AN.ECTOCHILUS AND OTHER VARIEGATED ORCHIDS. 77 



for growth, during which they will require a good supply of 

 moisture at their roots ; in fact, they should never be allowed 

 to get dry, for then they will most likely perish ; but from 

 October to March they should only have sufficient water to 

 keep the soil damp. They succeed best under bell-glasses, 

 or in a glass case, with a little air always on to keep them 

 in a healthy condition. Some will do without glasses, if in a 

 warm house. I grow them in sphagnum, chopped into small 

 pieces, intermixed with a little good fibrous peat and silver 

 sand, all well mixed together. Clean river sand will, however, 

 answer the same purpose, if they are provided with good 

 drainage. These plants do not require large pots, as they do 

 not make much root, but they succeed well in small pots ; 

 and if bell-glasses are used, the small pot may be plunged into 

 a large one, so that the bell-glass may fit the outer one. If 

 grown in cases, put them in small pots, and arrange them in 

 the case by placing good drainage at the bottom and sphagnum 

 on the top of the drainage, with some sand on the top of the 

 moss to set the pots on ; then arrange the kinds in the case so 

 that the contrast of the difi'erent colours may have a good effect. 

 The pots should be perfectly clean, with good drainage at the 

 bottom, and should be covered with a little moss, and filled 

 up with the material recommended. In placing the roots in 

 the pot, raise the stem a little above the rim. EstabHshed 

 plants may be repotted once a year, and the end of February 

 or the beginning of March will be found the best time for 

 doing this. The glass or case in which they grow should be 

 kept perfectly clean, in order that they may have plenty of 

 light, but not any sun, which is injurious to them. 



They are propagated by cutting the plants into pieces just 

 below the first joint, and so as to have a root attached to each 

 piece. For this purpose strong plants should be selected, 

 and, in cutting, take care that the bottom piece has two eyes, 



