AUGUST. 
177 
much concerning its own merits as in reference to the species from which it 
originated. It might be considered horticulturally an outcast from the 
very superb 0. Insleayi. Reichenbach himself in naming it has some 
doubts about its distinctive character, but is inclined to stand sponsor for 
it on the plea of its flowering “ in late summer whereas, Insleayi flowers 
in early spring. That is not a sufficient distinction in my estimation, 
more especially as even Insleayi has been flowered in-autumn. The same 
sort of indefinite distinction occurs in the case of what is called a summer* 
The Odontoglots are fast becoming a numerous family. Between the 
years 1837 and 1840, the earliest of them were introduced from Mexico, 
comprising 0. bictoniense, cor datum, Cervantesii, and Plossu. Since then we 
have had the glorious 0. grande, as well as the rare and beautiful 0. Pesca- 
torei, nebulosum, and others which seemed at first to baffle the efforts of cul¬ 
tivators. We are all, however, now getting fast over the difficulty, so 
that the 0. Alexandra;, luteo-purpareum of Lindley (radiatum of Reichen¬ 
bach), gloriosum, and triumphans of modern introduction, are likely to be 
dealt with, culturally speaking, as they ought to be. It has been shown 
several times that the wondrous beauty of Odontoglossums has far eclipsed 
the most sanguine anticipations, and that well-developed plants of 0. grande, 
Pescatorei, and ncevium are among the finest things in cultivation. This 
being the case, it has been made an object to present a pictorial representa¬ 
tion of some of them before the readers of the Florist, in order t’o draw 
more general attention towards them, and to endeavour to coax the looker- 
on and admirer, to invest a few pounds in forming a collection. 
Of 0. Schlieperianum, a figure of which from the pages of our contemporary 
the Gardeners' Chronicle is annexed, we wish to speak a word or two, not so 
