97 



THE DURATION OF ORCHID FLOWERS. 



Many Orchids continue in flower for a great time, either from the 

 duration of the individual flowers or their production in succession 

 over an extended period. Some, like Cypripedium insigne, last for a 

 remarkably long time when cut and placed in water, continuing fresh 

 for two or three weeks. Dendrobiums of the nobile character are 

 useful for cutting, as they can be employed in bouquets and button- 

 holes with great advantage, though not lasting so well as the 

 Cypripedium. To assist in the preservation of flowers on the plants 

 avoid an excess of moisture in ths air, and be careful not to damp 

 the flowers when syringing. Some also remove the pollinia to 

 prevent fertilisation, and where bees are numerous this is advantageous, 

 as the flowers of most Orchids fade almost immediately after fertili- 

 sation. The list appended gives the names of a selection of the 

 Orchids which continue longest in flower : 



Orchids lasting eight weeks in bloom Vanda Sanderiana, 

 Oncidium Jonesianum, and Coelogyne ocellata. Lasting twelve weeks 

 Cypripedium Argus, C. barbaium, C. Spicerianum, Dendrobium 

 Deari, Lycatte Skinneri, and Masdevallia ignea Lasting thirteen 

 weeks Oncidium tigrinum, Odontoglossum cariniferum, 0. Rossi 

 majup, S phronitis grandiflora, and Vanda ccerulea. Lasting sixteen 

 weeks Cypripedium Harmianum, Calanthe Regnieri, Epidendruin 

 crassifolium, Laslia pumila Dayana, Odontoglossum cordatum, O. 

 bictonense, Oncidium cucullatum, 0. incurvum, Masdevallia tovarensis, 

 Phalajnopsis grandiflora, and Vanda Batemani. Lasting twenty 

 weeks Epidendrum radiatum, O. vitellinum majue, Odontoglossum 

 maculatum, 0. membranaceum, Oncidium flexuosum, and 0. lingus- 

 forme. Lasting twenty-six weeks Dendrobium bigibbum, Masde- 

 vallia Normarii, Odontoglossum Uro- Skinneri, and Pbalsenopsisrosea. 



The Cymbidiums also last a long time, and others could be named, 

 but those mentioned will suffice as examples, though one curious 

 instance, Masdevallia octhodes, deserve notice, as a plant has been 

 had in flower for five years. 



ORCHIDS OUT OF DOORS. 



Many of the Orchids already named in the various lists can, under 

 certain favourable conditions, be placed out of doors during the 

 summer months, and the hardier of the cool Orchids seem benefited 

 by such treatment ; while with all it has the advantage of keeping 

 them free from insects, and ripens the growths well. It can, however, 

 only be safely done in gardens that are rather sheltered and moist in 

 warm districts, like the southern counties of England. To expose 

 Orchids in hot, dry, or cold gardens would be ruinous, and amateurs 

 who do not wish to lose a large proportion of their plants had better 



