IMPORTED PLANTS 7 



condition, and have but a small number of roots that 

 exhibit any signs of life. These plants should, within 

 a few days after their arrival, be suspended head down- 

 wards in an intermediate temperature in a shady part of 

 the house, and be slightly syringed at least once a day. 

 In a very short time the leaves will have assumed their 

 natural colour, and the stems and old root stumps will 

 commence to emit their new succulent roots. Imme- 

 diately this is observed the plants should be taken down 

 and placed in as small pots as possible (teak wood 

 baskets are preferable for Phalsenopsis), using the 

 crocks for potting, so as to come up almost to the 

 edge of the pot, covering the whole with good living 

 sphagnum moss, and pressing it down moderately firm. 



After potting, place the plants in a warmer at- 

 mosphere, in what is generally termed the East 

 Indian house. They will require but little water until 

 thoroughly established, just enough being afforded to 

 keep the sphagnum fresh and green. During this period 

 any exposure to strong sunshine will sometimes cause 

 loss of foliage. The retention of the leaves being neces- 

 sary to the well-doing of the plants they should be 

 carefully shaded, independently of the other inmates, 

 a few sheets of tissue paper answering very well for 

 this purpose. Newly imported plants of the different 

 genera above-mentioned frequently send out flower 

 spikes, which should always be pinched off, as nothing 

 tends so much to debilitate the plants as early flowering. 

 (Species of Vanda and Angroecum that require less 

 warmth will be treated of in their respective cultural 

 divisions.) 



The genus Cypripedium has, under the latest nomen- 

 clature, been classified into four sections — Cypripedulum, 

 Selenipedilum, Phragmipedilum, and Paphiopedilum. 

 All of them are so widely known in gardens as 

 Cypripedium that for the sake of convenience, and to 



