time of flowering in this country appears to be in September and October 
season of rest naturally comes during our winter months. 
This species attains a height of from one to two feet; it is erect in growth, 
bearing about six light green or bluish green lance-shaped leaves. The spike is 
terminated by a dense raceme of many long-spurred flowers, which are brilliant 
scarlet, with a faint tinge of rose on the upper side; beneath the lip appears as if 
glazed with a white film, whilst the spur is green. The flowers appear in the 
month of September, and last several weeks in full beauty if kept from damp or 
sprinklings from the syringe. 
During its resting period the tuberous roots should not be allowed to become 
quite dry, but the soil should be kept in a nice friable condition, as it should be 
borne in mind that, although there are no leaves to sustain, the tubers are liable 
to shrivel and die if the soil becomes parched, as it assuredly would in a pot 
when water is entirely withheld for months in succession. The members of this 
genus belonging to our native flora, lie dormant in a similar manner during the 
es 
winter months, at which time their condition is certainly not one of drought. 
Terrestrial Orchids have not hitherto been popular with growers of the epiphytal 
kinds, many persons being under the impression that they are very difficult to 
manage, and that they lack beauty; the advent of the plant now under considera- 
tion, however, must at once dispel the latter illusion. The beauty of the terrestrial 
Cypripediums from North America is universally admitted, so also is that of Orchis 
Sfoliosa and Disa grandiflora, and we can assure our readers there are innumerable 
beautiful plants included in the genera Hulophia, Calypso, Pierostylis, Ipsea, Arethusa, 
— Diuris, Corysanthes, Serapias, and others, which only require asking for in order to 
get them imported. That terrestrial Orchids have hitherto proved somewhat difficult 
to grow cannot be gainsaid, but this difficulty we opine is more imaginary than 
real, resulting principally from their requirements being so directly opposite to those 
of the epiphytal kinds; and we see no practical reason why a good grower of 
Gloxinias and Caladiums should not, with a little extra care, be equally successful in 
the management of these tuberous-rooted Orchids. 
The soil for Habenaria militaris should consist of equal portions of turfy loam 
and fibrous peat, with a small quantity of rough sharp sand added, whilst the 
drainage requires to be kept open and free. © The tubers should be planted about 
an inch below the surface, which must not be raised above the rim of the pot as 
is requisite with epiphytes. When growing, this plant should be kept in the 
intermediate or Cattleya house; it enjoys a fair supply of water to its roots, and is 
also benefited by occasional sprinklings from the syringe ; this, however, must be 
discontinued before the flowers open. After blooming, when the plant becomes 
dormant, they should be removed to a cool (but not cold) place. Re-potting should 
be done just before growth commentes, in order that the new fibrous roots receive no 
check after starting. 
