50 OECHIDS. 



rose than the other part, having a slight tinge of yel- 

 low : generally two flowers on a spike, five inches across. 

 It blooms twice a-year, February and June : on the young 

 growth the blossoms last four or five weeks in beauty, 

 which is longer than those of any other Cattleya : it is also 

 sweet-scented, and ^vill fill the house with perfume. I 

 always grow this plant on a block of wood, surrounded by 

 a little sphagnum moss, and suspended from the roof in a 

 place where there is plenty of light, but not too much sun. 

 We had the pleasure of first blooming this new and splen- 

 did Orchid, which was figured in the first number of 

 Paxton's Flower Gardener," March 1st, 1850. 



CHYSIS. 



This is a beautiful, though limited, class of plants, 

 there being only thi'ee of this genus that I am acquainted 

 with. They are deciduous, losing the leaves during their 

 season of rest. The bulbs are thick and fleshy, and about 

 a foot long, producing their flowers T\ith the young 

 grovth : these will do on blocks of wood, but grow much 

 finer in baskets, with peat, moss, and potsherds. They 

 require a liberal supply of heat and moisture in their grow- 

 fng season, but after they have finished their growth should 

 be moved into a cooler house till they begin to grow; then 

 they may be taken back to the India house. Dming their 

 season of rest they require but very little water, and are 

 propagated by dividing the plants just as they begin to grow. 



Chysis aurea. — A charming Orchid from Venezuela, 

 producing its flowers on a short spike, generally Uyice a- 

 year : the blossoms are yellow, the lip is marked with 

 crimson. It flowers at diff'erent times of the year, and lasts 

 two weeks in beauty. A scarce plant. 



Chy. hractescens. — A fine species from Guatemala: 



