io8 THE ORCHID WORLD. 
ripened their bulbs a dry and airy position 
should be selected for their winter quarters. 
Dendrobiums delight m a hot, moisture- 
laden atmosphere during their growing" 
season, and require but little ventilation until 
their bulbs reach maturity. Recent experi- 
ments, however, have shown that these con- 
ditions are not absolutely necessary, many 
excellent specimens having been produced by 
growing the plants in a moderate tempera- 
ture, similar to that of the Cattleya house, 
and where daily ventilation has been given. 
Plants grown under these latter ccnditions 
are probably less liable to be attacked by 
disease, but it is doubtful whether their 
flowering result is equal to the older method 
of culture in which abundance of heat and 
moisture is the chief factor. One thing 
remains certain, no bulb will give good 
flowering results unless it is sufficiently 
ripened during the autumn or close of its 
growing season. 
CULTURE OF 
DECIDUOUS CALANTHES. 
Ah'TER flowering, the bulbs of deciduous 
Calanthes should be allowed to rest 
m a warm temperature, such as a 
Cattleya house, and near to the glass in order 
that they may receive all the light possible, 
and also be kept quite dry. As soon as the 
bulbs commence to make new growths at their 
base they should be taken out of the pots and 
the old roots cut away, leaving onl)- just 
enough to steady them when placed in the 
new compost, the most suitable being good 
fibrous loam, with a little dry cow manure, 
fine charcoal and crocks, and a sprinkling of 
coarse sand. 
The bulbs should be firmly potted in rather 
small pots, using a liberal amount of drainage, 
over which a little sphagnum moss should be 
placed. The plants should then be placed 
near the light in a Cattleva house, and should 
not receive any water at the roots until the 
latter are working freely in the new compost, 
and then only a small quantity for some time. 
But when the pots are full of roots and the 
foliage is well advanced plenty of water ma\' 
[February, 1913- 
be given. As soon as the flower spikes have 
made good progress, and the foliage begins 
to turn yellow, the water mu.st be gradually 
withheld until the leaves have quite faded. 
From thence onwards the plants will require 
no more water, not even during the time when 
they are in bloom. 
Calanthes should never be syringed, and if 
grown with other plants that require this 
operation there must be some arrangement to 
prevent the water reaching them. When the 
plants are in full growth during the summer 
time weak applications of cow manure, twice 
a week, will prove advantageous, but this 
must be discontinued when the bulbs are 
made up and the flower spikes appear. 
J. Cypher. 
Deciduous Calanthes. — Messrs. Cypher 
and Sons have long been famous for their 
skill in the production and arrangement of 
decorative plants and flowers. The photo- 
graphic illustration m this issue depicts a 
wonderful show of Calanthes flowering in the 
depth of winter at their well-known establish- 
ment at Cheltenham. The species included in 
this group are vestita, with its varieties 
gigantea, luteo-oculata, and rubro-oculata ; 
and Regnieri. The hybrids comprise Veitchii, 
with its varieties alba and Sandhurstiana ; 
Sedenii, and its varieties bella and Harrisii ; 
and Bryan, the latter also known as Wm. 
Murray. 
No matter at what season of the year 
flowers are required the skill of the florist 
seems equal to their production. There are 
many owners of greenhouses who would 
greatly appreciate a winter supply of flowers, 
and nothing could give them greater satisfac- 
tion than a collection of Calanthes. True 
Orchids the)' are m every sense of the word, 
yet able to be grown under conditions more 
closely approaching greenhouse plants than 
any other species. No very special treatment 
is necessary, consequently everyone may 
obtain highly satisfactory results. At Christ- 
mas time the)' make a pleasing effect when 
arranged with palms and ferns, and their tall 
and graceful spikes remain in perfection for 
several weeks. 
