CALANTHE. 



41 



year ; lasts two or three weeks in good condition. Messrs. 

 Rollisson, of Tooting, have a fine stock of this species. 



CALANTHE. 



There are some beautiful species of this class of plants, 

 which are great favourites, and ought to be in every col- 

 lection. They are of easy culture, having handsome ever- 

 green fohage, except vestita, which is deciduous, losing its 

 leaves during the season of rest. All their flowers are 

 striking, and generally attractive. Most of them are rather 

 large, upright-growing plants, some of the leaves being a 

 foot and a half long and six inches broad. Their long 

 spikes of flowers rise from the bulbs, and come up between 

 the leaves. They generally make their growth after the 

 flowers have faded. These are terrestrial Orchids, and are 

 best grown in pots of a large size, with loam, leaf-mould, 

 and rotten dung, mixed together. When they are planted, 

 two inches of drainage should be put at the bottom of the 

 pot, then a layer of moss on rough peat ; after which the 

 pot should be filled up with the mould, and the plant left 

 about level with the rim. These plants are best grown in 

 the Indian house, and require well watering at the roots in 

 their growing season, so that the mould is never allowed to 

 get dry. They require but little rest; and during that 

 time not so much water, only enough to keep the soil 

 slightly damp. These plants are very much subject to the 

 brown and white scale, which should be diligently sought ; 

 for, if allowed to accumulate, the plants will not thrive : 

 they are propagated by dividing the plant. The following 

 are the most beautiful of this class. There are several 

 others; but as many of them are not worth growing, I 

 notice only those that are good. 



Calantlie furcata. — A showy Orchid from India, which 

 is very free in producing its spikes of white flowers, three 



