This effective plant comes from the mountains of Nepal and Sylhet, where it flourishes at an altitude of several thousand feet. It is one of the best winter and early spring flowering species we have; nor can it be considered a novelty, since it has been in cultivation for the last thirty-six years. Its pseudo-bulbs, when fully grown, are about the size of bantam's eggs, and each bears two lanceolate, deep green leaves. Its flower-spikes bear from three to eight flowers - one, and occasionally two, being produced from each flowering bulb. These flowers are three to four inches across, and of the purest snowy whiteness, with the exception of the lip, which has five rows of yellow fringes down its disc. A good specimen plant is very effective when in flower, bearing from twenty to a hundred spikes. A plant from Chatsworth was exhibited in London a year or two ago with ninety - seven spikes, some bearing seven line flowers; while Mr R. S. Gates, of Manchester, has at the present time plants with nearly as many spikes upon them, and in the finest state of health and vigour. With the solitary exception of Dendrobium Nobile, this plant is the best to grow for a profusion of choice flowers at this particular season of the year.

Well-grown plants, when in bloom, are literally one mass of glossy drooping foliage and snowy flowers. These latter are well nigh invaluable for all kinds of decorative purposes where choice white flowers are required. It is almost equal to Stephanotis for bridal bouquets, and has a far more graceful appearance in the elegant trumpet-shaped crystal vases which are now in general use for cut flowers and Ferns.

This plant does well in an intermediate temperature, or Cattleya house, where a moist atmosphere can be steadily maintained. The compost best suited to its acquirements is one composed of good fibrous peat, living sphagnum, with the addition of a little leaf-mould and coarse sand, taking care to provide abundant drainage, since this plant, like most others, is very impatient of stagnant moisture. While speaking of sand, I would caution gardeners against using this article indiscriminately, since some kinds in particular localities contain a large proportion of lime, which does not agree with plants in general. In my own experience I find this plant affects a shady position; bright sunshine it seems to have an antipathy to, much the same as Odontoglots and most other orchids from elevated habitats. When growing, it must be abundantly supplied with tepid water at the root; and frequent syringing promotes its growth, and keeps its pseudo-bulbs in a fresh and plump condition. These last are apt to commence shrivelling while the plant is in flower, during which time it should receive a good supply of water, so as to prevent this as much as possible. Care must be taken not to wet the flowers, since a few drops of moisture will spot them, and render them both fugacious and unsightly.

The best way to flower this plant well is to induce a free and vigorous growth, taking care that the substance or nutriment in the pseudo-bulbs is not wasted by evaporation, instead of going to produce strong flower-spikes. The plant is now cheap, and should be grown by the dozen where choice flowers or plants for decoration are in demand during winter and spring. Seen under gas-light the flowers of this species are quite dazzling in their lustrous purity.

If care be taken to keep the flowers from becoming spotted, it continues in perfection for fully a month, and when grown freely is an object of floral beauty rarely rivalled and never excelled.

F. W. Burbidge.