I 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
101 
May 15.] 
M. flavescens (Straw coloured M.); Brazil^—Sepals 
I and petals pale yellow; lip the same, colour spotted with 
j pale red. The flower-stems rise to the height of 1+ foot; 
i the flowers are produced on it in a regular style, forming 
i a handsome spike. A pretty species, requiring to be a 
1 considerable size before it flowers. 31s. 6d. 
M. Karwinskii (Baron Karwinsk’s M.); Brazil.— 
| Sepals and petals pale yellow ground, broadly barred 
I with rich brown; lip white, spotted and blotched with 
J chocolate. The flowers are large, three inches across, 
produced on long upright stems much branched. The 
pseudo-bulbs are shorter than any other species; they 
are, also, more deeply furrowed. The rest of the genus 
being remarkable for the perfect smoothness of their 
pseudo-bulbs. This species first flowered in the orchid 
house at the Horticultural Society’s gardens at Chiswick. 
It is the most splendid of the whole genus. 84s. 
M. spectabilis (Showy M.); Brazil.—Sepals and 
petals dull white, short and inconspicuous; the lip, on 
the contrary, is large and showy, of a violet hue towards 
the base, becoming paler towards the margin, till it be¬ 
comes almost white at the extreme edge. A beautiful 
species. 21s. 
M. spectabilis var bicolor (Two-coloured variety); 
Brazil.—This is a pretty variety, with the colours on the 
lip more distinctly defined; the spot is a deeper colour, 
and the margin a clearer white. The lip is, also, a de¬ 
gree smaller. As equally ornamental as the species. 21 s. 
M. spectabilis var atropcrpurea (Dark purple va¬ 
riety) ; Rio Janiero.—Sepals and petals purple, and 
larger than in the species; lip very dark purple shaded 
with a lighter purple, very large and broad. Lately 
introduced, and a very fine variety. It is sometimes 
named M. Morelliana. Peculiarly richly coloured and 
very beautiful, hut rather scarce. 63s. 
Culture. —There is no other genus amongst the whole 
tribe of orchids that is more worthy of culture than 
Miltonia. Unlike many of the tribe, the species form 
ornamental plants even when out of bloom, and when 
in flower tolerable good specimens are really splendid. 
Compost. —Rough pieces of peat mixed with chopped 
sphagnum, broken potsherds, and pieces of charcoal. 
| In this mixture they will thrive well. The pots must 
be well drained by being, at least, half full of broken 
potsherds. In potting keep the plants only just raised 
above the rim of the pots. Miltonia spectabilis and its 
varieties are, if badly drained or subjected to too much 
light, apt to turn yellow. This is partly owing to im¬ 
perfect drainage, too much light, and too little fresh air. 
The colour of the pseudo-bulbs and leaves, not only of 
this particular species, but of all the inhabitants of the 
orchid house, may be greatly improved, if the vapour 
arising from carbonate of ammonia be thrown into the 
house once a week. This may be accomplished in two 
ways. First, rub the ammonia on the hot pipes; if the 
house be large it will take two ounces, and a lesser 
quantity in proportion. Secondly, dissolve the same 
quantity suitable for the size of the house in warm 
water, and sprinkle the pipes with it, using the whole 
quantity at once, and as quickly as possible. The 
olfactory organs will immediately detect a strong odour, 
similar to that felt when near to a heap of dung in a 
state of lively fermentation. This has been repeatedly 
proved to be highly beneficial to this tribe of plants. 
Heat. —Miltonias being natives of the woods of Brazil, 
in the lower regions of that country, require more heat 
than those we have distinguished as being proper to grow 
in a separate house from the natives of India. The 
cooler end of that house will be a situation similar to 
that of their native locality in respect to heat. Day 
temperature in summer 75° to 80°, night 65°. In winter, 
or the resting season, by day 60°, by night 55°. 
Moisture at the Root. —When the plants are growing 
they should be watered at the root freely, giving it when¬ 
ever the surface appears dry. The greatest quantity 
must be applied when the pseudo-bulbs are about half- 
grown. After they are fully grown it must be gra¬ 
dually lessened, both in quantity and frequency of ap¬ 
plication, till the resting season commences, which should 
be so ordered as to take place during the shortest days. 
No more water should then be given at the root, unless 
the pseudo-bulbs appear to shrink very much, when a 
little may be given to keep them plump and fresh. This 
must, however, be very carefully applied, or it will not 
only rot the roots, but have a tendency to start the plants 
into a too early growth, and so prevent them flowering. 
Moisture in the Air .—These plants, like all the rest | 
of the tribe, require, when growing, a very damp atmo- I 
sphere. This may be given by keeping the walk almost ; 
constantly flooded during the day, by wetting the pipes 
frequently, and by syringing the walls, blocks, and 
plants once a day in the spring, and twice a-day in the 
hot days of summer. 
Air will be necessary to give during hot weather, to 
lower the temperature of the house. The aperture to 
admit it should be so placed as not to allow the draught 
of cold air to pass over the plants. 
Shade .—It was hinted above, that these plants will 
not bear so much light or sunshine as some others of 
the tribe. Mr. Bateman’s rule is an excellent one— 
“The plants can hardly have too much light or too 
little sun.” This rule applies to the thick-leavcd Aerides. 
and the like, and, therefore, applies with still greater 
force to the thinner-leaved ones, like those of our present 
subject. Shade them, then, whenever the sun shines; 
but have the shade so contrived that it can be easily 
drawn up when the sun is overclouded. In winter, of 
course, no shade will be needed. 
Period of Growth .—This should continue from March 
to September. The period of rest will be the remainder 
of the year. 
Mormodes atroburpurea (Dark Purple-flowered M.); 
Spanish Main. The flowers are of a rich deep purple 
ground, barred and spotted with red. A pretty, curious 
species. 31s. 6d. 
M. buccinator (Trumpet M.); S. America. Sepals 
and petals yellowish green; lip white, like ivory, and 
rolled up so as to form the shape of a trumpet, hence its 
specific name. A very handsome species, with large 
pseudo bulbs. 42s. 
M. liniatum (Striped); Guatemala. Sepals and petals 
yellow ground, thickly striped with chocolate crimson; 
lip white, spotted and streaked with pink. A very curi¬ 
ous species, emitting a delicious perfume; easy to grow, 
and requiring only the temperature of a common stove. 
21s. 
M. luxatum (Dislocated M.); Mexico. Sepals and 
i petals pale yellow or straw colour, very clear and bright; 
the lip is the same colour, with a deep brown stripe 
down the centre. The flowers are large, nearly three 
; inches across, and emit a most delicious fragrance. A 
stately species, the leaves often reaching two and a 
half feet high, and are of a beautiful hoary green. 42s. 
M. paruina (Pantlier-liko M.); Mexico. The whole 
of the flower is of a rich yellow ground, thickly blotched, 
and lined with deep chocolate red. The flower-stems 
spring from near the top of the large pseudo bulbs. 
The flowers are thickly set upon them, and are of a curi¬ 
ous twisted appearance. 31s. Od. 
Culture .—This curious yet handsome genus is not 
difficult to cultivate. The compost it thrives in is of a 
very open texture, formed with rough pcices of turfy 
peat, mixed with pieces of charcoal as large as a walnut, 
with a small portion of half-rotted leal-mould added. 
The plants should be rather elevated in the centre of 
the pots, as the young shoots are very impatient of 
moisture. Excepting it/, liniatum, they require, when 
growing, a high temperature, 70° to 80° by day and 
