658 



ORCHID-GROWERS MANViO,. 



Culture. — The various species all reiquire the same kind of treatment, 

 and an East Indian heat, together with a good supply of water during 

 their growing season, for they are found in Tropical Asia, e.g., Java, 

 Borneo, Sumatra, the Sunda and Philippine Isles, or some in the 

 Burmese territory and other parts of the East, where the heat is high, 

 a natural condition which, under artificial circumstances ought to be 

 imitated as nearly as possible. They are found growijig on bare rocks 

 and on the branches of trees in damp moist places, where, during the 

 rainy season, an immense quantity of water falls. Nevertheless they 

 are of easy culture, and if properly attended to are seldom out of 

 order ; but since they have no succulent pseudobulbs to support them, 

 they require, in order to grow them to perfection, somewhat more care 

 and attention than the majority of the plants belonging to this natural 

 order. Thus, they need more moisture at their roots during the growing 

 season — in fact, they should never be allowed to get- dry, for if so, they 

 are apt to shrivel, and often loge their bottom leaves, which spoils their 

 appearance, the beauty of these plants consisting almost as much in 

 their having good foliage as good flow'ers. 



The growing season is from March to the encj of October, during 

 which time the temperature by day should range from 70° to 75°, 

 allowing it to rise to 80° or more by sun heat, provided the house be 

 shaded, for the sun will scorch the thick fleshy leaves, and if so scorched 

 they will soon decay and spoil the plant. Sometinjes they will do better 

 in one part of the house than in another, therefore, if they do not -succeed 

 in one part, the cultivator should remove them to another. The night 

 temperature should range from 65° to 70° in March and April, but later 

 on it may be allowed to rise a few degrees higher. During their resting 

 season, from the end of October to" February, the temperature should 

 range from 60° to 65° by night, and 65° by day, or even a little more 

 with sun heat will not do any harm. In ventilating the house air should 

 be admitted close to the hot-water pipes, so that it may be warmed 

 before it becomes dispersed over the house, and to keep up a moist 

 atmosphere some water should be sprinkled about on fine daj'S, but this 

 should be done in the morning, so that the house may become dry by 

 night. 



The species of Phalnenopsis are grown in different ways. Sometimes 

 they are placed on blocks, rafts, and cylinders, at others in pots or in 



