THE ORCHID WORLD. 



frosty regions. He determined, however, to 

 go through with tlie journey he had mapped 

 out for himself, and for his directions he rehed 

 largely on what he had gleaned from a casual 

 conversation with the late Mr. Theimer, the 

 original discoverer of the species. Of the 

 names and places Mr. Theimer had mentioned 

 Mr. Forget particularly relied upon one, but 

 found, with resulting confus on, that this 

 name was owned by dozens of towns and 

 villages. 



This contretemps, combined with the un- 

 likely aspect of the cold region, had half 

 decided him to retire from further search m 

 that direction, and it was when makin,g a 

 detour with the intention of returning that, on 

 the second day, he came across a deep valley 

 in which he found La;lia Gouldiana. 



Here were thousands of flowers open, some 

 grand masses having dozens of spikes of 

 4-7 flowers, and all of a uniform deep-rose 

 colour. There was also but little variation of 

 form, and it may be a matter of some regret 

 from the collector's point of view that such a 

 showy and elegant species does not offer a 

 wider range of varieties. 



Lasha Gouldiana grows on a rough-barked 

 and sturdy Acacia, but Mr. Forget also found 

 a few plants openly exposed on rocks and 

 edges of ugly ravines and growing mixed with 

 Laelia anceps on a species of Ouercus ; and 

 flanking the sides of the valley, and in a 

 cooler position, he had some Laelia majalis 

 collected. 



Laelia Gouldiana is strictly epiphytal, and 

 may be said to almost live upon itself, as it 

 roots with extraordinary freedom, the roots 

 being- interwoven into dense, close mats ; 

 making leads freely from the centre of the 

 mass as well as round the edges, the plant 

 develops to enormous proportions, and so big 

 were many of these that Mr, Forget had to sec- 

 tion them into pieces small enough to get them 

 into portable shape for his donkeys and mules. 

 For this purpose he had to use a large saw, 

 as no headway could be made with a knife, 

 and then he could observe the long succession 

 of bulbs buried in the spongeous mass of roots. 

 This mass of roots holds no small portion of 

 its own decay and a considerable quantity of 



humus from the leaves of the trees, and thus 

 forms a retentive bed for the rains. 



Laslia Goulduuia grows and ripens its bulbs 

 in SIX months, expanding its shapely flowers 

 from the end of October through November, 

 and then from November to April rests. This 

 winter resting period Mr. Forget describes as 

 having dry frosty nights and bright dazzling 

 days. The sun's rays had an unusual effect 

 on him, as, although he felt the burning 

 influence, he could feel the air chilly at the 

 same time. 



Mr. Forget would suggest that these Cen- 

 tral Mexican Orchids should ha\ e much the 

 same treatment "as Cacti, and he would put 

 only light white-wash on the glass for shade 

 during the summer, and with full air on the 

 house from May to September, with generous 

 syringing and watering during suitable 

 weather. During the winter he would advise 

 a day temperature of 55° — 60° F., varying a 

 little with outside conditions. 



The natives of Mexico are good gardeners 

 and lovers of nature in a high degree, and 

 Mr. Forget found that Laelia Gouldiana was a 

 great favourite with those in that district, the 

 flowers being in great demand by them on 

 their saint days, when they are used in lavish 

 abundance to decorate the churches and 

 chapels. For this reason he found that nearly 

 everybody had plants under cultivation, hav- 

 ing transplanted them on to trees near their 

 dwellmgs, and this was a " great convenience " 

 to him. 



On Mr. Forget enquiring why they did 

 not care so much for Laelia anceps, they 

 replied that Laelia Gouldiana was much finer 

 and much more floriferous, and Mr. Forget 

 has no doubt that this will be the opinion of 

 the majority of those who grow it in the glass- 

 houses of these islands and the continent. 



Laeha Gouldiana, singularly enough, has 

 not an indigenous name, the natives calling it 

 Monjas, which is the Spanish for nun, the 

 reason given for so calling it being because 

 the little cap covering the pollinia resembles 

 a nun's bonnet ; and during the short time 

 Mr. Forget spent in the district, the natives 

 did not get familiar with his name, calling him 

 simply El hombre de los Monjas, the nun man. 



