26 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



vice to the plants; the syringing should be so managed that the water shall 

 fall in a fine shower, or even mist, over the plant. 



We neglected to say, when speaking of baskets, that for Stanhopaeas, 

 and plants of like nature, we prefer shallow baskets made of copper or gal- 

 vanized iron wire. These plants protrude their flower buds from the very 

 base of the pseudo bulbs, and push them downward through the peat and 

 sphagnum to the bottom of the basket, through which they hang and ex- 

 pand their gorgeous flowers. These flower spikes almost invariably perish 

 if these plants are grown in pots, unless great care is taken to watch for 

 the buds, and to train them over the sides of the pots. In slat or rod 

 baskets they too frequently are 'stopped by the bottom slats and decay. We 

 therefore have found that in wire baskets the buds never perish in this way, 

 nor do they require constant watching. We have also used a basket made 

 of earthen ware for some plants. These may be made very ornamental, 

 and of a variety of shapes. The chief objection to them is their weight, 

 which, in those suitable for large plants, would be very great; for small 

 plants they are very pretty. They are suspended by wires fastened to holes 

 in the rim. 



Having thus briefly described the methods of growing orchids, and the 

 proper house for them, we come to the consideration of the suitable soil. 



A fibrous peat is most suitable. Let it not contain earth enough to retain 

 the water, but be porous and not retentive of water. If you cannot find a 

 peat answering this description, take that most nearly approaching it, and 

 beat and sift it till the earthy matter is separated; if still too close, mix in 

 chopped sphagnum or bog mojs, bits of crocks or charcoal, so the water 

 will drain off" freely. 



The operation of potting has already been described ; that of basketing 

 differs somewhat. Prepare the peat, &c., the same as in potting; cover 

 the bottom of the basket with a thin layer of white moss, to prevent the 

 peat dropping through, then fill in with peat. Be careful not to injure the 

 roots of the plant; clean the leaves and bulbs; prune off all dead parts; 

 place the plant in the middle of the basket, and fill in with the compost ; 

 then give a good top-syringing to settle the soil, and hang the basket in its 

 place. Always use shallow baskets ; the roots of orchids run on the sur- 

 face, and seldom penetrate to any depth. 



The proper orchids for baskets are all the Stanhopaeas, Acroperas, Aci- 

 netas, Coryanthes, Gongoras, some Dendrobiums, and some other less com- 

 mon species. Those requiring pot culture are all the Anectochilus, all the 

 Bletias, Coelogynes, Brassias, Calanthes, some Cattleyas and Cymbidiums, 

 all Cypripediums and Cyrtopodiums, some Dendrobiums and Epidendrums, 

 Lycastes, Maxillarias, Miltonias, Odontoglossums, Oncidiums, Peristerias, 

 Phaius, Sobralias, and Zygopetalums, with many other less common species. 

 Many of the above may be grown on blocks of wood. 



We give a short list of those which do well on blocks or cork : ^Erides, 

 Barkerias, Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, Lelias, Miltonias, Onci- 

 diums, Renanthera, Sophronites, Scuticaria, Phalaenopsis, Vandas, and 

 many others. 



