69 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE GENERA EPIDENDRUM AND BROMHEADIA. 



The species forming the first genus are found 

 extensively in tlie islands of South America, par- 

 ticularly in those places where moisture is almost 

 inimical to European constitutions at certain pe- 

 riods of the season. 



They are extremely variable, both in form and 

 colour of their flowers, and in the manner of their 

 grow^th, exhibiting the most anomalous collection 

 of shapes to be found in any extant genus ; many 

 of them are highly odoriferous, and on this ac- 

 count, and from being so easily cultivated, are 

 highly prized. 



I should recommend the majority of them to 

 be grown in pots, but some of the smaller and 

 more delicate kinds may be either grown on 

 billets of wood, or in wire baskets suspended ; 

 those in pots should have a good drainage, as 

 they require to be watered freely while growing ; 

 the compost for potting should consist of turfy 

 peat and sphagnum, in equal parts, well chopped 

 together, and a few small potsherds mixed with 



