February, 1913] 
THE ORCHID WORLD. 
99 
Lalia Gouldiana, flowering at Messrs. Sander & Sons, St. Albans. 
L/EUA GOULDIANA. 
THE CHRISTMAS L/ELIA. 
THE above photograph shows one of 
Messrs. Sander and Sons' houses as it 
appeared on Christmas Day, with 
more than 7,000 flowers of L^ha Gouldiana, 
without doubt the finest display of this species 
ever seen. The spikes carry from four to 
seven flowers, and there are a few extra 
strong ones which have as many as eight. 
This is their second season of flowering after 
importing, and owing to the dulness of the 
past summer, the result may be considered 
satisfactory in every way. The plants will 
gain considerably in strength during the 
present year, which will result m an even 
better crop of flowers being produced next 
Christmas. 
This Orchid is undoubtedly one of the very 
best for cut flowers, for not only does it bloom 
at Christmas and the New Year, a time when 
Orchid bloom is in the greatest demand, but 
it gives such an abundance of its large, 
glowing crimson-purple flowers on compara- 
tively small plants. 
Mr. Forget, one of Messrs. Sander and 
Sons' expert collectors, recently found this 
Mexican Leelia growing on rough-barked and 
sturdy Acacias, although a few were also 
found growing on exposed rocks and on a 
species of Quercus. The plants form 
enormous masses, so large that man)- of them 
had to be divided into portable pieces before 
they could be placed on the backs of mules 
previous to transportation to the coast. The 
root system is particularly vigorous. 
Mexican Laelias include anceps, autumnalis, 
albida, furfuracea, grandiflora, rubescens, and 
Gouldiana. Their natural climate allows them 
plenty of sunshine and fresh air, and for culti- 
vation in this country conditions very similar 
to those found successful for Cactus growing 
will prove beneficial, although a very slight 
amount of shading may be required during 
the middle of summer, but then only for a 
few hours during the brightest part of the day. 
Plenty of ventilation, both by night and day, 
should always be given during the growing 
season and ripening time of the bulbs. 
