March, 1915-] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



127 



HABITATS OF ORCHIDS. 



IN order to obtain satisfactory results when 

 orowing Orchids under artificial con- 

 ditions it is very helpful and, indeed, 

 almost a necessity to procure details of the 

 climate and conditions under which they grow 

 in their natural abode. On this account the 

 following (ietails from letters v/ritten by 

 David Burke when collecting m Burma for 

 Messrs. Veitch and Sons will prove of value. 



Of Vanda Amesiana and Kimballiana he 

 remarks : — They grow mostly on rocks, 

 sometimes on trees, at an altitude of 4,000- 

 5,000 feet, ver)' slight shade, sometimes full 

 sun. Flowers are produced very freely m 

 December and January. In the cold season 

 the maximum temperature is 65, minimum 

 about 3 1 ; oftentimes the ground is quite 

 white and sometimes icicles form in the 

 morning, from four to six being the coldest 

 time. Sometimes the plants are completely 

 shrivelled, as the dew is not so heavy as that 

 formed in countries close to the equator. 



In the Southern Shan States Vanda 

 coerulea grows at an altitude of 4,500 feet, with 

 very slight shade, and is more often found 

 on bare rocks than on trees. In the month 

 of June I saw V. coerulea, V. Kimballiana, 

 Cypripedium bellatulum, Dendrobium crystal- 

 hnum, a Bulbophyllum species, and a Thunia, 

 probably Bensonis, all growing together on 

 one small precipice. Cypripedium bellatulum 

 grows on the highest points, on exposed rocks, 

 with very slight shade, and occasional hoar 

 frost at night time. A Cypripedium species 

 grows at an altitude of 6,000 feet, where it 

 is very cold ; in winter it must survive 8-10 

 degrees Fahr. of frost. 



Concerning Dendrobiums he writes to the 

 effect that D. crassmode grows on small 

 deciduous trees, at an elevation of 3,600-4,000 

 feet, with hoar frost every morning for a 

 period of two months. D. fimbriatum and D. 

 Dalhousieanum grow on trees and rocks full}' 

 exposed to the sun, at elevations of from 

 2,000-4.000 feet. D. suavissimum is found 

 high up on trees situated in the lower 

 localities, as also is D. crepidatum and D. 

 cretaceum. D. Cambridgeanum grows on 



rocks and small deciduous trees, fully 

 exposed to the sun, at an altitude of 3,000- 

 4,000 feet. 



Aerides crassifolium and other species 

 grow on trees, with slight shade, and at an 

 elevation of 2,500 feet. Saccolabium guttatum 

 is described as very scarce, the few speci- 

 mens seen were growing on trees, near 

 streams, at an elevation of 2,500 feet. 

 S. giganteum was discovered in the plains. 



Cypripedium hirsutissimum is plentiful and 

 grows on rocks, with but little soil, at an 

 elevation of 3,500-4,000 feet. Cypripedium 

 Parishii is found at varying altitudes ; in the 

 lowest situation it is found on trees, but as 

 higher ground is reached this plant is dis- 

 covered growing gradually nearer the earth, 

 until at its highest limit it is found actually 

 on the rocky soil, where it grows much freer 

 than when on trees. 



At 3,500 feet there is a frost every night 

 for about two months, notwithstanding which 

 certain Orchids flourish. 



A PLEA FOR MORE ORCHID 

 GROWING. 



AN APPRECIATION. 



REFERRING to the appeals and the 

 awakened interest for a more 

 extended culture of these lovely 

 plants, it is a source of gratification to notice 

 the lead taken by Messrs. Armstrong and 

 Brown, of Tunbridge Wells, who m their 

 advertisement in the current issue of the 

 Orchid World mvite with every encourage- 

 ment the voung amateur and beginner to 

 commence the cultivation of Orchids. 



Now although I hold no brief for this 

 estimable firm, I can assure those who 

 contemplate or desire to grow a few Orchids 

 that they will find there all thcv wish for in 

 m.aking a start, and at the minimum of 

 expense. Only a few days ago I saw in their 

 establishment a batch of Cypripediums in 

 flower that could not fail to please any 

 amateur, plants that a few years ago wpuld 



