38 THE ORCHID-GROWER'S MANUAL. 



or heart of the plant, as it would be very apt to rot them. 

 The plants, if not in pots, should be suspended from the 

 roof, but not very near the glass, lest they should be affected 

 by cold and they should be kept perfectly free from insects, 

 especially the different kinds of scale. There is a small kind 

 which is apt to infest them, and which, if allowed to get 

 ahead, will make the plants look yellow and unhealthy. It 

 may be kept under by constantly washing with water and a 

 sponge. These plants are propagated by cutting them into 

 pieces, with roots attached to each piece. Some kinds, 

 however, are shy in throwing up young shoots, and this 

 makes these sorts very scarce. The A. odor alum division is 

 the most easy to increase, and A. crispum sends out roots 

 more freely than some others. If the plants ever get into an 

 unhealthy condition, the best way is to cut the bottom off the 

 plant, and give fresh moss, with plenty of water at the roots. 



A. affine. A handsome free-flowering Orchid from India, 

 with light green foliage a foot long, and pink and white 

 flowers, produced on long branching spikes in great pro- 

 fusion. I have seen spikes of this two feet long, and three 

 and four branches on each spike. This has been exhibited 

 with from thirty to forty spikes. It grows from two to three 

 feet high, and, if true, makes one of the finest plants for 

 exhibition, continuing in blossom three or four weeks. 



A. affine superbum. A splendid variety of the former, 

 the colour of which is richer, and the flowers much larger, 

 and more compact in growth than affine ; a free-flowering 

 branching variety. 



A. crispum. A truly beautiful free-growing Orchid from 

 India, with purple-coloured stem, dark green foliage, ten 

 inches long; the blossoms, which are abundant, are white 

 tipped with pink. Flowers in June or July, and lasts two 

 or three weeks in good condition. The spikes of flowers are 

 long, and very distinct from any of the other kinds. 



A. crispum, var. Lindleyanum. A charming kind, with 



