MR. T. SII0RTT ON TERRESTRIAL ORCHIDS. 



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The genera Orchis, Ophrys, and many other European and 

 American Orchids are generally of easy cultivation ; at the same 

 time, some are very refractory. Ophrys apifera and 0. aranifera, 

 as well as Orchis maculata superba, are very curious and of easy 

 cultivation, requiring a strong calcareous soil. The best time to 

 remove them is when the flowers are on the decay, the tubers for 

 the following year being then fully grown. The tubers should be 

 carefully lifted and divested of all soil, and planted in strong 

 loam passed through a fine sieve in a rather dry. state, after which 

 they should be deluged with water, by which the soil becomes 

 firm and compact, a condition in which the plants delight. 



Orchis bifolia midfoliosa succeed with the same treatment, sub- 

 stituting peat for loam. 



African Species. — Africa is rich in Terrestrial Orchids, promi- 

 nent among which is Disa grandiflora with its crimson flowers of 

 great beauty ; Disa macrantha has larger flowers, of a pure white, 

 and is perhaps the finest of the genus ; D. secunda is a small edition 

 of D. grandiflora ; D. barbata has a twiggy habit. Lissochilus speci- 

 osa is very fine, attaining a height of from 4 to 6 feet, and pro- 

 ducing magnificent loose spikes or thyrses of yellow butterfly- 

 flowers. Eulophia Dregiana, the flowers of which resemble a little 

 dove hanging by its beak, is white, with chocolate sepals. Some 

 of the Satyria also are worthy of notice. 



The whole of the African species succeed best in fibrous sandy 

 loam, the pots being well drained and large in proportion to the 

 plants. The Discs are very impatient of heat or a confined at- 

 mosphere. A pit with a north-east aspect suits them best for 

 summer, and a cool greenhouse in winter. 



In potting Discs great care should be taken not to injure the 

 roots ; for a loss of leaves, more or less in proportion to injury, 

 will certainly follow. During the growing-season a liberal supply 

 of water is required, keeping them much drier when dormant. 

 They are, however, seldom completely at rest. They cannot en- 

 dure the least frost, though a very cool treatment must be followed. 



Australian. — Many of the Orchids from this extensive country 

 are beautiful, curious, and interesting. Thelymitra takes the first 

 rank, producing bright-blue flowers in spikes from 1 to 2 feet 

 high, and generally grows among dwarf bushes. Diurides, with 

 their yellow and brown flowers, luxuriate in open glades in the 

 full sun. The curious Pterostylis cryptostylis and Prasophyllum 

 and others delight in the shade of Eucalypti and other trees. 



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