300 



MY GARDEN. 



Perhaps, however, to a person unacquainted with orchids, nothing 

 is more surprising than to see a number of bulbs, some with leaves and 

 some without, planted in a wire basket in moss, and protruding from 



th6 bottom a spike having four or five 

 large flowers. This is the case with the 

 Stanhopea (fig. 635). I remember that 

 when Mrs. Lawrence showed a specimen, 

 many years ago, it caused a sensation ; 

 but the plants are now quite out of 

 fashion, and some orchid-growers who 

 love prizes more than their plants will 

 not have them in their houses. They 

 grow very readily, but they have one 

 disadvantage, that is, the flowers last but 

 a few days instead of several weeks, as 

 the flowers of other orchids do. 



I have one or two species of Aerides 

 (fig. 636), which are fine, and, like the 

 Vandse, they require much heat. I have 

 two or three species of Epidendrum, 

 Fig. 636.— Aerides crispum. which I need not describe. 



The beautiful genus of Anaectochilus (fig. 637) is represented in my 

 garden by two species. The A. argenteus has perhaps the most beautiful 

 leaf of any plant known ; and the A. Lowii, from Borneo, is a grand 

 species. In noticing these I could not resist giving a figure of the ten 

 species now grown by Mr. Terry, who is very successful in the cultivation 

 of these valuable plants, and who has perhaps the finest collection in the 

 country. They are difficult to cultivate, and like a moist atmosphere. 

 The only two species which I possess grow in the greatest luxuriance. 



The Calanthe vestita (fig. 638) is a plant very easily cultivated ; I 

 find it grows as readily as any orchid. It forms large bulbs in summer, 

 and about Christmas begins to form its flower-spikes, which grow to a 

 length of from one to two and a half feet, and in winter are covered 

 with beautiful flowers. By having many plants, the period* during 



