

ORCHID CULTUBE. 119 



ing from less than one dollar for small plants of com- 

 mon varieties, to hundreds of dollars for rare ones. 



If dormant plants are obtained, the dead and decay- 

 ing portions should be cut off, and the healthy growths 

 sponged with some insecticidal solution, to destroy the 

 scale and other insects that may be upon them. They 

 may then either be placed upon sphagnum in a shaded 

 portion of the house, where they should be kept com- 

 paratively dry until signs of growth appear, or in pots 

 or baskets nearly filled with broken crocks, charcoal and 

 other drainage. By the latter method, they can be 

 watered more freely, and stronger growths can be ob- 

 tained. As soon as the roots appear, the drainage 

 should be covered with a mixture of fibrous peat, sphag- 

 num, and finely broken crocks and charcoal. 



With many orchids, the plan of hanging them in 

 the house with the roots up, for two or three weeks, is 

 an excellent one, particularly with Phalsenopsis. Vanda, 

 Aerides and similar genera, as it lessens the chance 

 from decay, on account of water collecting between the 

 leaves. Nearly all orchids should be kept in the shade 

 until they have become established. 



ORCHIDS FOR BEGINNERS. 



In making a selection of orchids, care should be 

 taken to choose species that are easy of culture, that are 

 quite sure to flower, and that are ornamental. If kinds 

 can be selected that are low priced, all the better. The 

 appended list contains sorts that fulfill these require- 

 ments. 



STOVE ORCHIDS 



Night, summer 75°, winter 65°. Day, summer 85°,winter 75°. 

 Calanthe Veitchii. Cypripedium villosum. 



Cypripedium Boxallii. Dendrobium nobile. 



" caudatum. " Wardianum. 



** Harrisianum. OncMiuin papiiio. 



*' Lawrencianum. Phalsenopsis amabilis. 



" Spicerianum. (Fig. 42.) Stanhopea iusignis 



