t 



DENDKOBIUMS. 



59 



these plants to perfection they must have a good season 

 both of rest and growth. They require to be grown strong 

 to flow^er well. Some of the sorts are best grown in pots, 

 with peat and good drainage ; others do best on blocks of 

 wood. I keep them all in the East India house. During 

 their period of growth give them a good supply of heat and 

 moisture, with a liberal quantity of water at the roots : in 

 fact, the moss or peat never should be allowed to get dry- 

 while they are in a vigorous growth. After they have 

 finished their growth, allow them a good season of rest by 

 moving them into a cooler house, and during the time 

 they are in a cool house give them but very little water, 

 only enough to keep their bulbs from shrivelling. This is 

 the only way to make them grow strong and flow^er freely ; 

 when they begin to grow they should be moved back into 

 heat, and treated as is described above. They generally 

 begin to grow after their flowers are faded. 



They are propagated in different ways : some of them 

 form plants on the old bulbs, which should be cut off and 

 potted : some are propagated by cutting the old bulbs from 

 the plant after they have done blooming ; others are in- 

 creased by dividing the plants according to the directions 

 given in reference to propagation (p. 22). The Dendro- 

 biums are a large class of plants ; some of them not worth 

 growing, excepting for botanical purposes. The following are 

 among the finest in cultivation, and will amply reward the 

 care of the cultivator. 



Dendrohium Aduncum, from Manilla. — A rather strag- 

 gling grower : an evergreen species, producing its flower- 

 spikes from the old bulbs. The blossoms, which are small, 

 are white and pink in colour, and appear at different times 

 in the year, lasting two or three weeks in perfection. This 

 is best grown in a pot with peat and good drainage : it is 



