CULTIVATION OF ORCHIDS. 



333 



house. About half fill the pans with drainage, and the soil should consist of equal parts 

 of loam, fibrous peat, Sphagnum Moss, and a little coarse silver sand. Being free rooting, 

 the bulbs should be planted well above the level of the pan, say about i.'.in. higher in 

 the centre, gradually coming down to the level of the rim. After repotting a gentle 

 watering should be given to settle the soil, and until the young growths commence to 

 send up their leaves and roots are seen pushing through the soil the supply of water 

 must be very limited, as if too much be given at this time the growths are liable to 

 decay. When the plants become re-established they may receive a large quantity. 

 Being deciduous, keep the plants rather dry after the leaves have fallen and until the 

 flowers fade, when they will recommence to grow, and may then be repotted. P. humilis 

 and P. Hookeriana, coming from a higher elevation, prefer a light and airy position in the 

 coolest Orchid house, otherwise their requirements are identical w ith the others enumerated. 

 The following Sobralias, S. macrantha, S. M. alba, S. xantholeuca, S. leucoxantha, S. virginalis, 

 S. Ruckeri, S. Lucasiana, S. Lindeni, S. Liliastrum, S. albo-violacea, S. speciosissima, 

 S. Veitchi, and S. Warscewiczi, are showy plants when in flower, and, although the individual 

 blooms do not last long, rarely more than three or four days, are well worth growing. 

 When they get strong a succession of flowers is provided that compensates for the indi- 

 vidual blooms being short-lived, and there are few plants in the whole Orchid family that 

 surpass the splendid colours they possess. All Sobralias are strong rooting, and require 

 plenty of pot room ; they are not particular as to soil, almost any kind of porous compost 

 being suitable. Whilst growing, the plants must be plentifully supplied with water. Sobralias 

 should have a light position, as near to the roof glass as possible, as if kept too shady 

 they are liable to become 

 drawn. 



The same remarks 

 apply to the tall - growing 

 Epidendrums, of which the 

 following are the most desir- 

 able: E. arachnoglcssum, rich 

 magenta-crimson ; E. cinna- 

 barinum, dense racemes of 

 bright red flowers ; E. elon- 

 gatum, bright rose; 

 E. Frederici Guilielmi, red- 

 purple ; E. O'Brienianum, a 

 handsome hybrid, of strong 

 growth, producing flowers of 

 a uniform bright carmine ; 

 E. radicans, a general 

 favourite, with panicles of 

 bright orange scarlet flowers, 

 which open in succession, 

 for three or four months ; 

 E. Schomburgki, bright ver- 

 milion red ; and E. xanthinum, 

 with dense beads of bright 

 yellow flowers that are some- 

 times tinged with orange. 

 All these plants grow 

 thoroughly well in well- 

 drained pots, and they root 



FORMS OF CYPRIPEDIUM. 



