404 Golden Netted-leaved Orchids. 



ment when it ought to be in full perfection. What is 

 called "cool treatment" must, however, not be attempted, 

 though Mr. Lowe, in his Beautiful Leaved Plants, tells of a speci- 

 men of the lovely A. xanthophyllus, which was kept in a green- 

 house, shaded by a tent of paper, where the temperature frequently 

 fell to 35° during November and December, yet the plant was 

 always in perfect health, and lost none of its leaves. Shade 

 and warmth are indispensable. During the winter the night 

 temperature may descend to 50° with perfect safety, but a good 

 average is 55°, and the average day temperature should be 

 60° to 70°, the last-named being the rise allowed during 

 sunshine. After March the plants begin to grow vigor- 

 ously if properly treated, and the temperature should 

 rise to an average of 65° at night, with 60° for the 

 minimum and 70° for the maximum, and during the 

 day they will enjoy a heat of 70° to 90°, the best average 

 being 75°. 



During the growing season water must be given plentifully 

 at the roots, but not a drop must touch the leaves, a rule to be 

 strictly observed in the cultivation of all delicate plants that 

 have got pilose leaves, such as Begonias, Cyanophyllums, 

 Sphserogynes, etc. In winter, also, they must have water 

 enough to keep the roots always moist, but great care must be 

 taken not to give them too much, or disease will be the con- 

 sequence. On the other hand, drought is death to them. 

 Sunshine is decidedly injurious, but they need plenty of light 

 when grown under glass, and on that point a special remark 

 must be made presently. They make but few roots, and must 

 always be grown in small pots; the best soil is chopped 

 sphagnum ; all mixtures of peat, loam, and leaf-mould, as 

 recommended by persons who have never grown these plants, 

 or who have grown them badly, are objectionable. The 

 sphagnum should first be scalded, then chopped fine, and 

 mixed with an equal bulk of silver sand and broken pots of 

 the size of peas. The pots should be quite clean, and should 

 be half filled with crocks, over the crocks some unchopped 

 sphagnum, and then the mixture heaped up|in a convex form 

 above the level of the rim of the pot. In fixing the plant, a 

 little pure sand had best be used to fill in next the collar, both 

 to prevent bruising the stem and also to support it more firmly. 

 One or two small pieces of stick are generally requisite 

 to support the plant until it has made fresh roots. In any 

 case of a plant appearing unhealthy, the best course is to 

 remove the soil carefully from the roots and repot it afresh, and 

 encourage it to make fresh roots. After being newly potted, 

 it is best to place them in close cases, or under bell-glasses, for 

 about a fortnight, after which it is certainly better to expose 



