early-flowering greenhouse plants. 
5 
of cultivation ; it will do with the same treatment as any of the others, and a 
temperature of 65° to 70. — Native of Brazil. 
146. Epidendrum settigerum. Plant pseudo-bulbous ; bulbs rather better 
than three inches long; leaves mostly in pairs, nearly one foot long, and 
rather narrow; flower spike rising from the summit of the bulb. This is 
a fine species, and should be in every collection ; and will either do on a 
chump of wood or in a pot, in a mixture of sphagnum, rotten wood, and 
turfy peat; if in the former way, it requires a liberal supply of water during 
the summer months, and a temperature of 65°. — Native of Guatemala. 
147. Epidendrum Clowesii. Plant with bulbous stems two feet long; 
leaves alternately up them, the raceme rising from the summit of the stem in 
a drooping position ; the flowers are small; sepals and petals are pale green ; 
labellum greenish white. This is rather a scarce species. It requires pot 
cultivation, with the same treatment as the others, and the same temperature 
as the last species. — T believe a native of Guatemala. 
John Henshall, K— v —y. 
( To be continued. ) 
NOTES ON A FEW EARLY-FLOWERING PLANTS 
FOR THE GREENHOUSE. 
Sir,— I often reflect what a pity it is that the more early 
flowering kinds of greenhouse plants are not cultivated to a 
much greater extent than is too generally observable. 
In the months of February, March, and April, every expanded 
flower arrests more attention, in fact, appears more lovely, than 
at any other period. Winter is just loosening its icy hold. 
Nature wears a reviving aspect, and our spirits, becoming ex¬ 
hilarated by a lighter air and the approach of joyous summer, 
we look around for some lovely object of creation on which to 
realise, for the moment, our often vague anticipations. It is 
yet too early to expect much variety in the borders of the 
flower-garden, and the greenhouse is the only source which 
will yield the desired pleasure ; and here, too frequently, we 
meet only the chilling aspect of green leaves or bare stems. 
This, of course, depends on the selection of plants when fur¬ 
nishing the house, and may therefore be easily obviated. I 
subjoin a brief notice of some that bloom at this desirable 
season, with some remarks on their management. There are, 
doubtless, many others equally suitable, but even those enume¬ 
rated will be sufficient to remove the blank so much to be com¬ 
plained of. 
The genus JbJpacris , from containing so many interesting 
varieties, must be considered indispensable. Some or other 
of them may be had in bloom from December until June. They 
delight in fibrous peat, broken rough, and fine white sand. 
The young plants should be frequently stopped, by pinching ofF 
the points of the shoots while growing, to induce them to throw 
b 3 
