They are propagated by dividing the bulbs, leaving two old ones and a growth in front. These divided portions should be potted in small pots until they get well established, and always at all times be kept free from insects. The white scale will sometimes attack them, and do much injury if not promptly removed.
Lælia elegans prasiata.—From E. Harvey, Esq., Aigburth, Liverpool, comes a spike of a grand form of this fine _Lælia_. The flowers are six inches across, the sepals and petals purplish rose, the lip rich magenta. This is quite a distinct form, and worthy of a place in every collection. Accompanying this was a spike of _Scuticaria Hadweni_, var. _pardalina_, described some time ago in the _Gardeners’ Chronicle_.—B. S. W.
Dendrobium nobile (three-lipped).—Mr. Knight, Gardener to the Right Hon. W. H. Smith, M.P., Greenlands, Henley-on-Thames, sends us a curious form of this grand old Orchid, with three lips, two of the lips taking the place of the petals of the normal flowers, and being marked and coloured in a similar manner to the ordinary lip. In addition, the flower was deliciously scented. We do not suppose that this variation will be constant, being more probably a malformation.—B. S. W.
Bollea cœlestis as a block plant.—When visiting the establishment of Messrs. Vervaet et Cie., of Gand, Belgium, in April last, we were surprised to see this lovely Orchid quite at home on a block, growing luxuriantly, and rooting in all directions; the growths were very strong, and as healthy as any we have seen. Is it possible that this may be the secret of success with this Orchid? Being an epiphyte, found growing on the limbs of trees, we should imagine this treatment would be the most natural for it. It is evident that pot culture does not suit it, as it frequently dies off after two or three years.—H. W.
[Illustration: PL. 47. ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ.]
ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ. [Plate 47.] Native of Bogota, New Grenada.
Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ oblong-ovate, compressed, often stained brownish purple, two-leaved. _Leaves_ ligulate-oblong, acute, channelled toward the base, of a pleasing light green colour. _Scape_ radical, supporting a many-flowered raceme, or in the more vigorous plants a panicle equalling or exceeding the leaves, and having small acute bracts at the base of the pedicels. _Flowers_ exquisitely chaste and beautiful, white, tinted with rose, and variously spotted, fully three inches across; _sepals_ ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, entire or toothed, white, suffused more or less with a delicate tint of rose-pink; _petals_ in the best forms, broadly ovate and much undulated, entire or toothed, white, rather less deeply tinted with pink; _lip_ shorter than the petals, oblong-ovate, the margin much crisped and the shortly acuminate apex recurved, white, with a rich yellow stain down the centre, and marked with reddish brown radiating lines on the disk, and with one or two (or in some forms many) rich red-brown spots or blotches half-way down, the disk also bearing a bilamellate crest. _Column_ arcuate, club-shaped, chestnut-red.