59° 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



loam and rough sand. The plants are mostly gross feeders, and 

 require a fair amount of pot room. The pots should be drained 

 to one-third their depth. Phaius tuberculosus is rather a diffi- 

 cult subject, requiring a position near the glass, .the atmospheric con- 

 ditions of a Phalsenopsis house, and a potting compost of peat 

 and living sphagnum moss. Fig. '372 represents .P. Norman, a 

 hybrid .between P. Sanderianus and P. tuberculosus. Peristeria 

 elata (the Dove or Holy Ghost Orchid), when in flower, is always 



a subject of admiration. 



Platyclinis (Dendrochilum). 

 — This is another lovely. Orchid, 

 requiring stove culture. There 

 are several species, the 

 best being P. glumacea, 

 with racemes of creamy- 

 white flowers. Its per- 

 fume is delightful, two or 

 three spikes being 

 sufficient to scent a 

 house. It requires 

 a compost of peat 

 and sphagnum, and 

 a, well-drained and 

 shallow receptacle ' 

 suits it best. 



Paphinia an-d 



Promencea. — These 



are dwarf -" growing 



kinds suitable for 



hanging purposes. 



They produce their 



quaint flowers during 



the summer months, 



and these, though 



small, are very 



attractive. The 



potting compost 



should consist of good peat and sphagnum. The plants 



require a moist position in the temperature of the East Indian 



house. 



Grammatophyllum is a somewhat unsatisfactory genus to deal 

 with. It is very unusual to meet with a plant in vigorous con- 

 dition that has been imported many years. I find G. (Grammangis) 

 Ellisii the most satisfactory; grown in a basket suspended from 

 the roof of the East Indian house. The potting compost consists 

 of two parts fibrous peat to one part sphagnum. These are an 

 interesting class of plants, and worthy of consideration, as 



Fig. 372. — Phaius Norman. 



