THE ORCHID REVIEW. 243 
miles up the Ghine river, east of Moulmein. In the low river delta there 
are many small groups of limestone rocks, sometimes only a few feet above 
the plain, sometimes two hundred or more. It is on these rocks or clinging 
to the bushes that grow out of them that this plant is found, in company 
with Doritis Wightii. As Phalenopsis Lowii is such a charming plant, 
when well grown, it may not be out of place here to note that really strong 
plants of it are not deciduous in favourable positions in its native habitat, 
and therefore such plants should not be allowed to become deciduous in our 
English houses. With careful attention plants of this and also P. Parishii 
cease to be deciduous, and get sufficiently strong to retain their leaves all 
the year round. Athough rather troublesome to train the plant into 
sufficient strength, the trouble is well repaid by the production of strong 
instead of weak flower-spikes. In Moulmein I have seen spikes quite three 
feet long, with many side branches, and at least a hundred flowers out at 
one time. When grown thus it is a difficult plant to beat. Flowering, as 
it does, in October, when most people are in their country houses, it is well 
worth the attention of the gardener; a really well-grown plant could not fail 
to be appreciated. 
I may explain, for the benefit of gardeners and growers of these so- 
called deciduous Phalenopses, that the season during which they are at rest 
in the jungle, and lose their leaves, is very short. On the equator the rains 
only cease for about a month, and 15° N. of it only about two months 
so that growth recommences after a very short rest. If rested and allowed 
to become deciduous in our English houses, the resting season becomes 
much too long, the plant gets weaker and weaker and never does any good. 
I have now plants which have been eight years in England which retain 
their leaves all the winter, and are growing very strongly, and these always 
lose their leaves the first few seasons. My method is simply to keep the 
moss round the roots alive in the winter, which allows of sufficient moisture 
to prevent the leaves from drying up. 
Phalenopsis Esmeralda and its numerous varieties are also classed 
under the head of deciduous plants; they are no doubt deciduous when in 
€xposed positions in their native jungle, but they should never be grown as 
deciduous plants when in cultivation. The best variety of P. Esmeralda is, 
in my opinion, P. antennifera, principally because it is too robust in habit 
to be deciduous. This plant is not indigenous to Moulmein, but is brought 
up in quantity from the islands in the Mergui Archipelago, and I have 
seen the plant growing luxuriantly in Moulmein on heaps of clean gravel ; 
not that I would recommend growing the plant on gravel in England, where 
the conditions are so different. Free drainage is however advisable, and 
living moss throughout the year, to prevent the plant getting weak by losing 
its leaves. a dices i oes 
meee a, (To. be. continued.) 
