AN^CTOCHILUS AND OTHER VARIEGATED ORCHIDS. 75 



always pinch them off when they appear, and find that doing 

 so induces them to make lateral shoots freely. 



These plants require to be grown in a warm house or pit, 

 where the temperature ranges, in winter, by night fr'om 55*^ 

 to 60° (a few degrees higher would not do them any harm), 

 while the warmth may rise to 65° by day, and by sun heat to 

 70° ; during March, April, and May the night temperature may 

 range from 60° to 70°, and afterwards a few degrees higher will 

 not be injuiious. From March to October is the best time 

 for growth, during which they will require a good supply of 

 moisture at their roots ; in fact, they should never be allowed 

 to get dry, for then they will most likely perish ; but from 

 October to March they should only have sufficient water to 

 keep the soil damp. The}^ succeed best under bell-glasses, 

 or in a glass case, with a little air always on to keep them 

 in a healthy condition. Some will do without glasses, if in a 

 warm house. I gi'ow them in sphagnum, chopped into small 

 pieces, intermixed wdth a little good fibrous peat and silver 

 sand, all well mixed together. Clean river sand will, however, 

 answer the same purpose, if they are provided with good 

 drainage. These plants do not require large pots, as they do 

 not make much root, but they succeed well in small pots ; 

 and if bell-glasses are used, the small pot may be plunged into 

 a large one, so that the bell-glass may fit the outer one. If 

 grown in cases, put them in small pots, and arrange them in 

 the case by placing good drainage at the bottom and sphagnum 

 on the top of the drainage, with some sand on the top of the 

 moss to set the pots on ; then arrange the kinds in the case so 

 that the contrast of the different colours may have a good effect. 

 The pots should be perfectly clean, with good di-ainage at the 

 bottom, and should be covered with a little moss, and filled 

 up with the material recommended. In placing the roots in 

 the pot, raise the stem a little above the rim. Established 



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