136 THE ORCHID-GROWER'S MANUAL. 



should be guarded against during winter. Many Orchids 

 are injured in that way. If they should get into an un- 

 healthy condition, the best plan is to turn them out of their 

 pots or baskets, and shake all material off their roots, wash 

 them with clean water, cut off all the decayed parts, and 

 replace them on blocks with a little sphagnum, giving them 

 a good supply of moisture j place them at the warmest end 

 of the house, with not too much light ; under this treatment 

 they will soon begin to root and improve in appearance. I 

 need hardly add that they should be kept clear of insects, 

 especially thrips, which soon disfigure the foliage ; it is 

 best kept under by constantly washing the leaves with a 

 sponge and clean water, or fumigating the house with tobacco 

 smoke, an operation which should be conducted with great 

 care. 



Phalcenopses are difficult to propagate ; sometimes they 

 will produce young plants on the old flower stems, which 

 should be left on till well rooted ; then place them on small 

 blocks. 



Phalcenopsis amabilis. The queen of Orchids. This mag- 

 nificent plant comes from Manilla. It produces its graceful 

 spikes of flowers nearly all the year round : the flowers, each 

 of which is three inches across, are arranged in two rows 

 down the spike ; sepals and petals pure white ; the lip of 

 the same colour, the inside streaked with rose-pink. The 

 flowers continue in perfection a long time, if they are kept 

 free from damp j if the flowers get wet they are apt to 

 spot. 



P. grandiflora. A truly handsome variety from Java. 

 The flowers are produced in the same way as in amabilis. The 

 only difference between the two is, that grandiflora has 

 much larger flowers, with yellow in the centre of the lip, 

 instead of pink j and the leaves are longer, and of a lighter 

 green. This makes a fine plant for exhibition. 



P. LobUi. A pretty species, and one which is very 



