124 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[JuxE 1, 1SG5. 



ORCHIDS, AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



rpO any one in search of "a hobby," I would re- 

 •*- commend the study of orchids. There is no 

 necessity to pore over big books, or swallow hard 

 names, but grow and study the plants themselves. 

 There is only one book known to mc in which the 

 growth of British orchids is treated ; that is 

 "Appleby's Orchid Manual," which is more general 

 than particular. A good treatise on the subject, by 

 David Cameron, appeared in the first part of the 

 third volume of the " Journal of the Horticultural 

 Society." This includes nearly all the indigenous 

 species. But before one can indulge much in the 

 theory of growing the plants, they must be found or 

 purchased. The former plan is the best, and, except 

 for those who live in cities provided with a Covent 

 Garden, or similar market, the ouli/ method which can 

 be adopted. I have generally found that not more 

 than one in every sis of the orchids bought in the 

 market will grow, as their roots are nearly always 

 broken or injured in the digging. One or two of the 

 large nurserymen will supply them ; but the best 

 way is to go and dig them for yourself. The greatest 

 care must be taken iu ren:!Oving the plants from 

 their native spots not to touch tlie roots. Let the 

 tool — be it spade or trowel — be inserted six inches 

 fronr the stem of the plant, and dig it out, with its 

 soil adhering to it, and in this state convey it home, 

 and pot or plant it in the open ground. Tlie best 

 tunc, I think, for collecting orchids for cultivation 

 is after they have done flowering, at the close of the 

 summer, because the tubers for the next year are 

 then fully formed, and have not begun to make 

 roots. 



Whichever mode is adopted in their cultivation, 

 whether in pots or in the open ground, good drain- 

 age is essential. This may be accomplished by a 

 sub-soil of broken lime rubbish. When watering 

 them, as far as possible, the water should be pre- 

 vented settling in the sheaths of the leaves, as the 

 latter are apt to rot off. This remark is applicable 

 to those grown in pots and under cover, since, wlien 

 exposed to the wind and air, superfluous water is 

 £oon dispersed. What is essential to their well- 

 being is plenty of light and air, and the purer the 

 latter the better. 



In potting orchids, the soil employed should be as 

 nearly as possible like that in which they were 

 found ; hence the advantage of bringing away plenty 

 of mould with the plants when collected. I have 

 employed in other cases a mixture of friable loam, 

 tvitli peat and sand. In winter, if the plants are in 

 pots, they should be stood at the base of a wall with 

 a southern or western aspect, and not watered. It 

 is advisable to cover the surface of the mould with 

 ashes, and strew ashes also on tlie ground about the 



pots, to preserve the plants from the attacks of 

 slugs, which are exceedingly partial to the roots and 

 young leaves. It is a good plan to look the plants 

 over once a week, and exterminate all such visitors. 

 If the orchids arc planted in the open ground, each 

 spot should be covered with ashes. 



Most of the species I am about to enumerate 

 arc those which I have cultivated in the manner 

 already described. 



Early Purple Okciiis {Orchis mascula, L.) has a 

 spike of pretty purplish flowers, and spotted leaves, 

 but rather disagreeable odour. The stem is nearly 

 a foot in height. This species requires a heavy soil 

 and plenty of room. 



Geeen-winged Meadow Orchis {Orchis Morio, 

 L.) is very similar iu external appearance to the last, 

 but the leaves are not spotted. Of course, there 

 are botanical difl'crences, but with them we have, on 

 the present occasion, very little to do. The remark 

 about soil and room also applies to this. 



Brown Orchis {Orchis fusca, Jacq.). — A tall and 

 handsome species, with a rather dense spike of dark 

 purple variegated flowers. Grows on the chalky 

 hills of Kent. Requires a light soil. 



Spotted .Orchis {Orchis maculata, L.). — Very 

 pretty and common species iu da'mp pastures, 

 heaths, and woods. It is very easy of cultivation 

 and is sure to succeed with any one. 



Lizard Orchis {Orchis hircina, Scop.). — This is 

 a very rare, but snowy species, with a long dense 

 spike of large greenish-white flowers. It has been 

 found on the chalk hills of Kent and Surrey, but is 

 nowhere common, though widely diffused through 

 central and southern Europe. 



Marsh Orchis {Orchis latifolia, L.) is a 

 species subject to considerable variation, is more 

 luxuriant than the " spotted orchis," which it much 

 resembles, has purplish-crimson flowers, the leaves 

 sometimes spotted, and affects a moister locality 

 and a richer soil. It should be grown with plenty of 

 peat and be well supplied with water. 



Pyramidal Orchis {Orchis pyramidalis,'h.). — 

 Very handsome, with rosy-purple flowers in a dense 

 spike. Pound in chalky pastures. 



EraGrant Orchis {Gymnadenia conopsea, Br.). — 

 Has pretty rose-eoloiu'ed flowers, and is possessed 

 of an agreeable odour. Rather widely dispersed 

 over Britain, in hilly pastures. 



Man Orchis {Aceras anthropophora, Br.).— A 

 rare and curious species, confined to the Eastern 

 counties of England, Elowers of a dull yellowish- 

 green. 



Great Butterfly Orchis {Hahenaria clorcmtha, 

 Bab.). — This is a handsome species, with white 

 flowers, and is found in moist woods and thickets. 



Bee Orchis {Ophrys apifera, Huds.). — So called 

 from the fancied resemblance of its flowers to a 

 " bee," Eound on chalky soil in the South and East 



