ORCHIDS FOR BEGINNERS. 



I 



T IS MY intention to give a few observations on 

 the cultivation of some of tlie free-growing and 

 most easily flowered orchids which are the 

 best adapted for 

 amateurs who 

 may be desirous of 

 commencing the cul- 

 tivation of this, the 

 most fascinating 

 branch of horticul- 

 ture. The orchids 

 whi c h I intend 

 briefly to put before 

 the reader are all 

 very easily grown, 

 providing they have 

 a fair amount of at- 

 tention, such as all 

 other plants require 

 to bring them to the 

 highest state of per- 

 fection. It will, per- 

 haps, be best to take 

 each family separa- 

 tely, and to give a 

 suitable list in each 

 paper. 



I think we cannot 

 do better than to place 

 first of all the beauti- 

 ful genus cypripedi- 

 um, or lady slipper 

 ■orchid. This genus 

 is more sought after 

 by collectors of or- 

 chids than any other, 

 and small wonder, 

 when we consider the 

 wonderful form and 

 beauty of the flowers, 

 and the ease with 

 which the plants may 

 be grown. As it is 

 understood that these 

 notes are intended 

 only forthose who are 

 contemplating form- 

 ing a collection of or- 

 chids, only the more common species will be enumer- 

 ated, and none need have fear of failing with them. 

 To have the flowering period as long as passible, we 



must grow at least twenty varieties. The following list 

 contains sufficient varieties, so that flowers should be 

 produced nearly or quite the year round : 



C. argns, C, bar- 

 batum, C. Boxalli, 

 C. caudatitin, C. cili- 

 olare, C. Haynaldi- 

 a?iuin, C. hirsutissi- 

 inuni, C. Harrisian- 

 iim, C. insigiie, C. 

 Laicreiiceanimi, C. 

 Lowii, C. longifol- 

 iim, C. hrvigatum, 

 C- Sed£?tn^ C. Spic- 

 eria?uini, C. super- 

 bie7is. C. selligeriim, 

 O villosiim, C. ve- 

 nustiiin and Uropedi- 

 um Lmdenii. 



Many of these have 

 very handsome foli- 

 age, and are, indeed, 

 scarcely equalled by 

 other plants. 



As regards culture, 

 little can be said. It 

 is of great c o n s e- 

 quence always to keep 

 the plants clean, for 

 without cleanliness no 

 one can hope to be 

 successful. Very few 

 insects trouble o r - 

 chids. Thrips are 

 their worst enemy, and 

 their presence is made 

 known by the fact 

 that the middle of the 

 young leaves turn 

 rust}'. But by occasionally syringing from above, even 

 these pests will soon disperse. The temperature of the 

 house may range from 55° to 70° F. 



Cypripediums require a fair amount of pot room, but 

 care must be taken not to over-pot them. The soil 

 should consist of equal parts of peat and sphagnum moss, 

 chopped up into lengths of one or one and one-half 

 inches. Pot rather firmly. The pot should be one-third 

 filled with clean broken potsherds, rather small, and 

 the plant, when potted, should stand, so to speak, on a 

 small hillock. When purchasing plants an idea can be 

 formed how to repot them by observing how ti;ey stand 

 when received. Cypripediums require a very liberal 

 supply of water, more especially from March till the 



Spathoglottis Vieillardii. 

 (See page go. ) 



