THE ORCHID REVIEW. 311 
distance, but in 1883 they were allowed to rot on the vines. The species 
grows wild in the Vera Cruz district, S.E. Mexico, in Yucatan, British 
Honduras, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, being there fertilised naturally by 
bees. It is now cultivated in several tropical countries, but artificial 
fertilisation has to be resorted to. 
Such, briefly, is the history of the most important Orchid in existence, 
and surely the most confused. Those who wish for further details should 
consult the original paper, in which the author has brought out several 
interesting and rather unexpected facts. 
AN AMATEUR’S NOTES. 
AmonG the readers of the Orchid Review there must be a considerable 
number of amateur Orchid growers to whom a corner in its pages would be 
a welcome addition, and, pending the time when some abler pen than mine 
shall take up the matter, I propose to contribute a few seasonable notes, 
without in any way trespassing on the domain of Mr. Burberry and the 
other writers who so ably preside over the different departments of the 
work. 
The dull season of the year is just passing away, and with it such 
deservedly popular favourites as Cattleya Dowiana, Warscewiczii and 
Gaskelliana retire until the proper season of flowering again comes round. 
The comparatively new Cattleya Rex must be bracketed with the same 
group. It is a charming thing in every sense of the word, and is gradually 
becoming better known. But their place is being filled by the good old 
autumn-flowering C. labiata, now fortunately so common that all can have 
a supply. The sheaths are rapidly swelling up, and on looking round this 
morning I find one plant has seven flowers already expanded, in two 
trusses—a perfect picture of loveliness. Then Cypripedium insigne is 
pushing up a perfect forest of scapes, promising good things to. come, while 
C. X Leeanum, which I think the best of all autumn-flowering hybrids, is 
coming on well. Lelia anceps has done wonderfully well this year, and is 
throwing up numerous strong spikes, while the pretty little Lelia x 
Eyermaniana has also started. es 
The glorious weather we are now having is working wonders in ripening 
off the growths, and everything looks extremely promising for next season. 
Among the things actually in flower at the moment of writing are 
several gems of the very first water. Cypripedium Charlesworthii, for 
example, has a dozen flowers, and its lovely pink dorsal sepal, and 
staminode which might have been carved out of ivory, are equally remark- 
able. Vanda ccerulea, too, is quite unique in its delicate lilac-blue colour, 
and I only wish I could grow it like Mr. Woodall does. Three little gems 
