A.VD THEIR .IfANAGEMENT. 335 



Miltonia. 



A position near the glass in an intermediate-house, or where 

 Cattleyas are grown, is the most suitable, but it must be shaded 

 from bright sunshine. A\'ater must be freely given in the growing 

 season, only sufficient being required while the plants are at rest 

 to keep the pseudo-bulbs in a plump condition. Whilst in flower 

 the plants may be removed to a cool house. 



M. vexillaria (Be/it/i.). — One of the most popular of all Orchids, 

 and most easily managed. The pseudo-bulbs are narrowly-oblong, 

 and about 2in. long, bearing narrow-lanceolate, pale green leaves 

 from yin. to i;in. long. The scapes are longer than the foliage, and 

 bear Irom three to seven very large flowers, measuring 4in. in 

 diameter -. the sepals and petals are small, bright rose-coloured ; the 

 labellum is large and flat, deeply bilobed in front, rich rose, 

 whitish at the base, streaked with yellow and red ; the colour and 

 shape of the flowers vary considerably in different plants. The 

 blossoms are produced during spring and early summer. Syn. 

 Odontoglossiim vexillarium. (Figs. 103 and 104; B. ]\I., t. 6037.} 



Var. HiUiaiHX is distinguished by its purple-spotted and rosy- 

 margined lip. 



Yar. kucoglossa is remarkable for its white lip. 



Var. Memoria G. D. O'lceii, a most distinct variety of the 

 J/. V. superba group, the rich marone-purple disk resembling a 

 moth in shape. It is a rare plant, and at present only in Sir 

 Frederick Wigan's collection at Clare Lawn, East Sheen. 



A^ar. rubella (Klabochonim) has flowers smaller than those of 

 the type, bright rose-coloured, produced in autumn. The pseudo- 

 bulbs and leaves also are smaller. 



Var. siiperba is a dark-coloured form, the lip being almost 

 crimson, with three broad rays of white. 



There are numerous other named varieties of this species, but we 

 need not include them here. 



M. vexillaria thrives best when grown in the cool intermediate- 

 house, but during hot weather the Odontoglossum-house will suit 

 it. The plants should be potted in good peat-fibre and sphagnum, 

 well drained ; they should be elevated well above the pot, and be 

 watered freely when growing, but immediately after the flowers are 

 over the plants should be removed to a cool, airy house, and 

 water should be withheld for some weeks. Thrips are their greatest 

 enemy, and to keep these under, the plants should be carefully 

 examined every week or so, and cleaned if necessary. Although 

 now well estabhshed in gardens here, the introduction of this 

 splendid species was attended with inuch difficulty. It was originahy 

 discovered by the late Mr. Bowman, on the western slope of the 

 Andes, and was subsequently found by Wallis and Roezl, Some of 



