CULTIVATION OF CATTLEYA. 
183 
these choice and delightful flowers; at least, the most advisable 
one, both with regard to their growth and the beauty of their 
flowering; at least, in so far as my observation and experience 
are concerned. 1 shall now give a brief enumeration of the prin¬ 
cipal species which are in cultivation in this country. 
Cattleya Forbesii. —This is a very pretty species, and, I believe, 
one of the first introduced into this country. The flowers are 
straw-coloured, with a mixture of white on the lip. It is one of 
the species with two leaves and elongated pseudo-bulbs. With us, 
it begins to grow in March, and continues to grow and flower till 
October. After this, it rests or reposes ; and when this occurs, no 
water is required until the season of growth again comes round, 
and vegetation is renewed. When the renewed action appears, 
water should be given sparingly for a week or two at the first, and 
gradually increased in proportion as the growth becomes more 
vigorous. It is much better grown in a pot than either in wood 
or in a basket. It is a native of Brazil. 
Cattleya Harrisonii. —Until lately, this was looked upon by 
many as only a variety of Loddiyesii —a species afterwards to be 
noticed—which, however, is incorrect; for it is not only a distinct, 
but a well-marked, species. Like the Forbesii , it has two leaves 
and elongated pseudo-bulbs. The flowers are of a beautiful violet 
colour, having the violet on the lip intermixed with white and 
yellow. It is a strikingly beautiful species, and ought to form 
part of every collection of orchidacese, how small soever. Differ¬ 
ent from Forbesii , the sepals and petals of this species stand out 
from the lip, on the same plane, and surrounding it. Like For¬ 
besii, this species does best in a pot, with peat; and altogether 
requires much the same treatment as that one. Naturally, it 
grows upon trees, and is found in Brazil and other parts of inter- 
tropical America. 
Cattleya Loddiyesii is another fine species, with two leaves and 
elongated pseudo-bulbs. It is found, native, upon trees in various 
tropical parts of South America. The flowers are of an ex¬ 
quisitely delicate lilac colour, different from Harrisonii; the sepals 
and petals are bent back from the lip, and the lip itself is curved 
downwards, which gives the whole flower an exceedingly pretty 
appearance. It rarely makes more than one pseudo-bulb in the 
course of the season ; and, generally speaking, it flowers from the 
beginning of September to the end of October. Care should be 
