690 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



years, lias only once flowered; while a plant we 

 sent to Drumlanrig Castle nearly twenty years 

 ago, and which is grown in a stove along with a 

 mixed collection, flowers most profusely, and 

 covers the whole roof over the back passage to 

 such an extent as to require annual curtailment; 

 yet neither there, nor, as we have already stated, 

 at Claremont, is any other treatment employed 

 than that of the other stove-plants in general. 

 This is a most desirable plant, and has been ex- 

 perimented upon, with a view to insure its yearly 

 production of bloom, by many of our first-rate 

 orchid-growers, whose experience has led to the 

 following conclusions — namely : The plant must 

 be at least 4 or 5 feet in length before it will 

 be in a condition to bloom. Its season of rest 

 should commence about the beginning of No- 

 vember, and be continued till the end of Feb- 

 ruary, during which period it should be placed 

 in a day temperature not exceeding 60°, with a 

 fall during night of 1 0°. The atmosphere during 

 this time should be kept moderately dry, and 

 the plant deprived of water over its leaves. 

 From the beginning of March to the end of 

 June should constitute its growing season ; 

 during March and April it should be kept in a 

 temperature of 70° by day, and 60° by night, 

 rising to 85° by day, and 70° by night, during 

 May and June, and during the whole of this 

 period supplied abundantly with moisture. July, 

 August, and September will thus become the 

 flowering season, during which the temperature 

 should be reduced to 70° by day, and 60° during 

 the night, and now kept comparatively dry, and 

 the plant placed as near to the glass as possible. 

 Should this treatment not induce flowers during 

 the first season, a repetition of the same routine 

 during the second assuredly will. The plant 

 should be secured to the trunk of a tree 4 or 5 

 inches in diameter, which will retain it in a 

 portable state. Small bundles of moss are fast- 

 ened to the stems to retain moisture, while the 

 roots are allowed to extend themselves in the 

 air without interruption. 



Schomburghia. — The roots of this fine genus, 

 being impatient of much moisture, should have 

 the blocks upon which they are fixed suspended 

 vertically, and not horizontally, as in general 

 cases. A high humid temperature and atmo- 

 sphere is required while the plants are growing. 

 When the growing season is past they should be 

 removed to a much cooler and drier house, and 

 water entirely withheld; their period of rest 

 should extend to four or five months. 



Sophronitis. — A genus of small-growing plants, 

 growing on the very tops of lofty trees on the 

 Organ Mountains; they therefore do not re- 

 quire a high temperature, but a moderate degree 

 of humidity while growing, and a comparatively 

 dry atmosphere while in a state of rest. 



Vanilia. — This is perhaps the most valuable 

 of all tropical orchids, in a commercial point of 

 view, producing as it does the high-priced and 

 rare vanilla of the shops. The vanilla is obtained 

 from the seed-pods of the plant, and was first 

 produced in Europe by Professor Morine, of the 

 University of Liege. It has fruited in various 

 places in England since that time, and may be 

 made to do so freely if attention is paid to fertil- 



ising the flowers, which, with healthy and free- 

 growing plants, is all that is necessary. The 

 whole genus Vanilia are true epiphytes, their 

 strong fleshy roots clinging to any solid sub- 

 stance within their reach, the stem of a tree 

 being, however, preferred. The plant roots also 

 freely in half-decayed tan, and grows with great 

 rapidity. Nor is it only the pods of this plant 

 which render it an important inhabitant of our 

 stoves; its flowers are large, beautiful, and 

 agreeably fragrant during the night. 



SELECTION OF ORCHIDS WHICH SHOULD EE 

 GROWN IN BASKETS. 



A ngrcecwm. — Eequires a high temperature while 

 in the act of growing, accompanied with a regular 

 but moderate supply of moisture ; they should 

 occupy the warmest house or division during 

 that period, and be removed to the intermediate 

 one during their season of rest and drought. 



Cirrhcea. — From the manner of their flower- 

 ing, which is in long drooping racemes, they are 

 better adapted to basket than to pot culture, in 

 which latter they do equally well, only their 

 flowers are shown to much less advantage. Being 

 natives of Brazil, the intermediate temperature 

 is suitable for them. 



Dendrobium. — This extensive and splendid 

 genus thrives well when set in baskets, but as 

 many of them attain a considerable height, a 

 block of wood, of from 1 to 2 feet in length, 

 should be planted in the basket firmly, to which 

 the plants will attach themselves as they extend 

 in height. Above the wooden support, which 

 acts as a trunk or stem, the roots will extend 

 themselves in the air, and draw nourishment 

 from it. This genus extends over a considerable 

 extent of latitude ; some, therefore, require ac- 

 commodation in the warmer compartment, and 

 others in the intermediate one. D. speciosum 

 requires only a temperature of from 45° to 55° 

 during winter, and not more than 55° to 65° 

 during summer. 



JSaccolabium. — A splendid genus, requiring 

 abundance of heat and moisture during their 

 growing season ; a cooler and drier abode during 

 their season of rest. They should not be dis- 

 turbed above once in two years, therefore give 

 them plenty of root-room at first starting. 



Stanhopea. — The flower-spikes proceeding from 

 the bottom part of the plant often quite hori- 

 zontally, although sometimes perpendicularly 

 downwards, baskets are found indispensable for 

 their proper cultivation. It is a strong-growing 

 and free-flowering genus, and should have plenty 

 of room at the roots. An intermediate tempera- 

 ture is best for them, keeping them moderately 

 moist while in a growing state. They are also 

 robust in constitution, and will accommodate 

 themselves to a considerable range of tempera- 

 ture, but will require moisture in due proportion 

 to the temperature they are in. 



Vanda. — The whole genus requires a high 

 temperature, with corresponding humidity, dur- 

 ing their season; ours are kept in the Victo- 

 ria-house, and seem to thrive well. Their grow- 

 ing season appears to be from May to September. 

 During the rest of the year they should be kept 



