114 orchids: how to grow them successfully. 



to the glass, a high shelf being a most suitable place, where there 

 is an abundance of light, and very little water given, not com- 

 mencing the watering until a week after repotting and about once 

 a week after, until the fohage is well up and strong and the plants 

 well rooted, and then they should have water as often as ordinary 

 plants. 



With strong growth the formation of new bulbs takes place 

 about July and then a little weak liquid manure is beneficial, such 

 as can be obtained by soaking cow or sheep manure and using it 

 in a well diluted form, once a week until the flowers commence 

 expanding and the bulbs become denuded of foliage, then cease 

 giving liquid manure, and only give sufficient water to keep 

 the soil from becoming too dry and to keep the flower in full 

 vigour. 



When the plants are out of flower water may be entirely with- 

 held until the potting season in March comes round, the plants 

 in the meantime being kept in a light and dry place, but when in 

 flower they can be removed to a warm conservatory or greenhouse, 

 where the flowers will last a month longer in perfection ; they 

 are cheap, and of easy propagation, the new pseudo bulbs often 

 throwing two new growths, whilst the old ones, also, grow and 

 form new small bulbs, if laid upon some sphagnum or something of 

 a similar nature and kept moist. The flower spikes are from two 

 to three feet high, and the flowers of a bright hght rose colour. 



Good bulbs are obtainable for 2/- to 3/6 each. 



CaLANTHE YESTITA RUBRO OCULATA, A]SrD C. YESTITA LUTEO 

 OCULATA. From Java. 



Two varieties which are very useful and generally grown, the 

 flowers of both being pure white, but the variety " rubro " has a 

 red eye, and " luteo " a yellow eye; the flower stalks are not so 

 tall or erect as in Calanthe Veitchii, but the same treatment 

 does for all, and bulbs should be purchased about the same 

 price. 



Many wrongly treated plants of Calanthes are subject to a 

 disease known as " spot," which comes on both the foliage and the 

 bulbs, and when once contracted it takes years of excellent treat- 

 ment to eradicate it ; so in purchasing bulbs it is necessary to see 

 that the skin has a clear appearance and is totally free from black 

 marks or spots. 



