THE HARDY ORCHIS. 143 



The Hardy Orchis. 



Here is a section of a genus at once not only beauti- 

 ful, but most curious, and well worthy of the attention 

 of all lovers of what is uncommon and peculiarly inter- 

 esting. "When I say uncommon, I mean that these 

 singular plants are seldom seen in a state of cultivation, 

 not because they are difficult to grow, or not worth the 

 trouble, for I know of no class of plants that possesses 

 so much real interest as the Hardy Orchis — " Terres- 

 trial Orchids," as they are called, i.e. those that grow 

 in the ground and in pots. Many of these grow in 

 England in the woods, forests, &c, on dry, sandy soil. 

 There is a spot in a large wood belonging to the Hill 

 Hall Estate, Theydon Mount, near to Epping, Essex, 

 on a dry, sandy hillside, where I have seen some of the 

 0. Apijera — Bee Orchis — extraordinarily fine. 



There are twelve or thirteen species and varieties of 

 Orchis growing in England, and many more equally as 

 hardy from other parts, that can be grown either in 

 the open ground or in pots in cold frames, which would 

 form a most interesting and curious collection not fre- 

 quently to be seen nor easy to be matched ; they may 

 all be had from seed and by roots. The time to obtain 

 the bulbs or tubers is early in the autumn, when they 

 should be carefully potted in well-drained pots, using 

 medium rough maiden soil and peat and sand of equal 

 parts ; set in a good dry cold frame. Give little or no 

 water at the first potting, unless the soil is dry ; water 

 will be more liberally required as soon as growth com- 

 mences. None of these terrestrials like removals, so 

 that disturbing them often must be avoided. 



The seed should be carefully sown on very rough 

 peat and moss, chopped up, mixed, and pressed firmly 

 into deep 10-inch seed-pans ; watered first. Then sow 

 the seed, and slightly cover it with some finer sifted 

 peat and moss or leaf-mould, and set the pans in a 

 shaded cold frame or pit ; it should be sown as soon as 

 ripe. Slight sprinklings with the dewpot will be 



