98 
DENDROBIUM MACROPHYLLUM. 
months of March and April, and we have observed quite small specimens producing a 
profusion of blossoms. Their great dimensions, pleasing pink colour, tinged with 
purple, and variously shaded with the rich reddish purple of the labellum, and the 
prominent veins of the sepals and petals, all more or less tend to create or heighten 
their charms. 
Messrs. Loddiges imported this fine plant from Manilla, about three years ago. 
It was collected and sent to Britain by Mr. Cuming. A plant flowered imper- 
fectly in the collection of the above gentlemen in April 1839, and the same 
specimen blossomed in a much superior manner at a parallel period in 1840. The 
present season has developed a still greater 
number of blooms ; and in April last, 
it was a most gorgeous object. Messrs. 
Loddiges have recently introduced an 
immense bunch of this species from a 
neighbouring island to that before men- 
tioned, the flowers of which were deve- 
loped on the voyage ; but, as in many 
other cases, the stems are not so luxuriant 
as those grown in England. 
The character of the species, its 
drooping stems and flowers, and the 
necessity there exists for witnessing the 
latter either above or on a level with the 
eye, at once show the propriety of culti- 
vating it on a wooden block, over the 
edges of which the stems may hang. A 
small wooden basket would, however, 
be equally suitable. Sphagnum moss, 
or light fibrous lieath-soil, should be 
selected for planting it in, or placed 
around its roots ; and it must be watered 
very abundantly and constantly while 
its developments are progressing, and 
kept in a warm, moist part of the 
orchidaceous house. i 
