370 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
of September finally dispelled any lingering misgivings as to their future 
welfare. On the whole, perhaps, the actual number of spikes is a few less 
than last year, but as a set off the flowers themselves are evidently coming 
of a finer quality. 
Cypripediums are not quite so sensitive to climatal changes as are many 
other genera. Of course they are affected to some extent, but most of them 
seem to have greater power of endurance, and injury is not so quickly 
noticeable. Cypripediums are therefore invaluable for winter blooming. 
Mr. C. Winn, of Selly Hill, Birmingham, has a splendid healthy and 
almost complete collection of them, and by his kindness I had the pleasure 
of viewing them a few weeks ago. The species and hybrids, the varieties 
and sub-varieties, are legion, and to attempt to do justice by here recording 
their names is more than space will admit. C. x selligerum, C. x 
Morganie, C. X Niobe, C. x Arthurianum, C. x cenanthum superbum, 
C. X vexillarium, C. x Brunianum, C. x Medea, and Selenipedium x 
leucorrhodum were well represented. A quantity of C. insigne in great 
variety was also conspicuous, and I saw there a yellow variety differing 
slightly from C. insigne Sander. 
A fine Brassia is now in bloom, bearing a spike of its large creamy and 
very dark purple flowers. Brassias, I think, area little neglected in cultiva- 
tion ; rarely does one see them represented very strongly. True, the flowers 
of some of the species are of a somewhat sombre hue, but there are others 
which are most striking, and always sure to attract attention, even if sur- 
rounded with flowers of more brilliant colours. B. brachiata is one of these, 
as are also B. maculata, B. verrucosa, B. Lawrenceana, and B. caudata. 
The culture of Brassias is very simple. Their requirements are those of 
the Oncidiums, and the position given should be one at the warmest end 
of the Intermediate or Cattleya House. 
Cattleya Percivaliana, which is the first of the labiata section to open its 
blossoms in the new year, is now commencing to push its flower spikes, 
and should be given a light position in the Warm house until the flowers 
have expanded, for it often happens if this precaution is not taken that the 
flower buds turn yellow and die long before they can emerge from the 
sheath. This premature decay shows that the ordinary Cattleya house is 
rather too cold for this species at this season. 
Cymbidium giganteum is now in bloom. It is a splendid plant to grow 
for winter blooming, and if it is kept fairly dry the flowers last a very long 
time in perfection. C. Mastersii and C. elegans are also flowering, while 
C. eburneum and C. Lowianum are just pushing forth their flower spikes. 
Cymbidiums do not take kindly to root disturbance, and are usually some 
little time before they finally recover from the effects of repotting. This 
operation must, of course, be done occasionally, but they should not pass 
through that operation before it becomes really necessary. When done it 
