ON ORCHIDS. 



609 



and are produced through the bars at the base. The potting 

 compost should consist of fibrous peat and sphagnum. They 

 require warm intermediate treatment, with a hberal supply 

 of moisture, during the growing season, . and a cooler treatment 

 when at rest. Fig. 391 represents S. fii^ri/ia in flower and 

 bud ; this is one of the finest species in cultivation. 



Thunia. — A genus of deciduous Orchids. They commence 

 growing in the early spring, which is the best time to repot 

 them. Each of the old bulbs should have a stick sufficiently 

 strong to secure 

 it firmly in posi- 

 tion, and they 

 may be placed 

 as many in each 

 pot as desirable. 

 The pots should 

 be half filled 

 with clean crocks. 

 When the plants 

 have been fixed 

 as desired, the 

 following com- 

 post should be 

 brought up to the 

 base of the 

 new growths and 

 pressed mode- 

 rately firm : Equal 

 portions of fibrous 

 loam and peat, to 

 which may be 

 added a free 

 sprinkling of dry 

 cow-manure. To 

 keep the compost 

 in a porous con- 

 dition finely- 

 broken crocks or 

 rough sand should 



be added. The plants should be placed in a light position of 

 the warm intermediate house. Little water will be needed at 

 first, but as soon as the new roots get hold of the compost 

 they will require a liberal supply up to the time when the 

 growths reach maturity, and the flowers are developed, after 

 which the moisture should be reduced, and the plants placed 

 in a cooler and more airy position until the bulbs have properly 

 ripened off, when they may be placed on a dry shelf in the 

 cool division for the resting period. 



2 R 



Fig. 390. — Oncidium Forbesii. 



