ii8 ORCHIDS FOR EVERYONE 



MILTONIA 



Although the Miltonias are a comparatively small family, 

 natives of Brazil and Colombia, they include a large proportion of 

 species that rank high among free-flowering plants. They are 

 not difficult to cultivate, though it is not always easy to find a 

 place that just suits the pretty M. Roezlii. All the kinds are 

 readily increased by division if the work is done at potting time. 

 An intermediate temperature suits them at all times, and it is 

 therefore advisable to cultivate most of them with the Cattleyas 

 during the Winter, and place them at the warmest end of the 

 Odontoglossum house during the Summer. Good fibrous peat 

 serves as a rooting medium, but the fine particles should be 

 removed before use. The addition of sphagnum is not essential, 

 but most growers add it to the extent of one-third of the mixture. 

 There are several small difi^erences of cultural treatment to be 

 observed, as hardly any two species are a success under precisely 

 the same conditions, but the general principles of plenty of water 

 during free growth, and much less moisture when the plants are 

 more or less dormant, must be kept in mind, remembering that 

 Miltonias are never wholly leafless, and therefore must not be 

 severely rested. 



If there is one Orchid more than another that those insidious 

 little pests, the Thrips, seem to love, it surely is Miltonia vexillaria^ 

 and every pains must be taken to keep the plants clean, or failure 

 will inevitably follow. Frequent sponging with soapy water will 

 keep the leaves clean, but even then the pests may sometimes get 

 down into the heart of the new growth, and breed there with 

 alarming speed and freedom, and in a few days do a great deal of 

 harm, eating away the leaf tissue and crippling the tender new 

 leaves. This at once suggests the advisability of regularly dipping 



