70 ORCHIDS : HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



VARIETIES FOR AMATEURS' SMALL 

 COLLECTIONS. 



I PURPOSE giving the names of two dozen species which are 

 good useful kinds for a beginner to start with, and can 

 be cultivated as Cool-house Orchids; following on with the 

 same number for Intermediate-house culture ; also twenty-four 

 of the best for a Warm house. Also with cultural instructions for 

 each sort, which, from my own experience, I have found to give 

 the best results. 



COOL HOUSE ORCHIDS. 

 ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM. From Colombia. 

 (Syn. O. Alexandras.) 



This beautiful Orchid is a great favourite, and was re-named in 

 honour of H.E.H. the Princess of Wales, and it is repeatedly referred 

 to under the name of O. Alexandras, by which it is universally 

 known among those amateurs who are not Orchid cultivators 

 generally. Its flowers are white (sometimes rose), marked, more or 

 less, with chocolate blotches, produced on drooping spikes, and when 

 a quantity of plants are grown many varieties are found amongst 

 them, and there are always some in flower, but March, April, and 

 May are the principal months in which they bloom. 



Very extensive annual importations of this lovely Orchid take 

 place, so that plants can always be obtained in quantities at a very 

 reasonable price, some of which may prove to be of considerable 

 value, and all are, more or less, beautiful. 



Such a compost as that already mentioned on page 35 should 

 be used, and the plants must not be allowed to become too dry 

 during the summer or too wet during the winter, and must be well 

 shaded from the sun and kept cool and moist during summer, 

 remembering that they do best when the plants are on the stage, 

 but not far from the roof glass. 



Eepot about once in two or three years, and do it at any 

 time when the new growth is starting from near the base, from 

 March until the following September. Winter potting is not 

 recommended, especially in large towns where the light is not good. 



Newly imported or established plants are from 3s. 6d., 5s. to 

 7s. 6d. for strong leading bulbs. 



