204 THE TLOIIIST AND POMOLOGIST. [September, 



200 trees there lias been but one total failure, and only three or four which have 

 not grown as well or better than before. We recommend it as a very useful 

 little handbook.— T. M. 



THE PHAIUS FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES. 



,y\-]MONGST the subjects grown as specialities for winter blooming, these old 

 i<=!y^ neglected plants are not nearly so often met with as they deserve. With 

 ^r^ a largely increasing consumption of flowers, for cutting, and the various 

 r purposes of decoration, we find our resources are often severely taxed, both 

 as regards quantity and variety, more particularly so in the winter months, when 

 the species of Pliaius may be brought forward to render good and lasting service. 

 It is not so much the brilliancy of their inflorescence that charms the eye, as the 

 distinct and stately nobility of aspect they present in association with other plants, 

 and this renders them both striking and pleasing objects. Moreover, these 

 terrestrial orchids are so very accommodating in point of management, requiring 

 no extra amount of skill nor special expedients to grow them perfectly, that it is 

 altogether needless to say much upon that head. I will therefore confine myself 

 to offering a few general remarks. 



To be perfectly successful in flowering them early, it is necessary to promote 

 early growth, and consequently early maturation. Therefore, immediately after 

 blooming, the earliest section should be turned out of their pots, every particle of 

 exhausted or sour soil being removed, at the same time cutting away any decayed 

 or braised roots, and be repotted in a compost of about equal parts of peat, turfy 

 loam, and dried cow-dung. The peat and loam are to be pulled to pieces with the 

 hand, not over fine, all the finer portion being rejected, which is best done by 

 sifting through a large mesh riddle ; while the manure must be broken fine and 

 rubbed through a half-inch-mesh sieve. These ingredients are to be well 

 incorporated, adding sufficient sand and charcoal to maintain porosity. The pots 

 must be freely drained, and the sizes regulated in a great measure by the health 

 and size of the roots, as well as to suit the different purposes for which they may 

 be required. I find that, as a rule, plants in 12-in. pots produce from 15 to 20 

 flower-stems, averaging from 4 ft. to 5 ft. in height. They also flower freely in 

 smaller pots ; and for room embellishment, for which they are well suited, a 

 portion should always be grown in pots of 6-in. diameter and upwards. 



The pseudobulb-like bases of the shoots require to be divided with care, so as 

 to break the roots as little as possible ; and in potting, the soil must be worked 

 fii-mly yet carefully amongst the fleshy roots, the plants being afterwards placed in 

 a brisk humid atmosphere of about 70"^ to 80? by day, and watered sparingly at 

 the roots until fresh growth is freely established, when an abundance must be 

 given both at the root and from the syringe, so as to promote vigorous growth. 



I make it a rule as soon as the young growth is fully established to cut away 

 the whole of the old foliage, as it is no longer necessary to the support of the 

 plant ; and by cutting it entirely away, scale, or other insects which may have 



