ORCHIDACE.^. 261 



P. vaccinifolium ( Whortleberry - leaved Knotweed). — Like 

 the last, this is a creeping evergreen plant, but with neater 

 habit and leaves, and even prettier and more profuse flowers. 

 The leaves are acutely oval, dark green, entire, and shining. 

 The flowers are pink or rose, in regular graceful spikes, appear- 

 ing about July and lasting till late autumn. The plant sufters 

 often in spring from late frosts, the leaves becoming embrowned, 

 but otherwise it is hardy. It should have a sunny warm 

 position, and might escape the scathe of late frost in sheltered 

 warm rockwork. 



ORCHIDACE.-E. 



This, perhaps the most interesting and splendid of all natural 

 orders of flowering-plants, comprises some singular and beauti- 

 ful hardy species. Very few of them are known outside botanic 

 gardens, and they are reputed to be difiicult to cultivate. 

 Some are undoubtedly difficult to keep, requiring peculiar con- 

 ditions as regards soil and other circumstances. These will 

 not be introduced here. But there are others so easy to 

 manage under very ordinary circumstances and by ordinary 

 experience, and so beautiful and interesting, that they can- 

 not be omitted. If I had the option, I should prefer culti- 

 vating all these Orchids in pots well drained on a cool bed of 

 ashes in the best aspect — that is, the sunniest that could be 

 chosen, and in a frame so as to have it entirely in my power to 

 control light and otherwise to adapt atmospheric conditions to 

 the requirements of the various subjects. But it is often 

 Hobson's choice in this as in many other things with cultiva- 

 tors, and they must make the best they can of their circum- 

 stances. There is, however, an absorbing interest in the 

 structure of these plants which, independently of their beauty, 

 will induce those whose love of plants is genuine to take up 

 their culture, even under difficulties which enthusiasm will make 

 light of. They may be cultivated in pots, then, in the way 

 indicated above. Some, as will be shown afterwards, may 

 be grown in the mixed border ; all may be grown on well- 

 constructed rockwork ; and for the majority, a good gritty 

 fibrous loam will be found generally congenial. Special re- 

 quirements will be noticed afterwards where necessary. One 

 very general condition to their wellbeing is that of covering 

 the surface of soil, be it in pot, border, or rockwork, v/ith some- 



