88 THE ORCHID-GROWER'S MANUAL. 



wood. I keep them all in the East India house. During 

 their period of growth give them a good supply of heat and 

 moisture, with a liberal quantity of w r ater at the roots : in 

 fact, the moss or peat never should be allowed to get dry 

 while they are in a vigorous growth. After they have 

 finished their growth, allow them a good season of rest by 

 moving them into a cooler house, and during the time they 

 are in a cool house give them but very little water, only 

 enough to keep their biilbs from shrivelling. This is the 

 only way to make them grow strong and flower freely ; 

 when they begin to grow they should be moved back into 

 heat, and treated as is described above. They generally 

 begin to grow after their flowers are faded. 



They are propagated in different ways : some of them 

 form plants on the old bulbs, which should be cut off and 

 potted : some are propagated by cutting the old bulbs from 

 the plants after they have done blooming ; others are in- 

 creased by dividing the plants according to the directions 

 given in reference to propagation (p. 27). The dendrobiums 

 are a large class of plants ; some of them not worth grow- 

 ing, excepting for botanical purposes. The following are 

 among the finest in cultivation, and will amply reward the 

 care of the cultivator. 



Dendrobium aduncum. From Manilla. A rather straggling 

 grower : an evergreen species, producing its flower-spikes 

 from the old bulbs. The blossoms, which are small, are 

 white and pink in colour, and appear at different times in 

 the year, lasting two or three weeks in perfection. This is 

 best grown in a pot with peat and good drainage : it is not 

 so good as many of the dendrobiums, but it is worth growing 

 where there is plenty of room. 



D. aggregatum majus. A pretty, dwarf, evergreen species, 

 from India : grows about four inches high, producing its pale 

 yellow blossoms on a spike from the middle of the bulb : 

 flowers in March and April, and lasts two weeks in bloom. 



