114 ORCHIDS: HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



there by means of small pegs or sticks, so that they may enter the moss 

 of their own accord, for if placed beneath the surface after previously 

 being exposed to the air they generally die. 



It is not necessary to remove the whole of the old sphagnum every 

 year, but it is well to pick out some of the old and surface with new 

 once a year, and it should be kept well watered during summer, but not 

 so much given at the roots in winter, yet never allowed to get too dry. 

 This Orchid exists chiefly on the atmosphere, and especially during its 

 time of flowering on no account should it suffer from drought, or an 

 unnecessary loss of foliage will occur. It should be grown on a stage 

 on the north side of the house, or in some other rather shaded situation. 

 When the plant loses its bottom leaves some cultivators make a practice 

 of cutting the stem and lowering the plant in the pot so that the plant 

 may be clothed with foliage down to the pot, but this is not a good 

 practice, for if left alone new growths will shoot from the bare stem 

 and will in time hide this bareness. Of course, should the lower part 

 of the stem be in a bad condition, and without roots, and to all 

 appearance dead, then it should be lowered by cutting away all that 

 which has decayed. 



The family of Aiirides is generally very subject to a small brown 

 scale which clings tenaciously to the leaves and must be removed, and 

 afterwards sponged occasionally to keep the scale down. 



Good strong plants of this species should be purchased at from 

 7s. 6d. to 21s. per leading growth, according to its strength and height, 

 established or imported. 



AXGR..ECUM SESQUIPEDALE. From Madagascar. 

 This is one of the most remarkable and beautiful Orchids in 

 cultivation, and is usually called the "Comet Orchid," the flowers of 

 which are large, of a lovely ivory-white, of great substance, as though 

 formed of wax and of star-like shape, and with a tail upwards of twelve 

 inches in length, this appendage more or less being a peculiarity with 

 all the members of this family. It is a plant of easy growth, requiring 

 similar treatment to that recommended for Aerides odoratum, which is 

 of somewhat similar habit, and should be grown in pots surfaced with 

 sphagnum, and is very partial to a moist, shady part of the house, but 

 not far away from the glass ; a humid atmosphere best suiting it during 

 the growing season. It flowers during the winter months (December 

 and January), and it must be borne in mind that, in cultivating Orchids 

 of this class, every effort should be made to maintain their foliage, for, 

 when no pseudobulbs exist, the foliage is a great source of strength ; 

 therefore, it is best to avoid extremes in drought and cold, especially 

 when the plants are bearing their flower spikes. 



Good strong plants of this Orchid are expensive, and one that 

 would produce two flower spikes with three or four flowers on each, 



