78 COOL ORCHID GROWING. 



weeks. When well grown, it makes a fine exhibition plant, 

 bearing from twenty -five to fifty flowers. 

 Dendrobium. 



A lovely genus of epiphytal and terrestrial Orchids, easily 

 grown, and some of them are very profuse bloomers. D. 

 nobile is one of the best winter-flowering plants we have, and 

 it is worth noticing that most of the free-flowering species are 

 amenable to a moderately cool temperature. Dendrobes, like 

 all other plants, whether Orchids or otherwise, require to be 

 encouraged to make vigorous and luxuriant growth, and as 

 their stems or pseudo-bulbs attain their full size, they should 

 be gradually exposed to the sun in an airy atmosphere. This 

 treatment ripens their tissues, and is conducive to their 

 flowering freely. The majority of Dendrobes are from the 

 equatorial regions, and require the heat of the East Indian 

 house; but all those species mentioned in our list may be 

 grown and flowered in the warm end of the cool Orchid house, 

 along with many of the Cypripediums, Trichopilias, Cattleyas, 

 and Miltonias. Dendrobium nobile should be grown by the 

 dozen in all places where choice flowers are required during 

 winter. 



*D. clirysanthum (1828.) This old species is a native 

 of India, and flowers freely on its ripened pseudo-bulbs, 

 which are often clothed with fresh green foliage when the flowers 

 are produced. The flowers develope themselves on each side of 

 the drooping stems in fascicles of three to seven ; they are sub- 

 globose in form, of a thick waxy consistence, and the lip has 

 two blotches of rich crimson in the centre ; generally flowers 

 about July to September, and lasts two to three weeks. This 

 is a vigorous species and grows well in a moderate tempera- 

 ture. 



*D. heterocarpum (Ceylon). A fragrant winter blooming 

 plant, producing pale yellow flowers with a brownish hairy lip, 



