figuring this beautiful plant we are indebted to the kindness of W. Lee, Esq., 
Downside, Leatherhead, in whose fine collection this rare plant has bloomed upon 
several occasions. 
Cattleya Mardellii, as will be seen by the portrait we here lay before our 
readers, is a magnificent variety, dwarf in habit and evergreen. When the plant 
is growing strong, the pseudobulbs atta a height of about six inches, bearing on 
the apex, sometimes one, but more frequently a pair of leathery, deep green leaves, 
between which is a small sheath, from which the flower-spike issues; it bears from 
two to three flowers on the spike, each being about five inches across. Sepals and 
petals bright magenta; lip three-lobed, the spreading side-lobes are pale magenta, 
shading to white towards the middle, whilst the large middle lobe is wholly bright 
magenta-purple, bearing a rich yellow stripe down the centre. It blooms during 
the months of May and June, and continues in full perfection for several weeks. 
Mr. Woolford, the gardener in charge of the Downside collection, has been very 
successful in the cultivation of this variety. He grows it in small baskets or pots 
suspended from the roof, and quite near the glass of a specially light house, kept 
at an intermediate temperature—a structure we conceive admirably adapted to the 
requirements of this and kindred varieties. Although this plant enjoys such full 
exposure to the light, it must be shaded from the fiercest of the sun’s rays, or it 
will be disfigured by blisters upon the leaves. The soil for this Cattleya 
should consist of rough, fibrous peat, and living sphagnum moss, to this should be 
added some crocks, or what is better, some nodules of charcoal intermixed with it, 
which tend to keep the soil open and free; moreover, the greatest attention must 
be given to maintain the drainage in good working order. Should this plant 
become unhealthy at anytime, the old soil should be at once removed, the decayed 
parts cut away, and the plant washed carefully with tepid water, after which re-pot 
or basket in fresh soil. When it is desirable to increase this Cattleya, the root- 
stock should be cut through with a sharp kmife, just at the time when growth 
commences. Care, however, must be exercised in dividing it, in order to preserve 
every root from the least injury. After dividing, the separate pieces should be 
potted in new soil, watered sparingly, and kept shaded until they have become 
fairly established, after which they a be subjected to the treatment previously 
recommended. 
