96 ORCHIDS. 



by dividing them into pieces each having a portion of the 

 roots attached to it and a young bulb on the pseudo-bulb. 



Phajus albus is increased by cutting off the old pseudo- 

 bulbs after the young ones have begun to flower ; that is, 

 just before the plant has made its growth. The pseudo- 

 bulbs should be cut into pieces about six inches long, and 

 put into a pot in some silver sand with a bell-glass over 

 them till they strike root; then pot them in some fibrous 

 peat, with good drainage, and give a good supply of water 

 during the growing season. 



Phalcenopses may be propagated by tying the flower stalk 

 along the block and surrounding the nodes nearest the 

 base with a little moss ; of course the flower-buds show- 

 ing themselves on this stalk should be picked off. Oncid- 

 ium Papilio reproduces itself in the same way. Some of 

 the Epidendrums such as E. cinnabarinum and crassifo- 

 lium will also form plants on the top of the old flower- 

 stalks. They should be allowed to make their growth, 

 and then be cut off and potted ; they will soon make 

 good plants. 



Some Dendrobiums will also form plants on the tops of 

 the old pseudo-bulbs, and they should be treated in the 

 same way. 



We have said that it is seldom that Orchids naturally pro- 

 duce seed in our stoves, but artificial fertilization is very 

 easy. We only have to lift up the end of the column which 

 conceals the anther ; then with small pincers to bring the 

 pollen masses to the pistil ; as soon as the pollen comes in 

 contact with the stigma, it is drawn into it and disappears. 



In this way a great many plants of Vanilla were a few 

 years since obtained at the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. 

 As soon as a flower is fertilized, it begins to fade, and 

 ripening seed always exhausts the plant. 



