2 ON THE CULTURE OF ORCHIDEOUS PLANTS. 



Orchideae being noticed by a native, and that was Oncidium lan- 

 ceanium. The beauty of its flowers, and powerful fragrance, had 

 induced him to remove the plant, and cultivate it near the door of 

 his dwelling. 



Among the Orchideee, some are terrestrial, growing like English 

 Orchises ; but the principal part of them, and by far the most inte- 

 resting, are those growing upon trees. Some of this class delight 

 in a very elevated situation, upon the summit of the highest trees ; 

 others, upon low bushes, or decayed parts of old trees. They are 

 not found growing generally through the forests, but are choice in 

 their place of growth. The trees overhanging a river, is in many 

 instances found to be a habitation for them, hut even under such 

 an advantage, it is observable that a considerable number of miles 

 may be pursued and not a single plant be discovered, when a sud- 

 den turning in the course of the river presents itself, and most 

 probably rendering the atmosphere at such a situation somewhat 

 different from the general course of the river, a considerable num- 

 ber of trees have been found to be literally loaded with the plants. 

 Although fond of a damp atmosphere, this tribe of plants delight in 

 a free circulation of air. Collectors in general state, that whether 

 they are discovered upon old trees in a forest, or by a river, they 

 are nearly always found on the outskirts, where they can have 

 occasional exposure to the sun, and a free admission of air. 



However numerous may be the plants growing upon a single 

 tree, not more than five species were ever discovered on the same 

 tree. 



Collectors have informed us, that, like all other plants, the Or- 

 chideae require a resting season. In their native country, it is 

 during the period there termed the " dry season," when the heat 

 is lower ; and the growing and blooming time, in the wet season 

 of the year, the heat being much higher, reaching to 90 degrees 

 or more. This particular should always be attended to by growers 

 of Orchides in this country. The greater the heat, the more 

 powerful the moisture, and the freer admission of air. To have 

 the plants to flourish well, these particulars must be obtained ; and 

 as they are best realised in spring and summer, the most suitable 

 season of rest is from November to the end of February. During 

 this period the plants should not stand upon a heated flue, but 

 upon a trellis placed upon it. The heat of the house should be 



