ORCHIDS: HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 85 



MAXILLARIA GRANDIFLORA. From Ecuador. 



This very pretty Cool-house Orchid is not grown so largely as 

 it deserves. Its predominating colours are white and yellow, and 

 the flowers are delightfully scented, making a charming button-hole 

 flower. This Orchid grows freely when potted in sphagnum and 

 peat, with a little sand and broken charcoal mixed together. The 

 plants should be placed on the stage and have treatment similar 

 to that advised for the Odontoglossum crispum. It flowers in the 

 autumn, lasting in bloom for a long time, and under proper 

 treatment soon grows into a large plant. It is advisable to winter 

 this plant at the warmest end of the house, or in an intermediate 

 temperature. 



Good plants, with one or more strong leading growths, can be 

 purchased at from 7s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. each, established or newly 

 imported. 



EPIDENDRUM VITELLLNUM. From Mexico. 



This lovely Orchid is a native of Mexico, and is found there at 

 very high elevations, where the atmosphere is constantly moist and 

 cool. The beautiful flowers last in perfection for a long time, and 

 are produced on spikes, which on strong well-grown plants carry 

 upwards of 20 blooms on each, and, when three or four blooms are 

 wired together with fern, are invaluable as button-hole flowers. 

 The colour is bright orange-scarlet, of an uncommon shade. Large 

 quantities of this Orchid are imported annually, and it is evidently 

 very plentiful in its native habitat, and is of easy culture in pots 

 or suspended in pans or baskets, but I recommend pot culture. 

 Potting and treatment of this plant should be the same as that 

 recommended for Odontoglossums, only that the coolest part of the 

 house suits it best, for, like Odontoglossum Rossii, it will stand 

 severe cold better than many Cool Orchids, and its usual time of 

 flowering is from May to August. The best time for repotting it 

 is March, not allowing it to become dry afterwards, or the flower 

 spikes, which commence pushing at this time, may be weakened. 

 Keep the plants rather dry during the winter or the leaves spot badly. 



Good strong plants are obtained at about Is. 6d. per leading 

 growth, and the majority of the clumps as imported have an average 

 of four to five leads, so that they are serviceable plants to start 

 with, newly imported or established. 



DISA GRANDIFLORA (Flower of the Gods. It is also known as the 



Pride of Table Mountain). From the Cape of Good Hope. 



This is a tuberous-rooted herbaceous Orchid of great beauty 



when properly cultivated, and is a native of the Table Mountain, 



at the Cape of Good Hope, and although requiring a somewhat 



