THE MOST USEFUL ORCHIDS 87 



been removed annually, but this drastic treatment is not recom- 

 mended. 



The evergreen species, of which D. densiflorum may be taken 

 as the type, like rather more shade than the deciduous kinds when 

 in full growth. Liberal encouragement is desirable as soon as the 

 new growths advance, but the resting season is not so marked in 

 these as in the other species. When at rest the evergreen kinds 

 must be kept in an intermediate house and given sufficient (and 

 only just sufficient) water to keep the leaves and pseudo-bulbs from 

 shrivelling. 



There are two marked exceptions to the general rules laid down, 

 and they are D. Phalanopsis and D. formosum g'lganteum. The 

 former does not start into new growth until a long time after it 

 has flowered, but as it flowers in the Autumn, this peculiarity does 

 not aff^ect the cultivator so much as at first would appear. 

 £). formosum giganteiim will not succeed if given the tropical 

 conditions that are suitable for most of the deciduous species, but 

 when placed at the cool end of an intermediate house, it grows and 

 flowers well. 



Best Species. 



D. AUREUM was introduced in 1837; ^^ grows about a foot 

 high, is deciduous, and produces its sweetly fragrant flowers in the 

 Spring. It is one of the first to flower, and when the flower buds 

 are distinctly seen it may be subjected to slight forcing. The 

 flowers, about two and a half inches across, are produced in twos 

 or threes towards the upper part of the stem, and the colour is 

 light cream-yellow, with a deeper yellow lip marked with red- 

 purple. The species has been largely used by the hybridist, and 

 most of the very best hybrids have descended from it. 



D. Benson^ is a Burmese species, about eighteen inches high, 



