Plate 48 ]. 
MASDEVALLIA VEITCHII. 
This most singular looking orchid, both from its peculiarity 
of form and its brilliancy of colour, has attracted a good deal of 
attention during the past year ; and therefore, although it has 
been already figured in the Botanical Magazine, we have 
thought it well to give a figure of it; in fact, when it first 
appeared, two years ago, a drawing was made of it by our artist, 
but owing to the press of other matters was left on one side. 
A few months ago the plant was exhibited in so much better con- 
dition than on any previous occasion that a figure of it was again 
made, and, as in the case of other plants, notably Antliurium 
Scher zerianum, it has so much improved under cultivation that it 
will, we doubt not, be a general favourite when it becomes 
more common. 
We are informed by Mr. H. J. Veitch that this curious 
orchid “ requires a cool orchid house for its successful cultiva- 
tion, that in fact, a moist, shady odontoglossum house would 
best suit it ; and that the soil most adapted for it is a mix- 
ture of sphagnum, silver sand, and pieces of pot broken small, 
or charcoal. When growing it also likes a good deal of 
moisture. Our specimen plant bloomed three times in the course 
of last year, each time with ten or eleven blooms, and I took it ' 
with me to St. Petersburg, so that the plant is not a difficult 
