358 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [DECEMBER, 1903 
amidst mosses and selaginellas, but with their roots well into the rich soil, I 
found some beautiful little Goodyeras, dark olive green leaves with a silvery 
stripe through the centre. 
** At this point we rested, ate luncheon, and prepared for the final climb 
in search of Cattleya citrina and Epidendrum vitellinum, and such others 
as haunt these chilly heights. Ascending a couple of hundred feet higher 
we came upon a few stragglers of Odontoglossum bictoniense and O.. 
nebulosum, and espied a few plants of C. citrina and E. vitellinum, when 
it came on to rain so hard that we finally concluded to return, contenting 
ourselves with the very few specimens obtained at this zone, as it was hope- 
less to think of cultivating them in low country. One soon learns why 
failure so often attends the cultivation of these plants in glass houses. I 
fancy it must be well nigh impossible to duplicate the natural conditions. 
Here there is always a more or less brisk wind movement, constant humidity, 
intermittent sunshine, yet never very warm, the temperature in the shade 
for at least eight months of the year ranging from 55°F. at night to 65°, and 
occasionally 70°F. by day; in winter from 38°F. to 60°F. by day, often not 
rising above 55°F. yet always a breezy elastic air. 
** We now commenced our descent, and as we neared the base of the 
mountain made a slight detour, to reach a cliff side where Antonio said 
Sobralia macrantha was to be found. After much. scrambling amongst th® 
rocks and boulders we came upon the place in question, and it really was. 
an embarassment of riches; a large area of the mountain side was literally 
almost covered with this Orchid growing in large masses, both in the soil 
between the stones and upon the mossy rocks—a few were noticed on very 
moss-covered trunks of trees. In fifteen minutes we had collected all it was. 
possible to carry. It must be a beautiful sight when such quantities are in 
bloom, which season is in late May and June 
“‘ Resuming our descent, we arrived at the foot of the mountain, having 
gathered up such plants as we had left on our ascent, and at nightfall 
arrived in Orizaba tired out but well pleased with our day’s climbing. 
There is little more to add. The following day we made a short climb 
up another mountain where, at an elevation of about 4,500 feet above sea 
level, we found abundance of Lelia anceps, and in less than two hours 
collected some 50 plants, five pieces with 10 to 25 bulbs and from three to 
six or more leads. It must be highly interesting to visit such a district in 
November, when the different varieties of L. anceps are in flower; only in 
this way could one discriminate and hope to get the rarer forms. 
“ After packing up our treasures and safely shipping them to the estate, 
I boarded the train and the following day arrived in the hot country with 
pleasing recollections of a journey not soon to be forgotten.” 
a 
Ga... 
