4i: 



ORCHIDS 



Peristeria. 



Culture. — The successful culture of Peristerias depends 

 principall}' on their ha\-ing \-er)' liberal treatment whilst 

 growing, and a well-defined period of rest afterwards. 

 \Mien signs of growth appear, the plants should be 

 potted in a well-drained compost of fibrous loam, crock- 

 dust, and leaf-mould, and placed in a moist, sto\-e-house. 

 Water carefuU)- at first, increasing the supph- as the new 

 growths gain strength. When the pots are full of roots, 

 an occasional dose of \\'eak liquid manure is to be 

 recommended. During rest the)- ma}- be remo\-ed to the 

 cooler part of the Cattle)-a-house, \CYy little water being 



then needed. P. 

 data is \Qxy suc- 

 cessfull)- grown b}' 

 some culti\-ators, 

 \\\vo treat it as a 

 pureh- terrestrial 

 Orchid, potting it 

 in a mixture of 

 loam and leaf- 

 mould, \x\\\\ a 

 s [) r i n k ling of 

 crushed bones and 

 siher-sancl added. 

 The pots ma)' be 

 phmged in a tan 

 bed in a moist, 

 sunn\- sto\'e dur- 

 ing the growing 

 season. \A'hen 

 grou'th is com- 

 plete, the plants 

 may be remo\-ed to an intermediate-house, and given less 

 water : the)- should not, however, be allowed to shri\'el. 

 Bulbs as large as swans' eggs, and flower-spikes 5ft. high, 

 have been produced b)' this treatment. Peristerias are 

 eas)' to keep ali\-e, but unless the\' get \-er\- liberal treat- 

 ment the}- will not fl(jwer. 



P. Barker! (Batc/iL). — A synonym of Acnicta Barkcri. 

 P. cerina (Lludl.). — A handsome species, having large flowers 

 m ]3endent spikes, and with a strong smell like that of bruised 

 juniper-leaves. The pseudo-bulbs are egg-shaped, furrowed, dark 



Fig. 141. pERr^TF.Rrv ckrina, showing Habit 



AXD IiKTACHEU l-'r(jWKKS 

 (Habit, Liiuch reLluced ; inowers, nat, sii^e). 



