Aerides Fieldingii is a bold-growing evergreen species, with handsome foliage 



from ten inches to a foot long, about two inches across, and rich dark green in 

 colour. The spikes are produced from the axils of the leaves, and vary from one 

 to three feet in length, and the racemes are very dense. The flowers are large, 

 white, beautifully mottled with clear bright rose, the lip being wholly rich rose 

 colour. It blooms during May, June, and July, and continues in full beauty for 

 three or four weeks. When in flower this plant should be placed upon a pedestal, 

 or in some elevated position, in order to fully display the beauties of its long 

 pendent racemes. "We may, however, remark, en passant, that there are some 

 varieties of this species which produce shorter racemes of bloom than the one we 

 have here described. 



This Aerides succeeds well with us when placed at the warmest end of the 

 Oattleya (or Intermediate) house, where it is grown upon the side tables, and 

 experience proves to us that the majority of the species of Aerides do not require such 

 a high temperature as is generally supposed necessary for their successful cultivation. 

 We grow most of the difl"erent kinds of Aerides together in the same house, and 

 they thrive admirably, forming robust growths, and flowering most profusely ; they are 

 treated to a fair amount of moisture during the summer, administered to them by 

 syringing between their pots every day (on exceptionally hot days they will be 



benefited by slightly sprinkling their foliage with water from a fine-rosed syringe), 

 but their roots should always be kept moist during the summer and autumn months ; 

 in winter, however, much less is required, but the plants must not be allowed 

 to suffer through lack of w^ater, as at this time they are still growing slowly, and 

 developing their flower-spikes. During the winter months the night temperature 

 may range between 55° and 60°, and during the day it may be allowed to 

 rise a few degrees higher, especially with sun heat. In summer they will be 

 found to thrive well in the same temperature as that recommended for Cattleyas. 

 The best material in which to grow Aerides is living sphagnum moss, but the 

 drainage must be thorough and always kept open and free. If pots are used in 

 their cultivation, fill them three-parts full of broken potsherds, and upon this 

 ace the sphagnum ; in this moss, with the addition of a few potsherds or nodules 

 of charcoal intermixed, the roots should be placed ; if grown in hanging baskets 

 the system should be just the same, but for the sake of decreasing the weight, 

 the drainage material may be nearly all charcoal. Aerides require to be exposed to 

 the full light during winter ; in summer, however, they must be shaded during the 

 hottest part of the day, but when the sun is not shining, no shade will be necessary. 

 The blinds for shading purposes should be made of some thin material, as heavy 

 shading is dangerous and tends to produce weak foliage, whereas it should be strong 

 and robust, for in this lies the whole secret of the good cultivation of these plants ; 

 and if our directions are followed they will make vigorous, rich green leaves, and 

 flower in perfection. Two most important items in the cultivation of Aerides are to 

 keep everything surrounding their roots in a sweet and clean condition, and to see 

 that their foliage is clean and free from insects. 



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