270 
THE ORCHID WORLD. 
are grown solely for the production of cut 
flowers for market and florists' decorative 
work. Varieties have on rare occasions been 
discovered with pure-white sepals and petals, 
and one or two forms are known to be entirely 
free from any sign of the purple pigment, 
even in the labellum. 
Laelia autumnalis produces a number of 
moderate-sized flowers of a rosy-purple colour, 
some being considerably darker than others. 
The flower stems are about eighteen inches in 
height, which allows the blossoms to show 
themselves in a very graceful and effective 
manner. It is a Mexican species and requires 
a strong light for successful growing. The 
pure-white variety, although somewhat scarce, 
is not expensive. 
L. Dormaniana has thin slender terete 
stems producing olive-green flowers veined 
with purple, the front lobe of the hp is bright 
crimson-purple. It is rather a late flowering 
Orchid, frequently not producing its flowers 
until December 
L. pumila is a very dwarf and compact 
growing species which delights in a much 
cooler temperature than usually accorded to 
Cattleyas and Laelias. It often succeeds well 
when grown in a pan suspended in the Odon- 
toglossum house, for in this position a 
temperature somewhat resembling that of its 
native climate can be maintained. L. Dayana 
and L. pra?stans are very similar in habit to 
it, but the former can be distinguished by the 
deep purple keels in the throat, and the latter 
by its trumpet-shaped lip. 
In purchasing or raising a few Cattleya 
hybrids we have a better chance of selecting 
plants possessing not only more vigour and 
health but also considerable beauty, for the 
hybridists have raised plants which, owing to 
the distance the parents grow apart, could not 
be produced by natural means. 
Cattleya Iris is one of the greatest suc- 
cesses achieved in the art of hybridisation. 
The combination of the purple lip of C. 
bicolor with the rich lip of C. aurea has pro- 
duced a really distinct hybrid possessing 
several superior qualities. The erect stiff 
petals of C. bicolor have greatly improved 
the drooping nature of the petals in C. aurea. 
and being of the same yellowish nature no 
interference with this much appreciated colour 
has taken place. 
C. Adula is the result of crossing C. aurea 
with C. Hardyana. It much resembles C. 
Iris in form, but a slight purplish tint is added 
to the flower by the influence of C. gigas. 
This latter species is also responsible for the 
stronger growing qualities which C. Adula 
possesses over C. Iris. 
C. Ariel was first flowered thirteen years 
ago. It was obtained by crossing C. Bow- 
ringiana with C. Gaskelliana, and two freer- 
flowering species would be difficult to find. 
C. Fabia is a noted autumn flowering 
hybrid. The wonderful varieties which have 
been produced from the two parents, C. aurea 
and C. labiata, are unequalled in size and rich- 
ness of colour. It can be strongly recom- 
mended as one of the most beautiful and 
useful hybrids. 
C. Peetersii is obtained by crossing C. 
labiata with C. Hardyana. It differs, there- 
fore, from the above in having C. gigas in the 
parentage, and the latter being a summer- 
flowering species frequently induces the 
hybrid to flower a few days before C. Fabia. 
C. Hardyana was for many years known 
only as a rare natural hybrid between C. aurea 
and C. gigas. Hybridists have since raised it 
in this country from selected parents, and 
many fine results have been obtained, one of 
the most notable being achieved by the use of 
the white-petaled variety of C. gigas knowm 
as Frau Melanie Beyrodt. 
C. Mantinii may be briefly described as a 
greatly improved C. Bowringiana, for to make 
a good hybrid this latter species requires the 
influence of such a large flowering species as 
C. aurea. 
C. Mrs. J. W. Whiteley resembles C. Man- 
tmii, but C. Hardyana has been used in its 
production in place of C. aurea. This intro- 
duction of C. gigas greatly improves the 
vigour of the plant. 
C. Portia is another hybrid of C. Bow- 
ringiana obtained by the use of C. labiata. It 
is a pretty hybrid, but does not equal either 
of the two previously mentioned crosses. 
