May 1.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
73 
sepals are of a rich brown, and in texture like velvet; ! 
the petals bright rose; the lip is of the same colour, 
with a blotch of yellow in the centre. A very charming 
species, but extremely rare. 
Culture. —This is a genus of terrestrial orchids, found 
growing in open glades, in the hottest part of Africa, 
requiring, therefore, the warmest part of the orchid- 
house. 
Soil. —Strong loam three parts; rough fibrous peat 
one part; leafy mould, not much decayed, one part; 
with a due quantity of sand, will form a compost 
suitable to them. Pot them in the spring of the year; 
let the bulbs be slightly covered, placing the old bulb 
near to the edge of the pot with the growing bud in the 
centre of the pot. The reason for this, is to cause the 
shoots to be centrally placed, and to allow the young 
bulbs plenty of room in which to swell. If the old 
bulbs were placed in the centre of the pot, the young 
ones, when grown, would be thrust against the side, 
and be cramped and deformed. Give a little water at 
the time of potting, to settle the earth, and then water 
but seldom, till the young shoots and leaves have made 
considerable progress. After that increase the quantity 
of water considerably, and every third time add a small 
quantity of liquid manure to the water. Always use 
the water of the same temperature as the air of the 
house. 
During the season of growth, let the air be well sup¬ 
plied with moisture, and keep up a temperature of 70° 
to 80° by day, and 65° by night. In winter, reduce the 
water at the root, the moisture in the air, and the heat 
to 60° by day, and 55° by night. These two modes of 
treatment will give a season of growth during the 
longest days, and a season of rest during the shortest. 
Lycaste aromatica (Sweet-scented L.) ; Mexico.— 
The flowers spring numerously from and round the base 
of the pseudo bulbs, sometimes as many as seven or 
eight from one bulb, each flower being separate. They 
are of bright orange colour, aud are very fragrant; a 
’ nice plant for a small collection. 15s. 
L. cruenta (Blood-coloured L.); Guatemala.—Sepals 
and petals very deep orange, lip same colour, with a 
blood-coloured spot at its base. The flowers are pro¬ 
duced in the same mode as those of L. aromatica, but 
are larger, of a finer colour, and their beauty is generally 
enhanced by the rich coloured stain at the base of the 
lip. A really fine species which ought to be in every 
collection. 31s. Gd. 
L. Harrisonii (Mrs. Harrison’s L.).—Sepals and 
petals cream or buff-coloured; the lip is of a clear 
purple, spotted and streaked with cream. This is a 
very handsome, large-flowered species. The flowers 
generally come in pairs, but sometimes, when very 
strong, three will be produced. A large plaut, when in 
bloom, is very attractive. Though old, and comparatively 
common, yet it is worth having, as it is very hardy; 
that is, it is not easily killed by mismanagement. 
10s. 6d. 
L. plana (Level-flowered L.); South America. The 
| flowers are of a greenish cast; the lip is fringed. Though 
not of a showy character, this species is worth growing 
on account of its large flowers, which are produced on 
long stems, rising even with the foliage, and are then 
very conspicuous. 42s. 
L. Skinneri (Mr. Skinner’s L.); Guatemala. Sepals 
pure white, tinged at the base with crimson; petals 
rosy white; the lip is of a white ground colour, with nu¬ 
merous spots of the richest carmine, almost over-clouded. 
There are several varieties with the lip of brighter and 
darker shades; but even the worst coloured variety is a 
splendid flower. Each flower often measures five inches 
across. It has also a slight but delicate perfume. Alto¬ 
gether this is one of the finest orchids, pretty easy to 
grow, and lasting a long time in bloom. 31 s Gd. There 
are two or three more species of Lycaste, but they are 
scarcely worth growing. 
Culture — Soil. —Rough lumps of peat, mixed with 
chopped sphagnum, and small pieces of charcoal, will 
form a compost suitable for these charming plants. In 
potting, they should be placed upon a little hillock, in 
the centre of the pots. Plenty of drainage must be 
given, as they are impatient of water lodging about 
their roots, especially when young or fresh growing. 
They, like all other orchids, require a season of growth 
and a season of rest. During the former, they must 
have a free supply of water at the root, and a due 
amount of moisture in the air. Being chiefly natives 
of Guatemala, they do not require such a high tempera¬ 
ture as plants from India; 65° to 70° by day, and 00° by 
night, in the growing season, and 55° to 00° by day in the 
season of rest, is an abundant heat for them. When at 
rest, hut little water must be given, and a much drier 
atmosphere allowed. We have often written of the j 
desirableness, or, rather, we may say, of the absolute 
necessity of rest, and complete cessation of growth for 
orchids. Without this cessation of progression the | 
powers of the plants to produce strong growths and 
abundance of bloom become prostrated. They make 
growth, it is true, but do not secrete those juices which 
enable them to produce flowers. In that respect they 
are very similar to real bulbs. If these are forced into 
growth at unnatural seasons, or by excessive heat and 
moisture are compelled to continue growing for a longer 
period than is necessary to perfect their annual growth, 
the bulbs become smaller and smaller, and eventually 
perish. The rest of plants is something analogous to 
the sleep of animals, aud we all know the great injury 
our health sustains if, for any lengthened time, we are 
deprived of our regular succession of repose. 
Maxillaria. —This is a large genus, mostly with small 
flowers that are of dull colours, from which we shall cull 
only such as are worthy of cultivation. We may men¬ 
tion in this place, that several of the finest plants known 
as belonging to it, have been very judiciously separated 
from it by Dr. Bindley. The following genera have been 
either greatly added to, or entirely formed from, plants 
that formerly were all classed as Maxillarias: Bifrenaria, 
Colax, Lycaste, Paphinia, Promencea, Scuticaria, and 
Warrea. 
Maxillaria Macleei (Mr. McKlee’s M.) ; Guatemala. 
—Sepals and petals brownish red; lip ground colour 
white, with rich maroon spots. A neat, pretty species. 
21s. 
M. picta (Painted M.).; Brazil.—The ground colour 
of the whole flower is a bright pale orange, very prettily 
spotted and striped with red and purple. A pretty, 
freely-flowering, and easily-grown species, very suitable j 
for small collections. 10s. Gd. 
M. tenuifolia (Slender-leaved M.) ; South America.— 
This is somewhat allied to M. Macleei ; the principal 
difference being its ground colour, which is of a purplish , 
cast, with spots and blotches of clear yellow upon it; 
the foliage, too, is somewhat longer and broader. Mr. 
Lyons remarks, very justly, that “ when it is in flower it 
is very striking; and few will see it without remarking 
its freshness, and the pleasing green colour of its foliage.” 
21s. 
M. triangularis (Triangular-leaved M.); Guatemala. 
—Flowers of a rich dark brown ground colour, spotted j 
freely with crimson. This plant has a resemblance to 
M. tenuifolia, but its leaves are larger and triangular 
shaped. Very neat aud pretty, but rather scarce. 42s. 
Culture. — Soil. —The compost we have found to suit 
them best is formed of rough fibrous peat, broken into 
small pieces, and all the finer portion sifted out of it. 
This will form the main body of the compost to the 
amount of three-fifths, add one part of chopped sphag¬ 
num, and another of broken potsherds, and pieces of 
