142 ORCHIDS FOR PARLOR CULTURE. 



sembling that of their native haunts. The only wonder is 

 that horticulturists were thirty years in opening their eyes 

 to this patent fact. 



Experience has also shown that some few of the large 

 class of cool orchids can be successfully grown and bloomed 

 in the parlor. 



Many orchids are remarkable only for their showy flow- 

 ers, the foliage being sparse or deciduous. But those or- 

 chids adapted to parlor culture are all from genera having 

 evergreen leaves, and the foliage of some is ornamental. 



The general rules for potting orchids are : Give plenty of 

 drainage no orchids thrive in a close, sour soil, many re- 

 quire plenty of water, but none thrive in standing water ; 

 make the soil porous, lumpy, broken, not sifted ; give 

 pure air and light, and a decided season of rest ; keep the 

 foliage clean and free from dust, and preserve the roots 

 from their numerous insect enemies. 



LYCASTE. 



A family of some thirty species of terrestrial orchids from 

 South America. 



The leaves are large and plaited, the flowers borne 

 usually on single scapes, large and very showy. 



