THE ORCHID GENERA 



gascar, have both unfortunately caused much disappoint- 

 ment under our artificial treatment. The flowers of the 

 first-named are of remarkable beauty, the wonderful 

 diversity in the colours and markings of the blooms 

 being especially attractive ; the structure of the flower 

 is singular, and very difficult to describe. P. tuberculosis 

 should be grown in well-drained shallow pans, over the 

 drainage being placed a layer of fibrous peat. Place the 

 plants upon this compost ; then cover the surface, filling 

 closely up to the rhizome with clean living sphagnum. 

 Stand the plants low down on the stage in a shady 

 corner of the hottest division, and where they will get 

 plenty of air. The sphagnum and compost should be 

 kept moist all the year round. P. Humblotii should be 

 grown as advised for Pachystoma Thomsoniana. There 

 are about a dozen beautiful and interesting hybrids of 

 Phaius, and several pretty and distinct crosses between 

 Phaius and Calanthe called Phaio-Calanthe. 



Phal^nopsis 



These beautiful plants are widely distributed through- 

 out the Eastern tropics — Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Philip- 

 pines, and other islands in the Malayan Archipelago — 

 and a few species are to be found in India. Coming 

 from the hottest and most humid portions of the earth's 

 surface, Phalaenopsis should be cultivated in the highest 

 temperature available in our houses. In some gardens a 

 house is specially devoted to their culture, but, where no 

 such accommodation exists, the warmest corner of the 

 East Indian house should be set apart for them. Shallow 

 teak wood baskets, that may be suspended to the roof, 

 are most suitable for growing the plants in, as their 

 roots cling to the rods in the same way as they cling to 

 the bark of trees in their native home. Some cultivators 



