62 



ORCHID-GROWER S MANUAL. 



straight or slightly bent, with leaves attached on opposite sides, 

 and they are nourished by large fleshy roots, shooting out 

 horizontally from the lower part of the stem. The flowers, 

 which are rich and waxy, proceed from the axils of the leaves, 

 and extend in delicate racemes one or two feet in length, while 

 their fragrance is so powerful as to fill the house in which 

 they grow with grateful perfume. 



These plants are of easy culture, and if properly attended to 

 are seldom out of order. They are found in various parts of 

 India and in the islands of the Indian Archipelago, growing 

 on the branches of trees, generally on such as overhang 

 streams of water ; and to grow them in anything Hke perfec- 

 tion, the climate in which they gi'ow wild must be imitated in 

 most respects. I find they succeed best with a good supply 

 of heat and moisture during their growing season, which is 

 from about March to the latter end of October. During that 

 time I keep the temperature, by day, from 70° to 75°. It 

 may be allowed to rise to 80° and 85°, or even higher will not 

 do any harm, provided the house is shaded from the rays of 

 the sun. The night temperature should range from 65° to 70° 

 in March and April, and afterwards it may rise five degrees 

 higher. 



Some grow their Aerides in baskets made of wood, but they 

 may also be grown in pots — a mode of culture successfully fol- 

 lowed by many of our Orchid growers, especially those who 

 exhibit ; for when in pots, the plants are more easily moved 

 about. Another reason in favour of pot culture is that baskets 

 soon decay ; but if the plants are not required for exhibition, 

 I should advise some of the smaller kinds to be grown in 

 baskets, in which they have a fine appearance, especially if 

 there is room for suspending them, letting the roots grow out 

 of the basket. AU the kinds will succeed well in this way. In 

 pot culture fill the pots about three parts full of potsherds, 



