208 
THE ORCHID WORLD. 
SOME INTERMEDIATE HOUSE ORCHIDS FOR AMATEURS. 
MANY Amateurs possess a greenhouse 
having a warmer atmosphere than 
is needed for the cultivation of 
Odontoglossums, etc., and this may, therefore, 
be turned to a useful account in growing a 
few Cattleyas and other warmth-loving 
Orchids. 
Cattleya Percivaliana and C. Trianae are 
the earliest species of the Cattleya genus to 
flower, and in small collections frequently 
prove to be the onl)- plants to produce any 
bloom in the dull months of February and 
March. Cattleyas Schroderas, Mossiae, and 
Mendelii, give a much better display of flower 
in the months of April and May, and these, 
opening as they do in bright weather, are of 
more substance, and will, therefore, last in 
beauty for a longer period. 
All these Cattleyas produce their flower 
spikes upon the bulbs made during the 
previous summer, and, so long as these have 
been properly ripened, a good supply of 
bloom rarely fails. 
For a summer flowering species Cattleya 
Warscewiczii, perhaps better known as C. 
gigas, is superb. This species is somewhat 
shy-flowering, but when once the plants are 
grow^n to flowering size every hope may be 
entertained of an annual spike of bloom being 
produced on the top of the recently made 
pseudo-bulb. The flowers are very large, of 
a rich, dark-rose tint, the lip being broad, and 
with two conspicuous, bright-yellow blotches 
in the throat. 
Another very useful Orchid for the summer 
season is Cattleya Harrisoniae. It produces 
about five or six medium-sized flowers of a 
delicate rose colour, and has the advantage 
of being reasonable in price. Cattleya 
Gaskelliana is a late summer blooming 
species, but if a little extra heat is given in 
the early part of the year, it may be made to 
flower in July. The blooms are of a delicate 
shade, and freely produced upon the recently 
made pseudo-bulbs. 
As an autumn flowering species Cattleya 
labiata is well known, and large quantities 
are grown for the production of cut flowers 
for market purposes. This species proves of 
great utility in most of tlie groups at our 
autumn shows, when the rich colouring of the 
flowers adds a touch of grandeur to the 
general effect. 
Laslia albida is a nice compact-growing 
species with narrow sharp pointed leaves. It 
blossoms in December and January, the white 
scented flowers being usually produced six to 
eight on a stem. 
The many beautiful varieties of Laelia 
anceps now in existence should entice 
amateurs to attempt their cultivation. A 
large amount of sunshine is needed to suc- 
cessfully grow these graceful flowers, and if a 
house cannot be .set apart for them, at least one 
corner or portion may be specially reserved. 
Laelia autumnalis, as its name denotes, is 
an autumn flowering species which also 
requires a light growing position in an airy- 
house. As many as nine rosy-purple blos- 
soms are often produced on a spike. In size 
they are about four inches across and ver\- 
fragrant. 
A very pretty Orchid with orange-vermilion 
flowers may be selected in Laelia harpophylla. 
It flowers in February and March, and is a 
native of Brazil. 
In Cymbidium Hookerianum, also known 
as C. grandiflorum, we have a really fine 
species worthy of a place in every collection. 
The individual flowers are four to five inches 
in diameter, of a yellowish-green colour, the 
lip being spotted with crimson-purple. 
A very interesting and curious Orchid is 
Cypripedium caudatum, for the petals of this 
species grow to a length of thirty inches, and 
a si>ecimen plant with several spikes of these 
wonderful blooms is a most attractive feature 
in any collection. 
The bright yellow Oncidium Cavendish- 
ianum with its very stout fleshy leaves is 
always of value for producing a few graceful 
spikes of yellow bloom in the spring months. 
Another somewhat similar species may be 
selected in Oncidium oblongatum, which is a 
winter flowering species and a native of 
Mexico. 
