66 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



of watering, and they must never be allowed to get 

 dry. The sphagnum moss with which they are 

 surrounded should be kept in a growing state, as the 

 least decaying matter that comes in contact with the 

 roots has an injurious effect. Neither do they take 

 kindly to shifting or re-blocking ; it will, therefore, 

 be advisable to grow them in the light earthenware 

 hanging-baskets already described, as by this means 

 there is no occasion to disturb their roots, which 

 must happen if they are grown upon blocks of wood 

 or in wooden baskets. They require full exposure 

 to the light, but must not be subjected to the 

 burning, rays of the sun, or the result will be 

 blistered leaves ; they also enjoy plenty of air, but 

 it must be warm and well charged with moisture. 

 The old flower-stems should not be cut off unless 

 they are dead, for in many instances they make 

 numerous lateral growths, and flower freely, which, 

 with those produced from the new spikes, add con- 

 siderably to the display. Specimens treated in this 

 manner sometimes bear from fifty to one hundred 

 blooms ; besides the extra number of flowers thus 

 obtained, they will often develop young plants from 

 these branching spikes ; in this case the spike should 

 be bent down, and the coming plant pegged to the 

 sphagnum, and not separated from the parent until 

 well rooted. 



Although Phalaenopsis are considered difficult to 

 manage, in most instances their declining health 

 arises from want of care, for no plants will sooner 

 give evidence of neglect. Therefore, to keep their 

 large and handsome leaves in a healthy condition, 

 they must have strict and careful attention; if this 

 is done an abundant supply of flow^er is sure to fol- 

 low. East Indian House. 



P. amabilis. — Leaves broadly- oblong or elliptic, 

 arranged in a distichous manner, thick and fleshy in 

 texture, and intense deep green in colour, tinged 

 with purple on the under side. Flower-spike droop- 

 ing, bearing a raceme of many flowers, each measur- 

 ing some three inches in diameter. Sepals much 

 smaller than the petals, all pure wmite. Lip white, 

 three-lobed, having a few raised plates at the base, 

 where there are a few streaks of yellow and crimson, 

 the tips lengthened out into two curious twisted 

 tendrils. Spring and early summer. Isle of Luzon, 

 in the neighbourhood of Manilla. 



P. grandiflora. — Leaves large, oblong, tapering 

 towards the apex, where they are slightly mucronate, 

 thick and fleshy in texture, colour bright green. 

 The flower-spike is sometimes simple, at other times 

 much branched— these branched stems are usually 

 the previous year's growth, which, if not cut off, 

 frequently live and make fresh shoots, and oftentimes 

 develop young plants. Flowers numerous, twenty 

 to fifty, or even one hundred, according to the vigour 



of the plant ; each upwards of four inches across, 

 pure white, saving a stain of yellow on the front 

 margin of the side lobe of the lip, and the twisted 

 tendrils, into which the tips are lengthened out, are 

 yellow, and not white, as in P. amabile. Summer 

 months. Java. 



P. grandijiora, var. aurea. — The varieties of the 

 species are numerous, but in many instances the dis- 

 tinctions are not sufficient to warrant a name ; this 

 plant is, however, an exception to the rule, for it is 

 very much larger, the large rounded petals making 

 a full and almost circular flower ; again, the yellow 

 on the side lobes of the lip is deeper, and covers a 

 larger surface, and the twisted tendrils (cirrhi) are 

 deep orange. Summer months. A native of Borneo. 



P. intermedia. — Introduced about the year 1850, 

 and sometimes called P. Lobbii. Supposed to be a 

 natural hybrid between P. amabile and P. rosea. Axis 

 of inflorescence deep brownish-purple, bearing flowers 

 half-way in size between P. amabile and rosea. Se- 

 pals pure white, concave, oblong-acute. Petals much 

 larger, lozenge-shaped, acute, pure white, with a few 

 minute speckles at the base. Lip three-lobed, wedge- 

 shaped with rounded angles, violet, with a few crim- 

 son spots and dots ; the middle division ovate, deep 

 crimson, with the point separated into two short 

 tendrils. Crest nearly square, depressed in the 

 middle, deep yellow with crimson dots. Philippine 

 Islands, neighbourhood of Manilla. 



P. Luddemanniana . — Leaves broad, oblong-acute, 

 thick and fleshy, arranged in a two-ranked manner, 

 some six inches long, and bright shining green. The 

 flower-stem very frequently develops young plants. 

 Sepals and petals nearly equal, oblong-acute, ground- 

 colour white, suffused with pale lilac, transversely 

 barred with purple ; in some forms these bars are 

 reddish-brown. Lip destitute of tendrils, three- 

 lobed,. the middle lobe deep rich violet, the lateral 

 ones and the column white. Spring and summer 

 months. Philippine Islands. 



P.Lowii. — A native of British Burmah, and, we 

 believe, the only species from the mainland of India 

 possessing much beauty, the others for the most part 

 being either small and inconspicuous, or dull-flowered. 

 It is said to grow naturally on bare exposed rocks, 

 full in the blazing sun, and that it loses its leaves 

 in the dry season ; under cultivation it also becomes 

 deciduous sometimes, and our experience is that 

 in most instances it proves then very hard to wake 

 up again. The plant differs from the other 

 members of the family in the thin texture of its 

 leaves, whilst those of the majority of the species 

 are thick and fleshy, or leathery; then again, 

 it is quite destitute of the peculiar cirrhi to the 

 labellum, whilst the column is lengthened out into 

 a 'curious rostellum, which, with its two eye-like 



