79 



CHAPTER XX. 



THE GENUS PHAL^NOPSIS. 



This is usually regarded as the gem of all 

 Orchide^^ both on account of its easy cultiva- 

 tion and free habit of flowering, remaining for 

 upwards of three months at a time in perfect 

 beauty; the extreme scarcity of it in this country 

 makes it to bear a much higher price than almost 

 any other of the tribe. It is a native of Manilla, 

 one of the Philippine islands. The mode I pursue 

 in its cultivation is upon billets of wood, the cork 

 bark oak being the best for the purpose ; the size of 

 the block should be according to that of the plant 

 intended for it, the plant should be placed on the 

 billet and secured down with lead-wire so that it 

 will not move about, a little sphagnum will be re- 

 quired about the roots of the plant. From the latter 

 end of March to the beginning of November, I 

 syringe two or three times a day, and immerse the 

 billet in water two or three times a week, but taking 

 care that the head of the plant is placed in an 

 inclined position, so that no water will remain in 

 the heart of it as to cause damp ; during the 



