THE ORCHID REVIEW. 2 3S 



down is a nice piece of Cattleya Mendelii. The whole of the mountains 

 at the time of my visit were crowded with the famous parasite. Like most 

 of my predecessors I was tempted to bear away a large quantity of the 

 coveted plants, besides exploring the mountains and enjoying much of their 



It is very interesting to have such a graphic account of the conditions 

 under which this beautiful plant grows in a wild state, and we can only 

 hope that it will long continue to adorn its native hills with such splendour. 

 If collectors could be induced to leave sufficient plants to keep up the supply, 

 there should be no reason to fear its extermination, for nature has provided 

 it with adequate means of increase where conditions are favourable. 



We may add that it is not alone in European hothouses where the plant 

 is exhibited, for Mr. Millican, speaking of a square in the town of 

 Bucamaranga (p. 107), alludes to the well-to-do Colombian as literally 

 dining " under the shade of orange trees laden with blossom and fruit. 

 Huge Gardenias, whose crowns of waxen flowers fill the air with their 

 exquisite perfume, with large masses of the lovely Orchid Cattleya Mendelii 

 give to the whole group a masterly finish of colour." 



C. Mendelii was first introduced by Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., and 

 shortly afterwards by Messrs. Backhouse, of York, and was named in 

 compliment to Sam Mendel, Esq., of Manley Hall, Manchester. It 

 flowered for the first time in Europe, in June of the following year, in the 

 collection of J. Day, Esq., of Tottenham. 



ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM TWIN-FLOWERED. 



A curious twin flower of Odontoglossum crispum— the variety known as 

 Mrs. Barkley Levett— is sent from the collection of William Bass, Esq., 

 Byrkley, Burton-on-Trent, by Mr. Nisbet. There are five sepals, three 

 petals, two lips placed side by side, and the two columns are confluent to 

 the apex, which together give the flower quite a double appearance. The 

 sepals are slighly tinged with rose, and bear several more or less confluent 

 red brown spots; the petals unspotted; and the lip bears a chestnut blotch 

 in front of the crest, and numerous small marginal dots. The spike is said 

 to have borne nineteen blooms, all the rest being normal, and the plant 

 which produced it received a Cultural Certificate at Manchester last year. 

 The sender remarks : — " We do not grow our Odontoglossums in leaf-soil, 

 but in polypodium fibre and moss. I do not think the blooms get the 

 substance in leaf-soil that they do in polypodium fibre. We gained several 

 Cultural Certificates at Manchester last year, and a Silver Medal for a group 

 on June 5th of this year. The flower sent is finely developed and 

 3f inches across its broadest diameter. 



