112 orchids: how to grow them successfully. 



stage on the north side of the house, or in some other rather 

 shaded situation. When the plant loses its bottom leaves some 

 cultivators make a practice of cutting the stem and lowering the 

 plant in the pot so that the plant may be clothed with foliage down 

 into the pot, but this is not a good practice, for if left alone new 

 growths will shoot from the bare stem and will in time hide this 

 bareness. Of course, should the lower part of the stem be in a bad 

 condition, and without roots, and to all appearance dead, then it 

 should be lowered by cutting away all that which has decayed. 



The family of brides is generally very subject to a small brown 

 scale which clings tenaciously to the leaves and must be removed 

 by some means without injuring the latter, and afterwards sponging 

 occasionally to keep the scale down. 



Good strong plants of this species .should bo pm-chased at from 

 7/6 to 21/- per leading growth, according to its strength and height. 

 Established. 



AiSTGR^CUM SESQUIPEDALE. From Madagascar. 



This is one of the most remarkable and beautiful Orchids in 

 cultivation, and is usually called the " Comet Orchid," the flowers 

 of which are large, of a lovely ivory-white, of good substance, as 

 though formed of v»^ax in the form of a star and with a tail 

 upwards of twelve inches in length, this appendage being a 

 peculiarity with all the members of this family. It is a plant 

 of easy growth, requiring similar treatment to that recommended 

 for JErides odoratum, which is of similar habit, and should be 

 grown in pots, in sphagnum, and is very partial to a moist, shady 

 part of the house, but not far away from the glass ; a humid 

 atmosphere best suiting it during the growing season. It flowers 

 during the winter months (December and January), and it must be 

 borne in mind that, in cultivating Orchids of this class, every effort 

 should be made to maintain their foliage, for, when no pseudo 

 bulbs exist, the foliage is a great source of strength ; therefore, it 

 is best to avoid extremes in drought and cold, especially when the 

 plants are bearing their flower spikes. 



Good strong plants of this Orchid are expensive, and one that 

 would produce two flower spikes with three or four flowers on each, 

 would cost from 40/- to 50/-. Good healthy young plants, which 

 would produce one spike with two or three flowers, and suitable 

 for growing on, should be purchased for about 21/-. 



