ORCHIDS AND ORNAMENTAL PLANTS 67 



very fine, so is alba^ all white with the exception of a 

 few yellow streaks. There are other fine species of 

 Laelia, among them L. autumnalisy with rosy, perfumed 

 flowers ; L. albida, also fragrant, but pale flowered. Of 

 all these there are many varieties. They do well in 

 pans or baskets, either suspended or placed on the stage 

 of the warm greenhouse. When in growth they require 

 plenty of water, but in winter none. 



Arching spikes of bright rose flowers are produced by 

 Calanthe Veitchii, one of the loveliest of hybrids. Each 

 spike carries from two to three dozen flowers, self- 

 coloured save for the white throat. Pot afresh every 

 year as the young growths shoot, using a compost of 

 loam and well decayed manure, and keep in the hottest 

 part of the house, not shaded, and water twice a week 

 with very weak manure. Until the bulbs cease swelling, 

 and the leaves commence fading, must be diminished and 

 stopped, and kept perfectly dry until the flower spikes 

 appear, when the plants will require watering once every 

 ten days. The beautiful varieties of C vestita associate 

 well with the above, but none of this genus are of use 

 in smoky towns, for the fogs, etc., quickly destroy. As 

 there are no leaves during the flowering season, ferns 

 should be grouped with Calanthes. When plentiful, the 

 cut spikes of these orchids are most acceptable for 

 dinner-table decoration in slender vases, epergnes, for 

 the stems are well covered with flowers and buds 

 throughout their length. Many amateurs, and not a 

 few gardeners, devote valuable space over scores of 

 things much less beautiful and free flowering than the 

 above plants. 



Several Cattleyas, with their magnificent rose flowers, 

 bloom in winter, among them C. labiata Percivaliana and 

 C. b. Trianaeu They require Laelia treatment. 



The fine Coelogyne cristata is an evergreen species, 

 but should be kept perfectly dry during winter, until 



