60 OECHIDS. 



thrice during a season, and are very useful for both exhibition 

 and decoration. The cool house is the proper place in which 

 to grow them in, and with due attention to their wants they 

 are very amenable to good culture. A house with a north 

 aspect suits them admirably, as they delight in a cool moist 

 atmosphere, and shaded from bright sun. They require ample 

 drainage, and thrive best in turfy loam, silver sand, and sphag- 

 num, with plenty of water given to the roots while the plants 

 are growing. 



MAXILLAEIA. 

 This is a genus of orchids mostly natives of South America. 

 They very much resemble Lycaste in their flowers and habit 

 growth, but have the disadvantage as exhibition plants of 

 concealing their blooms among their leaves ; nevertheless, 

 some of the species are of considerable merit on account of the 

 beauty and fragrance of their flowers, and should be in every 

 collection. Some of the best for exhibition are M. grandijlora, 

 M. Harriso7iii, and M. venusta. They should be potted in the 

 same material as Lycaste, and kept in the cool house, and, like 

 most orchids, they require plenty of water and a moist atmos- 

 phere while growing — receiving, when resting, just enough 

 water to keep the bulbs plump. 



MILTONIA. 



This is another South American genus, most of the species 

 growing naturally in the moist warm parts of Brazil. They 

 are low-growing, compact, evergreen plants, and as they throw 

 up one or two flowers from their small but numerous bulbs, 

 there are generally plenty of flowers on a specimen to produce 

 a fine display. Some of the best for exhibition are M. Candida, 

 M. spedabilis, and M. vexillaria. They should be potted in 

 brown peat and moss, with plenty of charcoal and crocks, and 

 treated afterwards similar to Cattleyas. 



ODONTOGLOSSUM. 



This is one of the most beautiful and deservedly popular 

 genera of the whole family, and is of the easiest culture ; also. 



