80 . orchid-gkower's manual. 



column, to which the base of the lip is articulately affixed, the under-side 

 being produced into a spur at the back. Numerous species and 

 varieties are recorded, natives of India, the Malay Archipelago, and 

 Eastern Asia, extending to Japan. 



Culture. — The species of Aerides are among the most beautiful of 

 Orchids, many of them uniting every good qualitj' that a plant can 

 possess. Even when not in bloom the plants themselves are interesting 

 objects, and give a tropical character to the collections in which they are 

 found. The stems are straight or slightly bent, the leaves being attached 

 on opposite sides, and they are nourished by large fleshy roots, shooting 

 out horizontally from near the base. The flowers, which are rich and 

 waxy, proceed from the axils of the leaves, and extend in delicate 

 racemes one or two feet in length, while their fragrance is so powerful as 

 to fill the house in which they are grown with a grateful perfume. 



These plants are of easy culture, and if properly attended to seldom 

 fail to do well. They are found growing on the branches of trees, 

 generally on such as overhang streams of water ; and to grow them in 

 anything like perfection the climate in which they grow wild must in 

 most respects be imitated. We find they succeed best with a good 

 supply of heat and moisture during their growing season, which is from 

 about March to the latter end of October. During that time we keep 

 the temperature, by day, from 70° to 75°, allowing it to rise to 80° and 

 85°, or even higher, provided the house is shaded from the rays of the 

 sun. The night temperature should range from 65° to 70° in March and 

 April, and afterwards it may rise five degrees higher. In the autumn 

 and winter months the temperature should average from 60° to 65° by 

 night, while by day a little more heat will be of benefit to the plants ; 

 they like a liberal supply of moisture about their roots, but too much 

 must not be given them in dull weather. It is much to be regretted 

 that these beautiful plants are fast going out of fashion, many cultivators 

 having entirely given up their culture ; we hope the day may not be far 

 distant when they may again appear as popular favourites. 



Some persons grow their Aerides in baskets and rafts made of wood, 

 but they may also be grown in pots or pans — a mode of culture success- 

 fully followed by many of our cultivators, especially by those who 

 exhibit, for when in pots the plants are more easily moved about. 

 Another point in favour of pot culture is that baskets soon decay ; but 



