538 



OECHID-GROWER S MANUAL. 



species do best in pots, in rough fibrous peat witli live spbagnum moss 

 placed on the surface, and good drainage below ; a liberal supply of 

 water at the roots being required during the growing season — in fact, 

 they never should be allowed to get dry at the roots. The plan of having 

 some live sphagnum moss growing on the top of the soil is an excellent 

 one, as it keeps a nice wholesome moisture about the roots, which they 

 seem to delight in. We have also had good results by employing the 

 roots of the common polypody (Polypodium vulgare) chopped up with 

 about half the quantity of sphagnum moss ; in this material, which is 

 much more porous than peat compost, the plants will take a more liberal 

 supply of water. In continental countries, where peat is difficult to 

 obtain, this compost is almost exclusively used. The best season for 

 potting these plants is in the beginning of autumn, as they will root 

 into the fresh soil and become established befpre the hot dry weather 

 comes on in the spring and summer. Shade is very essential to the well- 

 being of this class of plants; some growers prefer a north house, but a 

 little sun is very beneficial. They require a liberal supply of air and 

 moisture, great care being taken to prevent cold draughts. Some of the 

 species are subject to insects, such as red thrips, &c., especially- if kept 

 a little too warm. "When any sign of these pests is seen the plants 

 should be well washed with clean water, for if they are allowed to become 

 seriously infested, the foliage will soon be disfigured by the brown marks 

 caused by the insects. They are propagated bj' separating the pseudo- 

 bulbs just as they begin to grow. 



O. ACUMINATUM.-See 0. Eossii. 



O. ALEXANDRAE.— See 0. crispum. 



O. ANDERSONIANUM, Bchb. /.—This singularly beautiful and very 

 interesting plant is evidently a natural hybrid between 0. crispum and 

 0. glorioamn. The pseudobulbs and leaves resemble those of 0. crispum, but 

 the flowers, -which are strongly scented, are more distinctly suggestive of 

 0. ghriosum. The ovate-oblong acute slightly crispy sepals and petals are 

 creamy-white, with bright chestnut-brown oblong spots, and the oblong- 

 pandurate apiculate lip, which is also creamy-white, is yellow at the base, with 

 numerous small spots of crimson, in front of which are a pair of blunt teeth, 

 while the anterior part sometimes bears a largish irregular patch of confluent 

 spots. It is named in compliment to Mr. Anderson, late of Meadow Bank, 

 IJddingston, near Glasgow. We have had it with iifty flowers, and a fine 

 appearance it made when shown at the Manchester Royal Botanic Gardens. 

 This species, like 0. crispum, throws up its spikes of flowers nearly all the year 



