APRIL, 1911.] ' THE ORCHID REVIEW. 103 
splendidum, O. maculatum, O. Papilio, O. Cebolleta, Brassavola glauca, 
'B. Digbyana, Epidendrum Stamfordianum, Trichopilia torbilis, Platyclinis 
glumacea, Ccelogyne speciosa, Dendrobium bigibbum, D. aureum 
philippinense, Vanda Amesiana, V. Boxallii, in all a lovely lot of bloom, 
In the vicinity of Moran, where I found Cattleya aurantiaca (ds described 
at page 79), I also met with Hartwegia purpurea, a pretty little gem with 
thick olive-green leaves dotted with whitish spots. It seemed very scarce, as I 
only came across a couple of plants. Here also occurred Epidendrum 
aromaticum of a fine form, with pale yellow flowers, and a charming thing. 
Alas! it does not succeed here ; the heat and moisture seem to be too much 
for it. These varying capacities for adaptation to differences of climate 
present some interesting points for study. For example, Epidendrum 
aromaticum fails, coming from 4,800 feet, while Lelia superbiens, from 
4,000 feet, succeeds very well. Oncidium ornithorhynchum, from 5,000 feet, 
near Orizaba, grows well here and flowers freely ; but a companion plant in 
the same forests, O. incurvum, simply melts away in the rains of August, 
though seemingly a harder-textured plant. Why is it? Lycaste Skinneri, 
from 5,500 to 6,000 feet in Guatemala, meets the same fate here; while L. 
Deppei, from very cool forests near Orizaba and Xalapu, at 5,500 feet, does 
well here. 
I may also refer to another singular instance of unadaptability to 
conditions here. For some years I have regularly. received from Europe (in 
exchange for Mexican plants, amongst other things) some of the Indian 
Dendrobium aureum, always to fail with it, damping of new growths being 
the rule and a weak to negligable root action. Two years ago I received a 
lot of the Philippine form from a friend in Manila, and nothing could be 
more satisfactory: splendid bulbs and roots covering the blocks upon which 
they are grown; many bulbs larger than the original ones, and a fine crop 
of winter flowers. The same experience I have had with Phalaenopsis from 
Java, for both P. amabilis and P. Rimestadiana do nothing, and gradually 
disappear, but the Philippine form grows magnificently, making leaves a 
foot long, with eight and ten blossoms. In these two instances, altitude 
apparently has nothing to do with it, but rather some subtlety of climate. 
I might go on indefinitely citing these curious anomalies. On the whole, 
however, the range of plants I can grow here in the open is remarkable 
enough, and Dendrobium formosum and D. superbiens alongside of Lelia 
albida seems paradox enough for anyone. To be sure, we have our troubles ; 
insect life is legion, big beetles and microscopic ones, cockroaches, scale, 
borers big and little, with not a negligable number of caterpillars ; yet there 
is a way to fight them, and the damage is very slight, but the price—at least 
during the rainy season—is eternal vigilance. J.C. HARVEY. 
Sanborn, Vera Cruz, Mexico. 
