254 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[August, 1914. 



STANHOPEAS. 



THERE arc few Orchids which attract 

 more attention when m flower than 

 Stanhopeas, their curiously con- 

 structed blooms often resembling some tiger- 

 like animal, while their thick waxy nature 

 suggests an artificial construction. 



Although their native home is tliat of 

 Tropical America they can be very success- 

 fully grown in the Cattleya house, or, in fact, 

 111 any house having a similar atmosphere. In 

 this collection we allow them rather more sun 

 than is usual, the glass having only a very 

 thin permanent shading, while the lath roller 

 blinds are not put down until about mid-day, 

 and then only for a couple of hours. Probably 

 this treatment more closely resembles their 

 natural climate than that generally adopted. 



The habit of growth and pendulous nature 

 of the flower spikes necessitates the use of 

 baskets, with a compost consisting of 

 osmunda, polypodium and peat in equal part, 

 and some sphagnum moss. This material 

 should be pressed moderately firm, but not so 

 close and hard to prevent the flower spikes 

 irom pushing their way through, which they 

 often do when not growing over the side of 

 the basket. When in full growth the plants 

 delight in an abundance of water, and 

 syringing over-head with clean water several 

 times a day when tlie weather conditions are 

 favourable. During the winter months, when 

 the plants should be in a state of rest, a cooler 

 and drier atmosphere is required. Much less 

 water will be needed at the roots. The young 

 growths are often subject to attacks of thrip, 

 but a weekly spraying with a suitable 

 insecticide will keep this pest in check. 



Like most other Orchids which are culti- 

 vated under suitable treatment a rapid 

 enlargement of the plants results, and 

 frequently necessitates the use of larger 

 baskets for their accommodation. On account 

 of the cumbersome nature of large baskets it 

 may often be found best to divide the plants 

 into two or more portions, and to place each 

 one in a separate and smaller receptacle. 

 Propagation is readily effected, and if carried 

 out just before root action commences 



the young plants will quickly become 

 re-established. 



If 'there is one thing to be said against 

 Stanhopeas it is that their flowers do not last 

 very long in perfection, yet while they are 

 fresh a delicious fragrance is often emitted. 

 Still, I think a few plants should be included 

 in every amateur's collection, and those 

 specially worthy of culture are oculata, 

 platyceras, eburnea, tigrina, Devoniensis and 

 the rare convulata, all of which are good 

 growers. — H. G. Crosley, La Ferle Bernard, 

 Sarlhe, France. 



PHAL/ENOPSES. 



THE interesting photographs repro- 

 duced in this issue give some 

 idea of the extent to which the 

 cultivation of Phalasnopses is carried on 

 m California. One shows an immense 

 shipment of imported plants as received 

 by the MacRorie-McLaren Company of 

 San Francisco. It contained 10,000 various 

 Phalaenopses which arrived on the steamer 

 China April iith, 1914, from the Philippine 

 Islands. Among the plants are specimens 

 having leaves from 18 to 24 inches in 

 length. This is said to be the biggest 

 shipment ever made to America, and repre- 

 sents many years of collecting. A Filipino 

 native of the Islands was brought over with 

 the plants to ensure their proper care on the 

 voyage and to look after the plants on their 

 arrival. 



The other photograph shows a remarkable 

 exhibition of flowering plants in the same 

 establishment, and proves that Orchids, when 

 correctly cultivated, yield an abundance 

 of flower of the finest decorative value. 

 Although these plants appear to be placed on 

 staging they are, in reality, grown separately 

 in baskets suspended from the roof by means 

 of long wires. This method allows a free 

 circulation of air around their leaves and 

 results in a continuance of that healthy nature 

 of the plants so very essential to the 

 production of magnificent flower spikes. 



