92 ORCHIDS : HO^' TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



exceedingly rare at present. Strong established plants of this 

 variety (insigne), capable of carrying five or six blooms, can 

 be purchased for 7/6 or 10/- ; smaller plants can be bought much 

 cheaper. 



Cypripedium villosum. From Moulmein. 



This is another beautiful Cool house Orchid, requiring the same 

 treatment as C. insigne ; it is rich in colour, but of peculiar shades 

 of light and dark rich brown combined with soft green and 

 purple, the flower having a beautiful shining appearance as though 

 it had been varnished. It flowers in spring, and good plants, 

 capable of carrying three or four flowers, can be purchased for 10 6. 



Ccelogyne cristata. From Nepaul. 



This should be in every collection, however small, for it is 

 exceedingly beautiful, blooms very freely, and is so easily cultivated. 

 The flowers are pure white, with a small yellow blotch on the 

 labellum, and are borne on pendulous racemes, with frequently 

 from six to eight flowers on each, when the plants are strong. It 

 must, however, be admitted that it seldom flowers so abundantly 

 until the plant has reached a fair size, although it is no uncommon 

 occurrence to see in Orchid houses large specimen plants smothered 

 with flowers, almost entirely hiding the foliage. Small plants will 

 sometimes flower freely, but not in proportion to the old estabhshed 

 clumps, which have many more leading growths to produce flowers. 

 Do not, therefore, disturb the specimens until it is desirable to 

 increase the stock, as considerable time elapses before growth 

 commences, and activity of the pseudo bulbs takes place. This is 

 somewhat surprising, seeing that the plant makes so little root 

 compared with many others. It is consequently better not to 

 repot this Orchid until absolutely necessary, which is, when growing 

 over the side of the pot, when, however, repotting has become 

 imperative, the division of the plant should be avoided as much as 

 possible, as it thrives best when having a mass of bulbs, and it 

 delights in a liberal supply of water during the growing season, 

 but after the growth is completed the plants should be kept in a 

 dry position and in the most airy place in the house, and only a 

 little water given occasionally. A cool, dry greenhouse, with a 

 temperature as low as 40 degrees at night, would suit it during 

 winter. If too much water is given just before the buds appear, 



