By Dr. John Lindley. 



179 



" My first trial was on a large plant of Cattleya crispa, which 

 had eight old shoots, and two young shoots, gone over the side of 

 the pot. I took a sharp penknife, and cut the plant through 

 carefully in three places, taking care not to disturb the plant, 

 or to cut any of the roots. To my great surprise, in a short time 

 I had two fine young shoots at the side of each old one where 

 I had cut. I have now eight young shoots ; and I believe, had I 

 cut it through at the side of all the old shoots, I should have had 

 16 young shoots. I intend to cut the remainder of the shoots 

 through next season. I should say in this place, that the two 

 young shoots that were on the plant, before I cut it through, did 

 not suffer by the wound. I think they grew equally as strong, and 

 faster than before, which makes me think that the old part of the 

 plant is of no use to the new shoots after they have made their 

 roots. I have been informed, that this method of increasing Or- 

 chidaceous Epiphytes will not succeed, excepting on large estab- 

 lished plants ; but I have tried it on very small plants, and have 

 found it answer as well as on larger ones." 



The annexed figure from a drawing, by Miss Drake, will show, 

 better than any description, the extraordinary appearance made by 

 Mr. Harrison's Cattleya when it was exhibited. 



