7Q STANHOPEA. 



of the mould should be covered with some pieces 

 of turfy peat, secured down wdth w^ooden pegs. 

 They will not require so much water as in baskets, 

 but I should recommend the latter in preference to 

 either billets of wood or pots, for they are neater 

 in appearance, and the flower spikes are not so apt 

 to decay as in the latter mode : for there are some 

 species that produce their flowers straight down, 

 consequently these would be lost either in the 

 mould or in the drainage. The temperature during 

 the growing season should range from 70" to 80" 

 during the day, but may be allowed to fall as low 

 as 65" at night ; air should also be given mode- 

 rately during fine days ; and when they have per- 

 fected their growth, water should be diminished 

 from them by degrees, but not entirely suspended 

 so as to cause their bulbs to shrivel, which would 

 certainly be the case if none were given, and a great 

 part of the strength of the bulbs would thus be lost, 

 and consequently, the flowers would not be so fine ; 

 for the stronger the bulbs are, the finer they pro- 

 duce their flowers. 



