292 BEAUTIFUL FLOWEKS 



growing mainly through the summer, resting in winter, and flower- 

 ing in spring, need plenty of water at the former season and little 

 during the winter. He will have learned that in addition to leaves 

 and roots they have bulbous protuberances between, called pseudo- 

 bulbs, and that the plants will be all right if these are kept from 

 shrivelling throughout the winter. 



Some Orchids have no pseudo-bulbs, and of these may be 

 named Aerides, Phalaenopsis, Saccolabiums, and Vandas. Care is 



needed in dealing with imported pieces 

 B of these, as they are often very shrivelled 

 when they arrive. They should be potted 

 in crocks surfaced with sphagnum, put 

 into a warm house, kept only just moist 

 until they begin to grow, shaded, and any 

 flowering spikes which they throw up pre- 

 maturely promptly removed. 



When the amateur has got together 

 ORCHIDS-AN ORCHID BASKET a fairly good collection of Orchids, and 

 A, the basket ; B, smaii strip of lead ; acquired skill in managing them, his 



C, small strip of lead rolled up 



neatly, D, round the basket wire to hoUSCS Will be amOttg the mOSt attraC- 



keep the bars slightly apart. 



tive of any that he or his garden-loving 



friends possess. There will be flowers of exquisite texture and 

 the most refined colouring for several months. And the houses 

 will be varied. Some of the plants will be growing in pots on 

 the stages, and others in baskets hanging from the rafters. 



Two or three of the hardy Orchids are well worth growing, 

 and a special word of praise may be devoted to Cypripedium 

 spectabile, which is a plant of great beauty. There is a white 

 variety of it that is equally desirable. These lovely plants enjoy 

 coolness, shade, and humidity. They would fail in dry soil on 

 the summit of a sun-baked rockery, but succeed in a shady, damp 

 spot at the base. They may be procured from dealers in hardy 

 flowers and planted in spring. 



U/ U/ B/ tf/ 

 A 



