34 



PAXTON'S FLO WEE GAEDEN. 



free grower, as small imported plants soon get established and grow rapidly; the yearly 

 increase in the size of the bulbs, and their corresponding ability to produce an increased 

 amount of flower, being greater than with most Orchids. Like many other species of the 

 Odontoglot family, it is extremely variable in the colour and size of the flowers. Our 

 illustration, taken from a specimen in the possession of Mr. B. S. Williams, Victoria 

 Nurseries, Holloway — well known as one of the most successful cultivators of these plants in 

 the kingdom — represents one of the largest-flowered finely-coloured forms yet produced. 

 Many there are— bearing externally, so far as the plant goes, a very similar appearance to 

 this — which produce a great deal smaller flowers, as well as much paler, some being so 

 deficient in colour as to only possess a faint pink shade; and although these, in the absence 

 of the finest varieties, would be considered fine things, still they suffer much by comparison 

 with the large-flowered highly-coloured forms. 



It is one of those species that may be described as requiring an intermediate temperature — 

 something betwixt that needed by plants indigenous to hot regions, and that which suits 

 cool Orchids. It succeeds best in a pot half filled with drainage material, the rest good 

 fibrous peat, the earthy portion of which has been removed, mixed with one-fourth broken 

 crocks or charcoal, and some chopped sphagnum. Like most of the other Odontoglots, 

 this needs the soil keeping wetter during the growing season than many Orchids. It 

 should have a thin shade, so as to diffuse the sun's rays rather than to obstruct the light, 

 as this is the most important element to give strength and vigour to the plants, and 

 without it is present in sufficient volume, whatever growth is made will be wanting in the 

 solidity requisite to preserve them in a continued healthy condition, to still further effect 

 which a fair amount of air should be given daily whilst the plants are in active growth ; 

 the atmosphere ought to be kept moderately charged with moisture, but not so much as is 

 needed by plants that are natives of countries where, during the growing season, the air 

 approaches saturation. 



The plant appears to have been imported by several of the Continental introducers of 

 new plants before any were procured alive. According to an account in the Gardener's 

 Chronicle, it was first seen by the late Mr. Bowman, on the western slope of the Andes of 

 New Granada, and afterwards living plants were sent home by Wallis, Roezl, and others. 



