154 A FEW HINTS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF TERRESTRIAL ORCHIDEiE. 
Register, t. 1730, we should judge it to be well deserving of extensive cultivation. 
«< It was found in Ceylon by Mr. Watson, the superintendent of the government 
garden at Peradenia, and transmitted by him to the Horticultural Society. It has 
very much the habit of a Geodorum, only it has pseudo bulbs instead of tubers." 
The flowers are barrel -shaped, of an orange yellow, blotched at the expanded part 
with purple and blood red. The flower stem springs a little above the pseudo bulbs, 
and produces from two to four flowers. " It flowers in June, and succeeds ex- 
tremely well in a mixture of peat and sand, mixed with broken pots, provided 
it has a great deal of heat and moisture during the growing season, and a few 
months' rest annually in a cool and dry atmosphere*." 
ARETHUSA. 
A. bulbosa. — This is a greenhouse species of great beauty ; the flowers are large 
for the slender low size of the stem ; only one fine lilac coloured flower terminates 
each stem. This species seldom lives long under cultivation ; it thrives best in a 
soil composed for the most part of peat ; the soil requires to be kept very moist, as 
the plant grows naturally in the swamps of North America. The pots, however, 
in which it is grown must be well drained, or success is precarious. 
BLETIA. 
This is a very handsome genus of plants. The B. gracilis is a native of Mexico, 
whence it was introduced by Messrs. Loddiges in 1830. The whole plant is of very 
slender growth, the flower stem grows about a foot high, and produces three or four 
flowers. Sepals and petals brownish yellow, labellum light rose colour veined with 
dark crimson on the upper part, lower part greenish yellow. It requires the stove, 
and our plants do well potted in sandy peat and light loam. As soon as the leaves 
die down remove it to a cooler place, where it must be kept dry for three or four 
months, then repot, and place it in the brisk heat of a damp stove ; and when in a 
state of growth give a good supply of water. It may be increased by division of 
the roots at the time of potting, on the close of the torpid season. 
B. Hyacinthina. — This species is a native of China, from whence it was intro- 
duced in 1812 ; for beauty this surpasses the last. The flower stem rises about 
a foot high, and bears from eight to twelve flowers ; sepals and petals of a rich 
purple rose colour, tinged with a brilliant blue, which is perfectly inimitable in art ; 
the labellum is of a lighter colour, and is blotched with dark crimson. Our plants 
thrive well in a cool part of the stove, potted in a mixture of light sandy loam and 
peat ; it will also grow vigorously in a warm part of the greenhouse. It should 
be wintered in the same way as the last, and is propagated by division of the roots. 
B. Shepherdii is a stronger growing plant than either of the ones before 
mentioned. (See figure and description in page 146). 
B. Florida. — Supposed to be a native of Trinidad, and therefore requires the 
heat of a stove. The flower stem grows two feet high, and bears from ten to twelve 
flowers. Sepals and petals rose coloured ; labellum white, with four or more longi- 
tudinal yellow, folding bars extending from the base to nearly the extreme edge. 
* Dr. Lindley, Bot. Reg. t. 1730. 
