OECHIDS. 61 



when the plants are in flower, they can be used for decorative 

 purposes with the smallest risk of damage. The graceful 

 spikes of bloom when cut can scarcely be equalled for all kinds 

 of floral decorations, and the variety of form, colour, and 

 marking is not excelled by any other genus. They are natives 

 of various parts of Central America, and are often found grow- 

 ing at high and cool altitudes. Many of them make handsome 

 exhibition specimens when large and well flowered. Some of 

 the best, including their choicest varieties, are 0. cirrhosum, 

 0. cris2)um, 0. grande, 0. Iiisleayi, 0. nehulosum, 0. Plialce- 

 iwpsis, and 0. Pescatorei. They thrive best in a compost of 

 brown fibry peat with a little sphagnum and charcoal, and the 

 whole neatly covered over with live sphagnum kept fresh and 

 moist. With the exception of a few species, a cool house is 

 most suitable for their cultivation, and they require plenty of 

 water at all seasons, as they do not go to rest even in winter. 

 The species requiring a higher temperature than what is 

 generally given, such as Plialcenopsis, should be gradually 

 dried off during winter, and given a plentiful supply of water 

 after they show the flower-spikes and while growing. They 

 should be closely shaded from strong sun, and a little weak 

 liquid manure from soot and sheep-droppings is a good stimu- 

 lant when in active growth. 



OXCIDIUM. 



This is a most extensive and handsome genus, many of the 

 species producing long, branching, and numerously flowered 

 spikes, which make them very striking and useful as exhi- 

 bition plants. Some of the best, inclusive of their choice 

 varieties, are 0. ampliatum, 0. crispuvi, 0. macranthum, 0. 

 splendidum, 0. iigrinum, and 0. varicosum. They inhabit the 

 tropical parts of America, including Brazil, Mexico, and the 

 West Indies. Many of the species thrive best in baskets or 

 on blocks of wood, but the stronger growing kinds do best in 

 pots. The weaker growing should have the conditions of pot 

 culture made as near an imitation as possible of a basket. 

 They gi-ow well in perforated pots, in a compost consisting of 



