YANILLA PLANIFOLIA, 39 



Notwithstanding this peculiarity, these Orchids require a season 

 of growth, a season of rest, and a season to flower. The season of 

 growth should he from May to August j the season of rest from 

 September to February; and the season of flowering from March 

 to June. During the season of growth a strong heat should be 

 kept up, and the air kept saturated with moisture day and night. 

 When the days begin to shorten fast, then induce a period of rest 

 by reducing the heat and giving only just enough moisture to 

 prevent the leaves from flagging. Growth will in consequence 

 be in a great measure stopped, and the fluids condensed, and 

 buds for flowering will be formed. Then, when the days begin 

 to lengthen increase the heat, but with a very small amount of 

 humidity. It is then the dry season of the tropics imitated ; and 

 by following this, as it were, thrice-divided treatment, the plants 

 will flourish and flower abundantly. Too often Orchids are 

 treated as if they required all the year a uniform condition of 

 heat and moisture. When so treated they, it is true, grow con- 

 stantly, but rarely produce flowers, because they are not allowed 

 a season to form and perfect their flower-buds ; and, besides that 

 they are kept too moist when the flowers are produced. Let the 

 young cultivator then think what his plants require, and give 

 them the treatment that is right, and I venture to predict he 

 will succeed both in growing and also obtain that which is the 

 object of growth abundance of flowers. 



TREATMENT OF NEWLY-IMPORTED ORCHIDS. 

 There are many noblemen and gentlemen that have connections 

 abroad, in countries where Orchids abound, and those friends 

 send home large cases of Orchids. Collectors, also, for public 

 gardens, and nurserymen when they meet with them, gather them 

 and dispatch them to the parties who have sent them out for 

 that purpose. I have seen, I might say, almost cartloads arrive 

 and in a fair condition, but owing to mismanagement the greater 

 part perished. I saw large patches of Oncidium, Odontoglossum, 



