above manner, the surroundings are more natural, the growth made 
is finer, and the quantity of flowers produced is larger than when the roots are 
buried under the soil within the pots, where they become bleached and _ dropsical 
and totally unfit to maintain the plant in a sound healthy condition. 
The best time to re-pot this Lelia is just when the plant commences to push 
out fresh roots and new growth, care being taken that any roots which may have 
attached themselves to the pots are not broken; it is far preferable to break a 
pot than to destroy a root. 
The increase of the stock of this plant is effected by division, but this should 
never be attempted unless the plant is in vigorous health, and the divisions should 
be made with a sharp knife, so as to make a clean cut which leaves no 
straggling pieces to induce decay. After the plants are divided they should be 
placed in as small pots as possible, using rough fibrous peat only for soil; at this 
time care and attention in the matter of watering is requisite, and extra shade 
Should be given; as they make fresh roots the extra shading should be gradually 
condition previously given as essential for the well- 
being of established plants. | 
