578 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



subjects to procure ; but as they are gradually becoming more 

 popular again, I trust importers may be induced to increase the 

 stock of many of the choicest species. 



The finest Aerides ever introduced is A. Lawrencece 

 (Fig. 362). I well remember the first plant of this 

 flowering, and what a sensation it caused. When 

 it was offered for sale at Stevens' Auction 

 Rooms it realised 210 guineas. The purchaser 

 was Sir Thomas Lawrence, and the species 

 was dedicated to Lady 

 Lawrence. 



The gigantic flowers are 

 pure white with, broad tips 

 of bright rose-pink. A. 

 Sanderianum was imported 

 with A. Lawrencece, and is 

 a variety of that species, 

 the only distinction being 

 that the white ground is 

 replaced by a creamy- 

 yellow in A. Sanderianum. 

 A. crispum is a lovely 

 species, deserving of a 

 place in every .collection. 

 A. falcatum and its several 

 forms are desirable. ^A. 

 Fieldingii (the Fox Brush) 

 is one of the most popular 

 of its section. A. odoratum, 

 one of the oldest known 

 Orchids in cultivation, and 

 many others are well 

 worthy of mention, but 

 for these the reader is 

 referred to the "Appen- 

 dix." 



Angr;ecum. — This is a 

 most interesting genus of 

 plants, of peculiar structure, 

 their tail-like protrusions 

 giving them an appearance 

 that cannot fail to attract. 

 Undoubtedly the finest spe- 

 cies is A. sesquipedale (Fig. 

 363), a plant in which the 

 late Charles Darwin took a special interest. It has waxy-white 

 flowers upwards of 6in. in diameter, with a tail of the same 

 colour often upwards of ift. in length ; it is easy of culture, and 



Fig. 362. — Aerides Lawrence.*:. 



