﻿THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



[April, 1904. 



needed to first give them a start into growth. Gradually accustom them to 

 heat light and moisture, for if this be done too rapidly the foliage may 

 ■drop off, and the pseudo-bulbs decay. As soon as newly-imported plants 

 are received, remove all decaying matter, and place them on the stage in an 

 •upright position in a somewhat cool, shady, and moist house. Gradually 

 inure them to water, by slightly moistening the roots to commence with, 

 and as plumpness and colour are seen to be returning, it is safe to increase 

 the supply. New growth and new roots will soon appear, and the plants 

 may then be potted and treated as established plants. When repotting, 

 take the advantage of forming well-shaped plants ; this can be done by 

 separating any big mass and re f m g t ag nore compactly. Ex- 

 perience show? that it is much better to separate large clumps piece by 

 piece, cutting away the old roots, and afterwards re-form the mass, so that 

 the base of the pseudo-bulbs rests upon the compost, into which the roots 

 quickly enter, and a vigorous, healthy specimen is the result. 



CHYSIS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



So great is the influence of fashion, even among Orchid enthusiasts, that 

 many species of Orchids have been somewhat neglected of late years, the 

 more popular hybrids taking their place to a great extent, but for the 

 benefit of young beginners in Orchid culture a few remarks on the genus 

 Chysis may be of interest, and at the same time prove instructive. 



The original species, Chysis aurca. was discovered about seventy years 

 ago in the valley of Cumancoa, in Venezuela, where plants are frequently 

 see j 1 ;d from the larger branches of trees by their long fibrous roots. 

 The pseudobulbs are fleshy, pendulous, and exceedingly brittle, and the 

 flower spikes are produced from the axils of the young growth. Blooming 

 late in spring and early summer, they make a line addition to an exhibition 

 of miscellaneous Orchids, and by judicious management the flowers may be 

 kept in beauty for a long time. C. aurea is a beautiful species; the flowers, 

 about six on a spike, are from two to three inches in diameter, the sepals 

 and petals yellow, sometimes marked with orange, and the lips also pale 

 yellow, but with several white raised keels on the disc. It is rather 

 capricious in its time of flowering, but blooms generally in April or May. 



A Mexican species, abo of great beauty, is C. bractescens, which was 

 introduced into this country in 1840. The plant has the same general 

 appearance as C. aurea, but is more robust. The wax-like flowers are three 

 inches across, the sepals and petals ivory white, and the lips golden yellow 

 stained with red. C. bractescens may easily be distinguished from C. aurea 

 by its leafy bracts, which are not seen in C. aurea. Its flowering season is 

 from March to May, and it lasts several weeks in beauty. 



