584 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



mauve-purple, with numerous coarse purplish hairs in the centre. 

 There are many others in this section worth growing, but space 

 does not permit of their being dealt with here. 



Ancectochilus and Goodyera. — These also are usually 

 difficult subjects to deal with. As they are grown principally 

 for their foliage, and require special appliances, they do not 

 recommend themselves to general cultivation. The plants 

 require a frame or case covered with glass affixed to the staging, 

 and the atmosphere within kept almost at saturation point of 

 humidity throughout the year. The potting compost should 

 consist of good fibrous peat and living sphagnum in equal pro- 

 portions, to which should be added a free sprinkling of broken 

 . crocks. A. Lowii is one of the best of the Anoectochili, but 

 there are several other interesting species. 



BuLBOPHYLLUM is rather a genus of special interest to 

 botanists as curiosities, than to the average Orchid-fancier. 

 The plants are quaint and wonderful. Their usual dwarf 

 habits and preference for light positions make them suitable 

 subjects for basket culture, so that they may be suspended from 

 the roof in a compost of fibrous peat and sphagnum. They 

 require a humid atmosphere and strong heat when growing, but 

 are benefited by cooler quarters during the season of rest. 



Calanthes. — The deciduous section of this beautiful winter- 

 flowering genus are perhaps more generally grown than any 

 other species of Orchids, and they adapt themselves readily 

 to cultivation in almost every garden where stove accom- 

 modation exists. The plants should be repotted directly 

 they show signs of activity by starting from the base of the last- 

 made growths. The pots as to size must be governed by the 

 strength of the plant ; they should be filled one-third of 

 their depth with clean, broken crocks, the potting compost 

 consisting of rich fibrous loam and peat in equal proportions, 

 to which may be added a liberal supply of dried cow-manure 

 and a free sprinkling of rough sand. Calanthes are best 

 grown on a shelf close to the roof - glass. They require 

 very little water at the roots until the growths have got away 

 and the roots have taken hold of the material. They should 

 then be more liberally treated and have every encouragement, 

 and should not be allowed to become dry until the flower- 

 spikes have been removed, after which they may be rested until 

 the potting season returns, only sufficient water being given to 

 keep the bulbs in a plump condition. Calanthes may be had in 

 various colours, undoubtedly the finest of all being the lovely 

 hybrid raised in the collection of Baron Schroeder, after whom 

 it is named. The evergreen section is not so popular as the 

 deciduous class, but is very interesting. The plants require 

 similar treatment to that recommended lor Phaius. 



