ORCHID. HOUSE. 



693 



require abundance of humidity while growing, 

 and to be kept very dry at the root, yet in a some- 

 what moist atmosphere, during the first part of 

 their period of rest, and afterwards much drier, 

 taking care, however, that the pseudo bulbs and 

 foliage do not actually shrivel. 



Lissochilus. — A true terrestrial genus ; natives 

 of the warmest parts of Africa, growing in open 

 and exposed places. Contrary to the majority 

 of even terrestrial orchids, they require a pretty 

 strong soil, three parts loam, with a little leaf- 

 mould, sand, and turfy peat. A day tempera- 

 ture of from 70° to 80° is required, falling to 

 65° during the night. During winter the roots 

 should be kept rather dry, but with a moderate 

 humidity in the atmosphere, with a temperature 

 of from 55° to 60° during the night. 



Lycaste. — Turfy peaty soil, with thorough 

 drainage ; a temperature of from 65° to 70° by 

 day during their growing period, and from 55° 

 to 60° by day during their period of rest. While 

 growing, they require abundance of moisture, 

 but diminished when that season is past. 



Maxillaria. — Soil very rough, fibrous, peaty 

 turf, with a small addition of chopped sphag- 

 num and pieces of charcoal intermixed. Being 

 chiefly natives of Guatemala, they do not re- 

 quire a great heat, but, like all other plants, 

 they do require a season of rest as soon as their 

 flowering and growth have ceased ; and if kept 

 dry at this time, the temperature may fall as 

 low as 45°. 



Miltonia.— They will thrive well in a similar 

 soil to the last, and the most perfect drainage. 

 They also require to be set in a somewhat 

 shaded part of the house, as too much light 

 causes the leaves to turn yellowish, and im- 

 perfect drainage produces a like effect. They 

 are natives of the woods of Brazil, and therefore 

 impatient of strong sunshine. Their growing 

 temperature should be from 75° to 80° during 

 the day, and 65° during the night. While in a 

 state of rest, it should fall to 60° by day, and 

 55° during the night. During their growth 

 they require abundance of moisture, but this 

 must be gradually lessened after they have 

 completed their growth, and no more given 

 afterwards than is sufficient to keep the pseudo- 

 bulbs and leaves from shrivelling. 



Mormodes. — Soil similar to the last, with a 

 temperature, while in a growing state, of from 

 70° to 80° by day, 65° by night. During their 

 season of rest it should be allowed to decline to 

 55° by night and 60° during the day. 



Odontoglossum. — Soil similar to the last, with 

 a day temperature of from 65° to 70° during its 

 season of growth ; during its period of rest it 

 may safely decline to from 45° to 50°. The 

 whole of the genus is of easy cultivation, and 

 highly deserving of being admitted into every 

 collection. 



Oncidium. — Many of these thrive well, as we 

 have noticed elsewhere, on blocks; the majority, 

 however, prefer to be grown in pots, in an open 

 porous soil, exactly similar to that recommended 

 for the last three genera. Occupying as they do 

 so large a geographical distribution, some differ- 

 ence, as a matter of course, exists as regards 

 their proper temperature and culture. Those 

 VOL. II. 



acquainted with the genus will have observed a 

 marked distinction in the form and size of their 

 leaves — so much so, indeed, as to constitute two 

 very distinct sections, the first having large, thick, 

 fleshy leaves, altogether devoid of, or with very 

 slightly marked pseudo-bulbs or swellings at 

 their base ; O. Cavendishianum, Cavendishi, 

 luridum, Lanceanum, &c, forming types of 

 this class, while O. sphacelatum, leucochilum, 

 &c, form types of the second class, which 

 have large pseudo-bulbs, and in general smaller, 

 thinner, and longer leaves. For the most part, 

 the plants of the first section are indigenous to 

 the tropical parts of the New World, and conse- 

 quently require more heat than those of the sec- 

 ond section, which are chiefly natives of elevated 

 parts of Guatemala. During the growing season 

 of the first section, abundance of water is re- 

 quired both at the roots and also in the atmos- 

 phere of the house, until the young leaves are 

 fully matured. Afterwards lessen the quantity 

 of water gradually, and during their season of 

 repose give little or none ; at same time reduce 

 the temperature also. As regards the second 

 section, the soil and shifting are identical with 

 the first, but the temperature must be kept 

 much lower ; and their proper place will be in 

 the cooler part of the intermediate house, or 

 even the warmest part of the coldest house. As 

 regards humidity, the same rule must be ob- 

 served as in the case of the first section, the 

 pseudo-bulbs containing within themselves quite 

 sufficient moisture to maintain the plants in 

 health until the growing season returns. 



Peristeria. — A stronger and richer soil is re- 

 quired for this family than for most other 

 orchids — fibrous, sandy, loamy soil, with a por- 

 tion of leaf-mould, and a small portion of sand, 

 intermixed with pieces of charcoal. Give ample 

 pot-room, as the plants are strong and require 

 nutriment. As natives of central America they 

 require a temperament of 75° to 80° by day, 

 and from 65° to 70° by night, during their grow- 

 ing season ; and while at rest, from 55° to 60° 

 will be quite sufficient for them, keeping them 

 moderately dry during their season of repose. 



Phaius. — A true terrestrial genus. Soil should 

 be of a loamy nature, mixed with the leaves and 

 twigs of trees. Temperature while growing 

 from 75° to 80°, and from 65° to 70° during the 

 night. They also require a mild bottom-heat 

 and a moderate degree of shade. During the 

 growing season water freely, but during their 

 season of rest water sparingly if at all. 



JSchomburgkia is often successfully grown upon 

 blocks of wood ; but becoming in time too large, 

 and requiring more root nourishment, it has 

 been found expedient to pot them after they have 

 become well established. Thorough drainage, 

 and fibrous turfy soil, with which pieces of char- 

 coal and broken crocks are incorporated, is the 

 most proper. Indeed, some cultivators grow 

 them in broken crocks alone; but this certainly 

 does not afford sufficient nourishment to enable 

 them to make large-sized pseudo-bulbs. A tem- 

 perature during growth of from 80° to 85°, with 

 10° less during their period of rest, is the heat 

 in which they appear to thrive best. 



Sobralia. — This genus prefers a strong loamy 



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