May 9th, 1885, 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
569 
CATTLEYAS OF THE LABIATA 
SECTION. 
This title may be given to a large selection of our 
handsomest Cattleyas, and one of the most useful and 
manageable groups of Orchid. In point of beauty it 
needs not an Orchidist to discern their merits, as 
in that particular they will compare favourably with 
any class of plants. Next, as to their easy culture. 
supposed to require more heat than the rest. The 
matter is, however, by no means proven, as this 
division has not made good progress even in many 
good hands, and the secret of their sulkiness is more 
likely to be found in their getting too much heat than 
too little. In the hands of beginners particularly, as 
many of the Cattleyas as possible should be basketed 
and suspended or placed near the glass on the stage, 
and in all cases I am sure that the varieties of C. gigas 
The following is an enumeration of the varieties, 
a great many of which the amateur with a very 
slender purse, may obtain. On the other hand, 
that which we illustrate— C. labiata brilliantissima—- 
and a few other rarities, gold cannot buy, but that 
only adds zest to the care of the small amateur’s 
fresh-imported nurslings by the expectation they give 
of rivals for the unpurchasable novelties appearing 
among them. 
CATTLBYA LABIATA BRILLIANTISSIJIA. 
Anyone who possesses a house, conservatory, or glass 
structure of any description, which he is prepared to 
arrange as to ventilation, & r c., for their accommoda¬ 
tion, and one in which he can make sure that the 
temperature will not get below 50 degs. or 55 degs. at 
night in winter, and 58 degs. or 60 degs. by day, 
can, if he gives his mind to it, grow this section of 
Cattleyas with such success that he will in all pro¬ 
bability be surprised himself at the result. 
As a precaution, however, the varieties of C. gigas 
and C. Dowiana should be added last, and not until 
the success of the others are ensured, for they are 
and C. Dowiana have a much better chance of success 
when grown in baskets than in pots. 
In potting them the pots should be crocked rather 
more than three parts of the way up, and where a 
good sample of peat or Fern-fibre alone can be 
obtained, nothing better can be found for potting 
them in. Where good peat cannot be obtained, the 
sandy soil should be taken from it, leaving the fibre 
for use, which should have a little sphagnum mixed 
with it; and it will be well in using it to remember 
that when good peat cannot be obtained, the less of 
the inferior kind that is used the better. 
C. labiata, the old typical form, dates as far back 
as 1818, and since that time, and especially in recent 
times, many a fruitless search in the Brazils has 
been made for it; it is consequently not easily to be 
acquired. It flowers in autumn with large rosy- 
petalled blooms with crimson lip. 
C. labiata Wabxerii is much more plentiful, like 
the old labiata in the general appearance of its 
flowers, but being very variable in its tinting and 
summer flowering. It was imported from Bio, and 
named after Bobert Warner, Esq., of Broomfield, 
Chelmsford. 
