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CHAPTER XXV. 



THE GENUS PERISTERIA. 



This genus is not very extensive at present, 

 but, as there are some of its species requiring 

 baskets and others pot cultivation, in order to 

 make my system more plainly understood, I have 

 considered it requisite to treat of them separately. 

 They are found in the different islands of America. 



For those which produce their flower spikes 

 in a downward position, like P. Humholdtii and 

 P. Barkerii, I use wire baskets, made in the 

 same form as those described for the genus Start- 

 hoped ; they are also lined with sphagnum in the 

 same manner. The compost for these should con- 

 sist of equal parts of turfy peat and sphagnum well 

 chopped together, the surface of the mould when 

 completed should also be covered with sphagnum, 

 and secured down with lead wire, and if trimmed 

 over with a pair of scissors the appearance will 

 be much improved. 



The species P. cerina, P. pendida, and those 

 which produce their flowers on a short scape, 

 seldom longer than six or eight inches, should be 

 elevated at least three inches above the rim of 



