64 



CHAPTER XV. 



THE GENUS DENDROBIUM. 



This is a very interesting and beautiful genus. 

 The habits of some of its species differ very 

 much from each other, so much so as to cause 

 many to imagine they are not all of one genus. 

 Nor do I believe it is a true genus, as far as 

 my knowledge of them goes. 



Their native country is India and the Indian 

 Islands, a few also are found in New Holland ; 

 but those of the latter place are not equal to the 

 others in colour or general appearance ; nor, as is 

 to be expected, do they require so high a tem- 

 perature as is necessary to bring the Indian 

 species to perfection. 



I have often found members of this genus 

 in many collections in a fine healthy state, but 

 not flowering freely. This is owing to the want 

 of a proper season of rest ; for they are often kept 

 constantly growing all the season round, and 

 only producing a few flowers at a time, instead 

 of allowing them two seasons, one for flowering, 

 and another for growing them. I am positively 



