ORCHIS. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. ORNITHOGALUM 693 



purplish-red flowers, opening in May and 

 June, and thriving in a moist spot in 

 the rock-garden. Guernsey and Jersey. 

 Division. 



0. maculata (Hand Orchis}. One of 

 the handsomest of British Orchids, finest 

 in rich soil, and if well grown in moist and 

 rather stiff garden-loam its beauty will 



ORIGANUM (Dittany, Hop Plant). 

 O. Dictarnnus (Dittany of Crete] is a 

 pretty plant, somewhat tender, and best 

 grown under glass rather than in the open 

 air, though during mild winters it may 

 survive. It has mottled foliage, and 

 small purplish flowers, in heads like the 

 Hop, hence the name Hop-plant. O. 



Orchis foliosa (Madeira Orchis) 



surprise even those who know it well in 

 a wild state. The variety superba is a 

 fine plant, and should be secured. 



Other beautiful kinds, but more or less 

 difficult to establish in gardens, are O. 

 papilionacea, purpurea, militaris, mascula, 

 pyramidalis, spectabilis, tephrosanthos, 

 and Robertiana 



Sipyleum is similar, and is quite as pretty. 

 In the open air these plants should have 

 a warm spot in the rock-garden. 



ORNITHOGALUM (Star of Bethle- 

 hem}. Bulbous plants, some of them 

 handsome, others not very distinct, but all 

 useful in the Grass and in borders, in any 

 good garden soil one or two kinds among 



