160 
ON THE CULTURE OF PHAIUS ALBUS. 
quires, we will commence with the management of it while in a torpid state, and 
follow it through its various stages, till it again arrives at the same period of its 
existence. When a plant of this species becomes dormant, which is known by its 
shedding its leaves, and by the formation of a brown incrustation or bark over the 
stems, which gives them the appearance of dead branches ; it should be placed in 
a cool house, the temperature of which, throughout the winter season, should not 
be higher than 45° or 50° Fahrenheit ; but should it unfortunately become torpid 
in the summer season, it is better to remove it at once to the open air, and allow it 
to remain in that situation until it naturally commences growing, for, as before 
remarked, this plant will not bear stimulating. After it has reposed, according to 
the ordinary course of nature, the proper time, it will begin to shoot from the base 
of the stems, and when the bud or young shoot is about half an inch in length, the 
plant should be re-potted into heath-soil, well drained at the bottom, and mingled 
with an abundance of finely broken potsherds, according to the usual method of 
potting orchidaceous plants. For a moderate-sized plant, the pot should be about 
six inches in diameter at the top, which will allow of its completing the annual 
growth without being again potted. 
When the plant is thus potted, it should be placed in the orchidaceous house, 
in a humid atmosphere, and liberally watered at the roots ; when these latter begin 
to form, the plant should be syringed once or twice in each day, continuing this 
practice until the young shoots exhibit their flowers, when syringing must be dis- 
continued, but water should still be copiously supplied to the roots. Like most 
other orchidaceous plants, it requires to be well shaded during the growing season, 
and it may be observed that this species is especially liable to suffer if this par-^ 
ticular is neglected. 
As soon as the flowers expand, the plant may be removed into a cooler house, 
or drawing-room, for by this practice the flowers will frequently continue for three 
weeks, or even longer. At this stage of its growth, a greater degree of shading is 
necessary to preserve it in flower. 
When the plant has ceased flowering, it should remain in a cool house, and be 
sparingly watered till the leaves begin to turn yellow, when it must be removed 
into a still cooler situation and kept moderately dry, in which state it may be pre- 
served until it again commences growing in the following spring. Throughout the 
winter season, it is particularly necessary to guard against any accumulation of 
superfluous moisture about the roots, and only sufiicient water should be applied to 
preserve the plant alive, taking care never to wet the stems. 
The above sketch comprises the most important particulars of our treatment of 
this charming plant at Chatsworth, and we have hitherto experienced the most 
perfect success. This we attribute in a great measure to our having correctly 
ascertained the natural habits of this plant, and we have not the slightest doubt 
that the more information of this nature we are enabled to acquire relative to 
orchidaceas generally, aided by scientific principles, and actual experience, the 
greater success and perfection will be attained in the cultivation of this splendid tribe. 
