THE ORCHID GENERA 41 



phyllums, but they require an intermediate temperature 

 always, and must never be allowed to get dust-dry. B. 

 decora and B. rigida, being of scandent habit, should be 

 grown in pots, and tied up to neat sticks. I may men- 

 tion that some Burlingtonias here were potted in leaf- 

 soil about four months ago, and at the present time look 

 very promising. 



Calanthe 



The Calanthes are divided into two sections — deci- 

 duous and evergreen. The former section is more 

 largely cultivated, the large graceful flower-spikes being 

 valuable for decorative purposes. When cut, they last 

 for several weeks in a cool place. They supply an un- 

 interrupted succession of flowers during the winter 

 months, when Orchid bloom is scarce. The number 

 of true species is very limited, but the varieties have 

 been greatly multiplied during the past ten or fifteen 

 years by hybridisation. The species and hybrids com- 

 prising this group have pronounced pseudo bulbs, which 

 should be potted as soon as they begin to start into 

 growth in early spring. The compost in which Calan- 

 thes should be potted ought to be more retentive of 

 water than that used for most species of Orchids, and 

 may consist of one-half of fibry loam, one-fourth finely 

 chopped sphagnum, and one-fourth leaf soil, adding a 

 moderate quantity of small crocks and coarse silver sand, 

 the whole being well mixed together. 



When the pseudo bulbs are potted singly, which is 

 the usual practice, the pots should be of various sizes to 

 suit the plants or the accommodation at hand. Where 

 this is limited, four or five bulbs may be grown together 

 in a sufficiently large pot for the extension or development 

 of the new growths. The pots must be about half filled 

 with drainage materials, over which should be placed a 

 thin layer of turf with the grassy side downwards. This 



