130 We CKartren's 



for their pretty, late-appearing flowers. Removal 

 of most orchids may be made while the plants 

 are in flower, and thus most easily found, by 

 lifting them with a ball ; great care must be ex- 

 ercised at any period, however, that the fleshy 

 tubers sustain no injury. 



Of British species O. maculata is the most 

 satisfactory, the others being capricious, or find- 

 ing something unconformable in our climate. 

 The dark-purple blotches on the leaves of mac- 

 ulata are striking ; and while the plant grows 

 less strongly than at home, it nevertheless does 

 well, its flower resembling a smaller fimbriata, 

 but more variable in its shades. The British 

 marsh orchis (O. latifolid) is one of the finest 

 of the genus, bearing large purplish-pink flowers 

 on a long raceme; it is always capricious and 

 difficult to manage in its own country. The 

 Spanish Orchis foliosa, which is not unlike latt- 

 folia, has wintered for three seasons with me, 

 though as it does here it is inferior to either of 

 our own fine purple Habenarias. 



As to orchid culture, very few of the terres- 

 trial species can be grown in sun with that de- 

 gree of success which partial shade will give in 

 skillful hands. The use of carpet-plants is often 

 of benefit to the more delicate species, serving 

 to keep the soil cool, and retaining the moisture 



