VARIEGATED ORCHIDS. 



101 



more than ordinary attention, and expressing admiration of 

 their elegance, richness, and beauty. 



The flowers are produced on short upright spikes ; but 

 as the blossoms are small, and often injure the plant, I 

 always nip' them off as soon as they appear. 



The whole genus must receive a different sort of treat- 

 ment from any of the other Orchids. They are best grown 

 in pots under bell-glasses, in the heat of the East India house, 

 in a shady part. I grow them in sphagnum moss chopped 

 into small pieces, with some river sand mixed well together. 

 Silver sand will answer the same pm^pose. I have grown 

 them in both with good drainage. These plants do not 

 require large pots to grow^ in, as they do not root freely : 

 they succeed best in a small pot plunged into a larger one, 

 so that the bell-glass fits the outside pot, which will afford 

 space for the leaves to grow within the glass. They requke 

 fresh potting once every year, and I have found the month 

 of Februaiy or beginning of March the best time. The 

 plants should be elevated above the rim of the pot one or two 

 inches ; and during their season of growth they require an 

 abundance of water at the roots, especially dming the sum- 

 mer season. In winter they only need just enough to keep 

 the material a little damp ; and they require but a short 

 season of rest. The bell-glasses must always be^iept over 

 them, and should be perfectly clean inside ; for if the glasses 

 are allowed to become dirty, the plants will not thrive. 



Anaectochiluses are propagated by cutting the plants 

 into pieces, with a root attached to each piece : when there 

 is only a single stem, the plant should be cut off just 

 below the first root, and put in a small pot, with the ma- 

 terial before named ; after the top of the plant has been 

 thus removed, leave the bottom part of the plant in the 

 pot with the bell-glass over it, and it will soon throw up a 

 young shoot, which must be left on till it has formed roots ; 



