September, 1914.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD 



283 



Calanlhe Veilchii (rosea X vestita). 



Inflorescence densely racemose or corymbose- 

 racemose ; bracts small, appressed, much 

 shorter than the ovaries. 



Cultural Notes : Vestit.^. The 

 species and hybrids comprising this group 

 should be potted as soon as they begin to 

 start into growth in early spring. In 

 removing the pseudobulbs from the pots the 

 exhausted soil should be shaken out and the 

 old roots cut off ; the pseudobulbs should 

 then be re-potted in a compost of two-thirds 

 fibrous loam and one-third peat with the 

 addition of a little sand to assist drainage. 

 If good fibrous loam is not obtainable, a 

 compost of three-fourths fibrous peat and 

 one-fourth sphagnum moss may be substituted 

 with the addition of a little dried cow manure. 



When the pseudobulbs are potted singly, 

 which is the usual practice, small pots should 

 be preferred, from which the plants can be 

 subsequently shifted into others of larger 

 dimensions if necessary. The pots should be 

 filled to one-half their depth with drainage, 

 consisting of clean broken crocks, upon which 

 may be placed a layer of sphagnum, and the 

 remainder filled with compost up to the rim. 

 Water must be given sparingly at first until 

 the new growths, in the axis of which the 

 pseudobulbs are formed, begin to root freely. 



As soon as active growth has fairly 

 commenced the plants must receive frequent 

 and liberal waterings at the roots. At this 

 stage, when the pots are well filled with roots, 



many cultivators supplement the usual 

 waterings with a little weak manure water, 

 applying it about once a week or less 

 frequently according to the condition of the 

 plants. As the new pseudobulbs approach 

 maturity and the leaves begin to turn yellow 

 the waterings must be gradually reduced in 

 frequency and quantity, till at length when 

 the leaves have fallen and the flower scapes 

 appear they must reach the minimum or only 

 just sufficient to prevent the latter from 

 drooping. 



After flowering water must be withheld 

 altogether and the pseudobulbs allowed 

 to become dormant ; they will be most 

 effectively brought into this state by laying 

 the pots on their sides in any dry place such 

 as may be found under one of the stages of 

 the house in which they are cultivated. 

 Coming from one of the hottest regions of 

 the globe the Calanthes of this section 

 require the temperature of the East Indian 

 house, in which during active growth they 

 should have a light and airy position ; they 

 may also be successfully cultivated in a pine 

 stove or a cucumber house. 



Veratrifoll^:. The same compost may 

 be used for the species and hybrids belonging 

 to this group as for the deciduous kinds, 

 giving drainage to about one-third of the 

 depth of the pot. The re-potting should be 

 performed in early spring, and as all the 

 cultivated kinds are vigorous-growing plants 



