Gardening for Amateurs 



801 



leaves, but the most effectual method is to 

 search at night, with the help of a lamp. 

 The only disease worth noting is the spot 

 disease, which attacks the foliage of Pha- 

 laenopsis, Dendrobium, Vanda, etc. An ex- 

 cessively moist atmosphere, together with 

 a low temperature, is usually the cause. 

 Cattleya bulbs sometimes turn black, owing 

 either to the above-named cause or because 

 of insufficient root action. Watering to such 

 an extent that the soil becomes sour also 

 causes ill -health. 



THE BEST KNOWN ORCHIDS 

 Aerides. These are popularly known as 

 air-plants, because found wild in the tropics 

 on tree branches and deriving chief nourish- 

 ment from the atmosphere. They need the 

 warm and moist conditions of a hothouse. 

 Repotting is done as soon as the flowers are 

 over. The pots are half filled with drainage 

 and a compost of half sphagnum moss and 

 half osmunda fibre is used. Water freely 

 during the growing season, but moderately 

 during winter. Some of the best are 



Fieldingii, crispum and odoratum ; the colour 

 is chiefly white with rose markings. 



Anguloa. On account of the shape of 

 the flowers these are often referred to as 

 " cradle Orchids." The kinds generally cul- 

 tivated are A. Clowesii, which is golden- 

 yellow with whitish lip ; A. eburnea, white, 

 excepting the lip, which is sparsely spotted 

 with pink ; and A. Ruckeri, with yellow 

 sepals and petals, crimson spotted, and 

 crimson lip. The flowers are large and fleshy, 

 and are produced singly upon upright spikes 

 during May and June. Anguloas need an 

 intermediate or cool house temperature, and 

 may be repotted in a compost of fibrous 

 loam, peat, or osmunda fibre, with a sprink- 

 ling of silver sand. 



Brasso-Cattleya. The distinct Brassavola 

 digbyana, which is characterised by a large 

 fringed lip, has been extensively used by the 

 florist in the creation of a wonderful race of 

 flowers. Their cultivation does not differ 

 from that of Laelia and Cattleya, and a few 

 representatives give additional charm to 

 any collection of Orchids, however small. 



A showy Dendrobium (atro-violaceum). 



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