24 ORCHIDS FOR EVERYONE 



slender growths, and these, as well as the leaves, are cylindrical. 

 A teak raft or a piece of birch stem will serve admirably to support 

 this plant. Its flowers are large for the genus, pure white, and 

 produced in pairs, the spike always issuing from the stem op- 

 posite a leaf. 



ANGRiECUM 



The Angraecums constitute a very large genus of Orchids, and 

 nearly all the cultivated species are found in Tropical Africa or 

 Madagascar. All are interesting, some have quite small flowers, 

 while others, notably A. sesqulpedale, have flowers of large size 

 and are noble plants either in or out of bloom. There is a con- 

 siderable difference in the habit of growth ; some species are 

 lowly and are best accommodated in baskets, while others are fairly 

 tall, erect, and have large stout leaves. With the one exception of 

 the Japanese A. falcatum (which is a cool Orchid), Angrxcums 

 delight in the heat and atmospheric moisture of the stove or East 

 Indian House. All are evergreen, and at no period of the year 

 do they require to be kept dry or " rested," although, as is 

 the case with most evergreen plants cultivated under glass, they 

 need a smaller direct supply of water during the dull months of the 

 year than at other times. The material in which they are grown 

 should always be kept moist. 



Many growers use only sphagnum as a rooting medium, while 

 others use three parts of sphagnum to one part of peat fibre, and 

 this simple mixture is the one now recommended. When the 

 small species are grown in shallow baskets, a good layer of clean 

 crocks should be first placed over the bottom bars and on this a layer 

 of fresh sphagnum. The roots of the plant should then be spread 



