ORCHIDS : HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 89 



drained to half of its depth, using pieces of broken pots and large 

 pieces of charcoal with a layer of sphagnum over the drainage. In 

 potting, let the compost be well worked in amongst the roots and 

 around them, making it moderately firm, and watering carefully until 

 the plants are established, then they luxuriate especially in the 

 growing summer season in a liberal supply of water. It is a very 

 free blooming plant, throwing its flowers in great numbers when the 

 roots are pot-bound, but not so large and of such good quality as when 

 the roots have more freedom, and they do best on the stage, near to the 

 glass, and where there is as much light as possible. The flowers are of 

 a pretty greenish yellow colour with white markings. There are now 

 many varieties of Cypripedmm insigne, such as Chantini, a bold form, 

 and one of the best, and moderately cheap, fully half of the dorsal sepal 

 being white, beautifully spotted with purple. There is also a handsome 

 clear straw coloured variety named Sanderse, but it is exceedingly rare 

 at present. 



Strong established plants of this variety (insigne), capable of 

 carrying five or six blooms, can be purchased for 7s. 6d. or 10s.; 

 smaller plants can be bought much cheaper. 



CYPRIPEDIUM VILLOSUM. From Moulmein. 



This is another beautiful Cool-house Orchid, requiring the same 

 treatment as C. insigne ; it ie rich in colour, but of peculiar shades of 

 light and dark rich brown combined with soft green and purple, the 

 flower having a beautiful shining appearance as though it had been 

 varnished. It flowers in spring, and good plants, capable of carrying 

 three or four flowers, can be purchased for 10s. 6d. 



CCELOGYNE CRISTATA. From Nepaul. 



This should be in every collection, however small, for it is 

 exceedingly beautiful, blooms very freely, and is so easily cultivated. 

 The flowers are pure white, with a small yellow blotch on the labellum, 

 and are borne on pendulous racemes, with frequently from six to eight 

 flowers on each when the plants are strong. It must, however, be 

 admitted that it seldom flowers so abundantly until the plant has 

 reached a fair size, and it is no uncommon occurrence to see in Orchid 

 houses large specimen plants smothered with flowers, almost entirely 

 hiding the foliage. Small plants will sometimes flower freely, but not 

 in proportion to the old established clumps, which have many more 

 leading growths to produce flowers. Do not, therefore, disturb the 

 specimens unless it is desirable to increase the stock, as considerable time 

 elapses before growth commences, and activity of the pseudobulbs takes 

 place. This is somewhat surprising, seeing that the plant makes so 

 little root compared with many others. It is consequently better not 

 to repot this Orchid until absolutely necessary, which is, when growing 



