28 ON THE CULTIVATION OF BRITISH OBCHIDS. 



VI. — On the Cultivation of British Orchids. By Mr. David 

 Cameron, CM. U.S., late Curator of the Botanic Garden, 

 Birmingham. 



(Communicated Aug. 2G, 1847.) 



While tropical Orchids have been eagerly sought after and 

 successfully cultivated, is it not singular that the culture of our 

 native Orchids should be almost entirely neglected, many of them 

 possessing as they do considerable beauty as well as singularity 

 of form ? They are a tribe of plants which under cultivation 

 would be highly interesting, and the more especially so as 

 several of the species may be grown for years in the open border 

 witli little or no care, and most of them may be preserved in 

 pots. Some of them have fragrance to recommend them, parti- 

 cularly Gymnadenia conopsea and Ilerminium monorchis, both 

 of which when in quantity perfume the atmosphere for some 

 distance — a circumstance wliich often affords a clue to their dis- 

 covery, in the absence of which tliey might have been over- 

 looked. 



The Horticultural Society in their schedule of prizes of the 

 past season offered liberal awards for collections of native 

 Orchids, without even stipulating the number or length of time 

 the plants had been under cultivation, but I believe not one was 

 exhibited. To what can this be owing? Not to want of skill to 

 cultivate them, for the skill shown in the management of other 

 plants proved the ability to cultivate these. But a solution of 

 the question is to be found in the fact that the attention of tlie 

 cultivator has not been turned in that direction. Having, how- 

 ever, whilst residing in Surrey, within a few miles of the natural 

 habitats of many of the species, obtained some experience in their 

 cultivation, and having also at Birmingham continued to culti- 

 vate with success such species as could be obtained, I am in- 

 duced to offer some remarks on their cultivation, in hopes that it 

 may stimulate other cultivators to bestow some attention on this 

 truly interesting class of plants, many of which may be obtained 

 in their own neighbourhoods, and therefore only require the 

 trouble of digging them up. One season is possibly as good as 

 another for gathering them, whether in flower or not ; but, on the 

 whole, spring, at the time they are just commencing to grow, is 

 perhaps the most favourable time, but it requires a knowledge of 

 their places of growth to be able to find them at tliat season. 

 At wliatever time they are got up, it is desirable to get the 

 tuljers with as many fibrous roots as possible, and before planting 

 to clear away all the soil carefully from them. They should be 

 ])lanted entirely in fresh soil prepared for them, for I have found 



