THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
103 
MASDEYALLIAS. 
BV W. GEDITET, 
Head Gardener to J. C. Day, Esq., Tottenham. 
(With a Coloured Illustration of Masdevallia Sarryana.) 
ONGST the orchidaceous plants suitable for cultivation 
in cool houses, the Masdevallias will eventually occupy 
a high place. They are all neat in growth, possess a 
hard}^, vigorous constitution, and are, moreover, re- 
markable for the surpassing beauty of their flowers. 
They also possess another good quality, which will not fail to be 
appreciated by the amateur, and that is, the simplicity of the culture 
necessary for the production of good specimens. In the latter respect 
they are quite unsurpassed, for they are more easily grown than the 
commonest geraniums, and they possess a considerable advantage 
over the latter class of plants, for they cannot be so easily killed by 
bad management. They are, especially some of the best species, 
rather expensive, and there is every reason for supposing they will 
command a high price for some time to come, because of their great 
and increasing popularity. 
Some of the species have been known in collections for a con- 
siderable number of years past; but it is now a very rare occurrence 
to meet with fair specimens, for they have been usually placed with 
the kinds requiring a high temperature for their successful culti- 
vation, whereas a great heat is not only quite unnecessary, but 
extremely hurtful to them. The most showy kinds, of which the 
lovely Masdevallia Harryana is one of the best, have been intro- 
duced within a comparatively recent period, and it is only within 
the last year or two that they have been introduced in sufficient 
quantities to admit of their being placed within the reach of the 
amateur. Now, however, small, weU-established plants may be pro- 
cured at the principal metropolitan nurseries, and may be obtained 
at prices ranging from three to ten guineas, according to the rarity 
of the species and the size of the plant. 
In purchasing Masdevallias, it will be well to bear in mind that, 
like other orchids, all those at present known to English collections 
vary considerably in the beauty of the flowers, and in every case it 
is desirable to buy them when in flower, although the trade growers 
usually assort them, and fix the prices in an equitable manner. 
A very few words will suffice to convey a clear idea of their 
cultural requirements. As no one requiring information respecting 
their cultivation will have a sufficient number to require a house 
especially devoted to them, it will suffice to say they are quite 
at home with the Odontoglots and other cool orchids, which 
succeed best in a structure the temperature of which is main- 
tained between 40° and 45° during the winter, and 50° and 
60° during the summer season. An open compost and efficient 
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