ON ORCHIDS. 



577 



the genus ; V. Batemannii {Stauropsis lissochiloides) is a gigantic 

 species, with flowers brown- and yellow-barred in front and rose- 

 pink at the back ; V. A^nesiana and V. KimbaHiana, with terete 

 foliage, are both splendid kinds. Fig. 359 represents V. Sa?ideria?ta, 

 the king of the genus, with huge flat flowers of brilliant hues — 

 rose and yellow, heavily veined with rich purple. There are many 

 other desirable kinds, but the above-mentioned are the most 

 prominent. There are two others, viz., V. teres (Fig. 360) and 



Fig. 361.— Vanda Hookeriana. 



V. Hookeria7ia (Fig. 361), with cylindrical foliage, which to flower 

 satisfactorily require a strong light, and should be grown at the 

 end of a house, where they may be exposed to the full rays of 

 the sun. They may be planted out thickly in a box, and 

 trained up close to the roof-glass, the potting compost consisting 

 of sphagnum and broken crocks. These species require constant 

 syringing during the growing season, with a humid atmosphere ; 

 but during the resting season little moisture is needed. 



Aerides are closely allied to the Vandas, and require similar 

 treatment in most instances, the exception being A. japoiiicum^ 

 which does best in a cool house, and A. crassifolium (one of 

 the most beautiful of the genus, having deep rose-tinted flowers), 

 which succeeds better when grown in a lighter position than is 

 suitable to the bulk of the genus. This is a group of plants that 

 at the present time have become scarce and valuable. For 

 some unknown reason they have not been grown to the extent they 

 deserve, consequently many trade establishments, finding there 

 has been no sale for them, have replaced them by more saleable 

 articles, with the result that many kinds are now difficult 



2 p 



