AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 519 



British and otiier Hardy Orcliids. 

 attention to these plants. An Illustration showing the 

 comparati\-e sizes and shapes of some of the British 

 species will be found at page 17. 



The failures that attend the first attempt to grow a 

 collection of hard_\- species in an ordinary garden are 

 often trj'ing enough to dishearten anj-one not possessed 

 of a good stock of perseverance. The plants are, as a 

 rule. ver_\- impatient of removal, and generalh- too little 

 care is taken by collectors to preserve the fleshy roots 

 and tubers intact and unbruised. To attempt to establish 

 roughh'-treated plants of most of these Orchids is labour 

 in vain. This fact accounts for the belief that they are 

 hopeless as garden plants. On the other hand, a few 

 growers have met with much success in their cultiva- 

 tion. When well grown there is no more delightful 

 picture than tufts or large groups of such plants as 

 Cypripedinin spcctahiL\ Orchis foliosa, and its two allies 

 6. latifolia and 0. iiiacnlata. Then there are the Opkrys, 

 almost ever}' one of which is possessed of some charm in 

 the form and markings of the flowers. 



There are three methods which have proved successful 

 in the cultivation of hardy Orchids : these are the bed 

 or rockery method, the frame method, and that of pot 

 culture. 



Bed or Rockery Treatment.— A bed for these plants 

 should be so situated as to be shaded from the sun, 

 except in the morning or evening. The shade of shrubs 

 or trees, or, failing these, that of a wall with a south-east 

 or south-west aspect, will answer. The soil should be 

 taken out to a depth of about 2ft., and replaced by 6in. 

 of good drainage, brick-rubble being the best material for 

 this purpose. Over this a layer of tough turfs should 

 be placed. The soil must necessarily vary with the needs 

 of the plants for which it is intended. If a representative 

 collection is to be planted in the bed, then a portion of 

 it should be filled with a mixture of sweet black peat 

 fsuch as is used for Heaths), leaf-mould, and coarse sand ; 

 this will accommodate tho.se plants to which loam and 

 lime are distasteful. Another portion should be filled with 

 a mixture of peat, loam, and leaf-mould in equal parts, 

 and the remainder with good light turfy loam, mixed 

 with old mortar from buildings, or with chalk. 



