The Culture of Greenhouse Orchids 



orchirl, though it may be unconsciously. Such a 

 favourite it is, so easy to grow and. so valuable in 

 the time of flowering, that market-gardeners who 

 " would not touch an orchid," as they say, keep a 

 big house or more filled with it, for cutting. We 

 scarcely see a bouquet in late winter and early 

 spring without examples of Cielogync cristata. The 

 description, therefore, may be very brief, which is 

 comforting, for to do such beauty justice would defy 

 my command of words. It will be enough to give 

 a hint for the benefit of those unacquainted with the 

 name of a flower which assuredly is not unfamiliar 

 to tlieir eyes. I would only say, therefore, that it is 

 white as snow, three or four inches across, prettily 

 waved, with a blotch of pale yellow on the lip, and 

 lines of o-olden hairs markino; the ridcres. Six or even 

 seven may be borne upon a spike, though three un- 

 fortunately are more usual. And they last a month. 

 The plant will do well enough in the cool house 

 the year round ; but if more heat can be given it 

 while growing, so much the better. It comes from 

 the hills of Nepaul, where the rainy season is very 

 close and warm, and the summer terrible ; during 

 the former it flowers and makes growth, during the 

 latter it dries up. The C'attleya house, therefore, 

 or even the stove, suits it best while the pseudo- 

 bulbs are swelling, but a great difference of 



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