THE ORCHID WORLD. 



Ill 



inside of the lip, and the disc having five to 

 seven fleshy lamellae between the erect side 

 lobes. It is one of the commonest Orchids in 

 the coast woods of Mexico, and is said to 

 largely inhabit the lowlands. 



C. Isevis is considered by many to be the 

 finest species of the genus. The fusiform 

 stems are about fifteen inches long, producing 

 from the young growths in June pendulous 

 racemes, each bearing eight or more flowers. 

 The sepals and petals are yellow in the lower, 

 and orange in the upper part, and the lip is 

 yellow with crimson spotting, and the middle 

 lobe roundish and frilled, with a crest of five 

 fleshy lamellae on the disc. It is a native of 

 Mexico, and usually flowers in the early 

 summer. 



C. aurea is a beautiful species from Vene- 

 zuela. Its period of flowering is uncertain : 

 although frequently producing its drooping 

 racemes in the early summer, it sometimes 



flowers twice in the same year. The flowers, 

 which seldom fully expand, have yellow 

 sepals and petals, and a tawny-yellow lip 

 marked with crimson. It is also found in 

 Mexico, where it grows at an altitude of from 

 3,000 to 4,000 feet. 



C. Limminghei frequently produces three 

 flower spikes from a single growth. The 

 flowers, which are not so large as those of 

 C. aurea, are waxy-white, blotched or stained 

 with bright purple, the side lobes of the lip 

 are yellow, streaked on the inside with red, 

 the middle lobe being bright purple. This 

 species usually flowers about April and May. 



During the years 1874 to i8g6 Messrs. 

 Veitch flowered three hybrids : C. Chelsoni 

 derived from C. lasvis x C. Limminghei, C. 

 langleyensis obtained by crossing C. bract- 

 escens with C. Chelsoni, and C. Sedeni, a 

 hybrid between C. bractescens and C. 

 Limminghei. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR FEBRUARY. 



By J. T. BARKER, The West Hill, Hessle, East Yorks. 



THE temperatures for the month should 

 remain as advised for January, 

 excepting that a rise of a few degrees 

 may be allowed with sun heat, should it 

 prevail. In all matters relating to watering, 

 atmospheric moisture, and cultural details 

 generally, the general conditions given last 

 month are equally suitable for the present 

 one. Should, however, the climatic conditions 

 change from the wet dull weather we have 

 recently experienced for some considerable 

 time, to bright, clear, frosty weather, we may 

 expect more sunshine, and with it an increased 

 amount of light. In this case our plants will 

 naturally take up more water, and more 

 moisture will be required in the atmosphere to 

 prevent that over-dry and parched atmosphere 

 which is so harmful and destructive to our 

 plants. 



Shading. In some parts of the country it 

 will be necessary during this month to place 

 the blinds upon the houses ; but with us we 

 can generally manage without them until the 



first week m March. However, these useful 

 articles should be taken in hand at once, and 

 any renewals and repairs attended to. In, 

 different districts blinds of various thicknesses 

 will be required according to the amount of 

 sunshine received. In many districts last 

 season the ordinary lath roller blinds were 

 not sufficient to keep back the heat and the 

 direct rays of the sun, but as we had a most 

 abnormal summer we may take it for granted 

 that blinds that have answered our purpose 

 before will do so again. 



Mexican Laslias are now past for this 

 season. They have made a bold show for 

 some weeks, and as the bright weather of last 

 season suited them the flower spikes were 

 more plentiful than usual. It is not easy to 

 find a more useful Orchid, providing the plants 

 are well grown ; if not they are unsatisfactory, 

 as they occupy much room and provide few 

 flowers. Their culture it not at all difficult 

 if treated in accordance with their require- 

 ments. They must not be starved by the 



