Plate 490 . 
MILTON I A REGNELLI PURPUREA. 
Never, perhaps, have Orchids been exhibited in greater per* 
fection than during this past season. We have seen at the 
various Exhibitions, this year, specimens of growth so luxuriant, 
and of inflorescence so gorgeous, that it would be almost impos- 
sible to conceive that they could be surpassed ; yet it would 
be hazardous to say so, so great seems the skill of our culti- 
vators. We remember that Lilium Auratim was described on its 
first appearance as one-fiowered ; yet we have seen one bulb 
producing 182 flowers. It used to be thought that Pha/cenopsis 
Schillerianum with twenty blooms was grand ; but who could see 
the magnificent plant of it exhibited by Lord Londesborough, 
and not wonder at the growth by which long spikes covered 
with bloom had been produced. 
We have only instanced these amongst many others, as proofs 
of the wonderful success which has attended plant culture of 
late years ; for masses of some of our most showy species have 
been from time to time exhibited, which the growers of Orchids 
would formerly have considered impossible ; and there can be 
no doubt that, in no country in the world, (probably, not even 
their native habitats,) can such specimens be seen as we are 
able to exhibit in England. 
The exquisite Orchid which we now figure, is from the rich 
and varied collection of the Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea ; and the 
delicacy of its sepals, and the brilliancy of its bright labellum, 
