28 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



We must again reiterate, the air of the orchid-house should be kept 

 moist ; a warm, moist atmosphere is what all orchids require during the 

 season of growth. This is effected by frequent syringings, sprinkling the 

 floors with water, and by large evaporating pans, as before described. In 

 a large establishment it would be a good plan to have a small boiler, pur- 

 posely to generate steam for the atmosphere of the house. This could be 

 very easily arranged, and we believe the experiment has been tried in 

 Eng-land with perfect success. 



In winter, or during the season of rest, water must be almost entirely 

 withheld, but gentle syringing will, except in very dull, cloudy days, be 

 beneficial to plants which continue to grow, or have no pseudo bulbs. 

 Some on logs may become too dry ; water should be sparingly given. One 

 pot orchid, Huntleyas, is also benefited by winter syringing. Water 

 should begin to be withheld about the first of September, or perhaps earlier, 

 and be almost entirely discontinued by the last of October. 



The leaves of orchidaceous plants should be kept clean. When this is 

 not effected by the syringing they may be washed with a soft bit of sponge, 

 taking great care not to bruise the leaf. 



The insects which infest orchids are scale, mealy bug and red spider, 

 and the remedy for each is that adopted for their destruction in the green- 

 house. To destroy cockroaches and wood lice, which devour the tender 

 shoots of flower buds and roots, the old trap of a potato or turnip, hollowed 

 out, is the simplest and best; the pests will be found under the trap, and 

 can easily be destroyed. Cockroaches have often to be hunted at night 

 with a lantern. They not unfrequently arrive from England, with newly- 

 imported plants. 



Prevention is better than cure, and to so arrange the shelves, as previously 

 described, will keep these insects from the plants, for they do not like to 

 wet their feet. Pot the plants, also, so they may have no lodgment among 

 the drainage, that is, by inverting a pot, as before directed. 



We now propose to give a few hints on orchids which require peculiar 

 culture. 



Sobralia macrantha. This magnificent plant has large flowers, some- 

 what resembling a Cattleya ; they sometimes measure six inches across. 

 The color is richest purple crimson. The leaves are long and reedy, and 

 the blossoms are produced from the top of the stems, one at a time. The 

 single flowers last only a few days, but five flowers are often produced in 

 succession, on each stem of strong plants. This plant is a native of Gua- 

 temala, and will thrive in a cool stove. Pot the plant in a compost of three 

 parts turfy loam, one part peat, one part leaf mould, with a little silver sand, 

 all well mixed together. 



Sobralias have strong asparagus-like roots, and require large pots. In 

 its native country this plant grows in marshy ground, on little raised 

 hillocks. During the rainy season they have abundance of moisture ; the 

 plants then grow and flower. In the dry season the plants have rest. 

 We must regulate our treatment in the same way to grow it with success. 

 From March to August give abundance of water. From August to Decern- 



