170 ORCHIDS FOR EVERYONE 



in cultivation. The plant is of lowly growth, about six inches 

 high, with slightly taller spikes of rather large, white flowers, 

 with a bright purple-marked lip. Peat, sphagnum, and broken 

 leaves form a suitable potting mixture. The warmest house, 

 careful watering, and a period of decided rest should be afforded, 

 as well as a light position. The flowering time is October and 

 November. 



ANCECTOCHILUS 



Many a clever grower has come to grief over the little group 

 of Orchids known generally as AncEctochilus. These are not 

 cultivated for the beauty of their flowers, but for their exquisitely 

 beautiful foliage. The leaves are not large; they range from two 

 to four inches in length, and from one to three inches in breadth ; 

 but the various combinations of shades of green, and the charming 

 veinings and markings of silver and gold, copper and red, bronze 

 and grey, are so indescribably lovely, that most Orchid lovers take 

 up the culture of Anoectochilus at some time or other, and usually 

 with a small degree of success. The curious part about their 

 culture is that they may be beautiful one season and almost a 

 failure the next, even when the conditions appear to have been 

 identical. Being difficult to import and cultivate, they are rather 

 expensive plants, small specimens only of one or two of the most 

 tractable kinds costing 5s. each, while many of the others are 

 several guineas each. 



The most successful method of dealing with these little gems 

 is to grow them in the warmest house, give them plenty of shade, 

 and cover them with a bell glass. Small pots or shallow pans are 

 the best receptacles, and these must be amply drained. Sphagnum, 

 finely broken crocks, sand, and a little peat fibre, make up a suit- 



