THE MOST USEFUL ORCHIDS 99 



most of them have tuberous roots, and a rosette-like cluster of 

 green leaves, from w^hich in due course arises a leafy flower spike, 

 carrying several flowers, each flower with conspicuous sepals. 

 D. GRANDiFLORA has broad, scarlet sepals, and its flowers, four or 

 five inches across, are borne in early Summer or Autumn, several 

 together on a stem upwards of twenty inches high. D. racemosa 

 has numerous small rose-purple flowers on stems eighteen inches 

 high. D. TRiPETALOiDES has small, pretty, white, pink-shaded 

 flowers, lightly spotted with red. 



The chief hybrids are D. Kevvensis (D. grand'iflora x £). 

 tr'ipetaloides)^ raised at Kew ; D. Laxgleyensis (D. racemosa x 

 D. tripetaloides)^ raised by the Messrs Veitch ; D. Luna [D. 

 racemosa x D. Feitcbii), also raised by the Messrs Veitch ; D. 

 Premier (D. tr'ipetaloides x D. Veitchti\ with deep rose-coloured 

 flowers, one of the best. D. Veitchii {D. grand'iflora x D. 

 racemosa\ bright rose-purple, very fine, and ranking next to D. 

 grand'tjiora in point of merit, with D. Premier and D. Kewensis 

 following closely. 



Disas are best grown in shallow pans, in a compost of fibrous 

 peat, sphagnum, and sand, placed over ample drainage. The time 

 for potting is when new roots are being made. Moisture at the 

 roots and in the atmosphere must be always provided, as drought 

 is certain to bring failure and will probably kill the plants, but 

 excessive watering after the flowering season is over must be 

 avoided, as the plants then enjoy a season of comparative rest, and 

 the syringe rather than the watering-can should be used. The 

 coolest end of the Odontoglossum House will often provide 

 a suitable position for Disas all through the dull months of the 

 year and until flowering is over, but for the rest of the year a frame 

 in a sheltered and shady position, with an abundance of moisture- 

 holding material (ashes or shingle, or even a bed of sphagnum moss), 



