OECHIDS. 63 



sprinkling of charcoal and potsherds, keeping the roots well 

 above the rim of the pot, and care taken to shade them from 

 bright sunshine. 



SACCOLABIUM. 



A very iine genus of epiphytal orchids from India and the 

 Malay Archipelago, and when well grown they furnish excel- 

 lent exhibition specimens. The best for this purpose are 

 S. ampullaceum, S. Blumei majus, and S. violaceum. They are 

 very similar to Aerides in their habits, and require the same 

 treatment in their cultivation. They should be grown near 

 the glass, so as to receive all the light possible, and only be 

 shaded slightly when they are growing. 



SOBEALIA. 



This is a genus of tall slender-growing orchids, with large 

 showy flowers produced on the top of the stem. The flowers 

 are rather short-lived, and fade in a few days, but they succeed 

 each other so rapidly that there are always sufficient on a large 

 specimen to make a fine display. The best for an exhibition 

 specimen is S. macrardlia. It thrives in the Mexican house, 

 and should be potted in a mixture of rough peat, chopped 

 sphagnmn, potsherds, and charcoal. It requires a good supply 

 of water, with a little weak liquid manure while growing, and 

 to be kept moderately dry when at rest. 



STANHOPEA. 



This is a very peculiar genus of orchids from Tropical 

 America, with thick, waxy, grotesque-formed, variously col- 

 oured flowers. Instead of the flower-scape shooting upwards, 

 it takes the opposite direction, which renders the plants 

 unsuitable for pot culture. They do best grown in baskets, 

 but they can be grown in pots with fair success if the 

 pseudo-bulbs are raised well above the rim, and a strict 

 watch kept on the scapes as they begin to push, so as to 

 guide them to the outside. Some of the best for exhibition 

 are S. grandifiora, S. indgnis, S. Martiana, and S. tigrina. 



