MILTONIA. a5 
The flowers are borne on scapes which spring from the 
base of the last-matured pseudo-bulbs, and each scape 
bears one or more flowers; the petals and sepals are 
usually similar in form and size, spreading; the lip is 
large, generally flat and broad, suddenly narrowed at the 
base to a short, thick neck; the disk on the front of the 
labellum is formed of several prominent ridges; the column 
is short, and usually winged. 
Culture.—All the species are epiphytes; they therefore 
require an open fibrous peat, broken into small lumps, 
with most of the fine particles beaten out. Some thrive 
when planted in well-drained pots or pans: others are 
healthiest when grown on rafts or in shallow teak baskets. 
All require liberal supplies of water at the roots in summer, 
and sufficient in winter to keep the soil just moist. As 
the details of culture for most of the species differ some- 
what, it will be best to give particulars along with each 
kind. None of them bear tobacco fumigation well, and, 
although they are liable to become much disfigured in a 
very short time through thrips, it is safer to wash the 
leaves now and then with an insecticide than to fumi- 
gate them. We have seen fine plants of M. vexillaria 
ruined in a few hours by tobacco-smoke. Miltonias are 
easily propagated by division, as the rhizomes branch 
freely, and develop plenty of roots from the under side. 
The most favourable time for re-potting and dividing them 
is after the flowers have faded. 
The leaves and pseudo-bulbs of some of the kinds of 
Miltonia are normally pale yellowish-green in colour, old 
parts of the plants being almost: wholly yellow. Some 
beginners. imagine that ill-health is the cause of this, but it 
is the natural colour, and cannot be altered, except at the 
expense of flowers. Miltonias like plenty of light, though 
not direct sunlight, and they flower only when well ripened. 
