372 orchid-grower's manual. 



to determine which they really are. Nearly the whole of the species are 

 well worth growing, for although their flowers are not so large as those 

 of B. grandijiora, they are very handsome and of easy culture. The 

 following, some of which we have seen growing, though not flowering, 

 are well worthy of attention : — D. cernua, flowers green and yellow ; 

 jD. chrysostachya, golden yellow ; D. Braeonis, white and dark blue ; 

 B. longicornis, blue ; B. maculata, spotted blue ; B. melaleuca, brown 

 and white ; B. patens, yellow ; B. prasinata, green and reddish purple ; 

 B. rufescens, purple ; B. ' spathulata, pale blue ; B. ienvifoUa, yellow. 

 Many more might be named, but enough has been said to show that we 

 have a rich stock of novelties in store yet. 



Culture. — These plants have been somewhat untractable in the hands 

 of the cultivator, but this, we think, is more to be attributed to the wrong 

 treatment which has been meted out to them, because, where they have 

 been subjected to rational usages, they have invariably done well, but the 

 best that we have ever seen was when on a visit to M. le Comte Adrien 

 de Germiny in Prance, under the management of Mr. Vincent, who treats 

 them as ordinary geraniums. The best mode of treatment for these 

 plants is to pot them in shallow pans, in some good fibrous peat 

 in a rather rough state, with a little silver sand, well-rotten manure, 

 and live sphagnum moss added to it. They require a liberal supply 

 of water during the growing and flowering season. The plants 

 will start growing in the winter, when they should be kept moist 

 and be placed on a cool bottom. During the time they are making 

 vigorous growth, they may be syringed twice a day, or even oftener. 

 This is far better than using a watering pot, as it serves the purpose 

 of a shower of rain, and helps to keep the red spider from the 

 leaves — an insect which is very injurious to them. Green fly is also 

 very troublesome; it should be kept under by washing them with a 

 sponge and cold water. The plants rest after the flowering season is 

 over, and during this time less moisture is required. It is a good plan, 

 after this growing and flowering season is past, to place the plants in 

 rather a shady part of the garden and syringe them occasionally, but 

 not to keep them too moist, as they may probably perish if allowed to 

 get dry at any time. The most suitable time for potting them is just 

 as they are beginning to make roots, which is usually in the months of 

 January and February. 



