6o ORCHIDS FOR EVERYONE 



majority of species. Under cultivation they are not always a success, 

 notwithstanding that many growers take any amount of pains with 

 them. Shallow, well-drained pots or pans suit them best, and the 

 most approved compost consists of two parts yellow loam, and one 

 part each of broken limestone and old oak or beach leaves, the 

 whole pressed firmly about the roots. The plants should be grown 

 in the hottest part of the stove, on a shelf, or suspended near the 

 glass, with very little shade, but with plenty of water at the roots 

 and none given directly overhead. There are numerous hybrids 

 from these species and the more nearly they approach the species 

 in growth and flower, the more nearly must the cultural conditions 

 just indicated be followed. But as a rule the hybrids are more 

 easily managed than the species. 



Best Species 



C. BARBATUM was discovered in 1840 in the Malay 

 Peninsula, near Malacca. In the following year it flowered for 

 the first time under cultivation with the Messrs Loddiges, of 

 Hackney. The species is found in most collections, but as a rule 

 it is not seen in such good condition now as it was twenty years 

 ago ; this is probably due to the introduction of so many hybrids 

 and the general inclination to cultivate these to the exclusion of 

 species. A year or two ago, when visiting the mining villages of 

 Prudhoe and West Wylam, near Newcastle, the writer saw some 

 excellent specimens of this old Orchid in the glass houses of the 

 enthusiastic miners who make a hobby of gardening, and ride their 

 hobby hard and well. The flowers are of medium size and the 

 rounded dorsal sepal is white, with a green base, and veinings of 

 deep purple. The petals are green, shading to purple at the apex, 

 hairy along the margin, and with several small, blackish warts along 

 the upper edge. The lip is dull purple. The variety C. B. Crossii 



