THE ORCHID REVIEW 77 
CULTURE OF CALANTHES. : 
THE species and hybrids of Calanthe undoubtedly deserve to be in the 
front rank of stove-flowering Orchids; the genus has also a special 
interest for amateurs on account of the many beautiful forms included in it, 
and because the spikes of bloom are exceedingly effective for decorative 
purposes generally. I allude to those of the deciduous section, that lose 
their leaves about the time the first flowers begin to open, such as C. rosea, 
the varieties of C. vestita, and the hybrids C. X Veitchii, C. xX V. alba, 
C. X Victoria-Regina, C. Xx bella, C. x burfordiensis, C. x Sedenii, C. Xx 
_ Harrisii, C. x versicolor, C. x Phoebe, C. xX William Moftfay, GC. +x 
Ariadne, &c. A few plants of each of the kinds enumerated would form a 
"ice collection, and would afford an uninterrupted succession of flowers for 
about two months during mid-winter. The spikes, when cut, last for three 
weeks in a cool room. The flowering period of the above-mentioned 
varieties commences about the beginning of November, which, with the 
addition of C. vestita Turneri and its variety alba, continues well into the 
new year. Towards the end of January we have Calanthes of the Regnieri 
section, as C. Regnieri, C. Sanderiana, C. Stevensii, C. fausta, and C. 
Williamsii, which last till about the end of March or the beginning of April. 
It will therefore be seen that we have a succession of Calanthe flowers for 
at least a period of five months. 
When the flowers are cut the bulbs require a thorough rest, in fact few 
Orchids will stand such a long period without water as these. No better 
place could be found for these plants while at rest than on a dry shelf, and 
close up to the roof in the warmest house, where the light will help to 
Mature, the last made pseudobulbs. It is always advisable to examine 
the plants occasionally, and clear every pseudobulb of the white and brown 
scales which commonly infest them. At this season (March) the first 
varieties mentioned have begun to grow, and the plants should be repotted 
When the new growths are a few inches high, or immediately before new 
toots appear, or these will probably be injured. 
The compost used should be ofa firmer or more retentive nature than that 
used for many other Orchids. After trying many different mixtures, I have 
succeeded best when the soil has been as follows:—three parts good, fibrous 
loam, the fourth part decayed leaf soil, with the addition of a moderate 
quantity of broken crocks and sharp silver sand ; the whole being well mixed 
together. Having provided the compost, it should be placed a few days 
Prior to use in a suitable place to get warm, otherwise the pseudobulbs 
May receive a check by potting directly into a cold compost. 
The next operation is to select sound, clean pots, the sizes to vary ac- 
cording to the discretion of the cultivator, his requirements, and the number 
