62 ORCHIDS. 



fibry peat, sphagnum, and pieces of the roots of the common 

 bracken chopped small. The kinds above mentioned should 

 all be grown in the Cattleya house, receiving plenty of mois- 

 ture, which should be moderated when the plants are at rest. 



PHAIUS. 



This is one of the terrestrial genera of orchids, of tall slender 

 growth. The species are spread over a wide range of country, 

 being found in Asia, India, and Australia. They are noble- 

 looking plants, with long plicate leaves and tall spikes of 

 beautiful flowers. Two of the best for exhibition are P. 

 grandifoUus and P. Wdllichii. In common with all the ter- 

 restrial class of orchids, they require a substantial compost to 

 grow them well, consisting of three parts turfy loam, from 

 which the small particles have been sifted, and one part of 

 sharp sand and well-decayed manure. The heat of the East- 

 Indian house, with plenty of water, suits well whUe they are 

 growing, but they should be removed to a cooler house and 

 given very little water when resting. They are greatly bene- 

 fited by a liberal supply of weak liquid manure when they are 

 in active growth. 



PHAL^NOPSIS. 



A splendid genus of orchids, which, however, require time 

 and good management to produce first-rate specimens ; indeed, 

 they are among the most difficult to grow satisfactorily of 

 all the Orchid family. The leaves of some of the species are 

 of great substance, large, and prettily spotted, but they are 

 rather liable to rot at the base. For exhibition, the best 

 are P. amaUlis, P. grandiflora, and P. Schilleriana. They are 

 natives of the warmest parts of India and the Malay Archi- 

 pelago, and are very sensitive to cold and damp during the 

 resting season. The warmest end of the Indian house is best 

 suited for their growth, where a moist atmosphere should be 

 provided whUe the plants are growing, but kept moderately 

 dry when they are resting. They should be very carefully 

 potted, using the best fibry peat and sphagnum, with a good 



