206 
ON GROWING ACHIMENES. 
folly encouraged fo grow, rather diminishes the abundance of their blossoms, and they ! 
have consequently been regarded by many as shy and indifferent bloomers. How. 
ever, this is far from being the case when partially restricted in its growth, by 
using a poorer soil and a smaller pot. In the garden of the Horticultural Society 
at Chiswick, a plant, which had accidentally sprung up amongst the moss on a 
block of wood in the Orchidaceous house, has flowered with extraordinary freedom. 
And if several plants were placed in a basket, and the stems permitted to hang 
loosely over the sides, and entangle themselves one with another, and having been 
conveyed round the under surface of the basket, afterwards allowed to resume an 
erect position, their increasedly numerous ramifications would produce a complete 
mass of flower, which, from being brought into closer proximity, would have a 
more gorgeous effect. 
Perhaps the most eligible kind of basket for growing them in, is the hemi- 
spherical one generally used for Stanhopeas. But for the sake of additional variety 
many other forms may be employed, models for which may be observed in almost 
every extensive collection of Orcliidaceae. Blocks of wood will, probably, be found 
approvable, where the roots can be enveloped in a moderate casing of moss. 
The baskets may either be filled entirely with moss, in which they root pretty 
w T ell, or the centre may be filled with an open fibrous soil, and a layer of moss 
placed round the outside to prevent it from washing away. But a better method 
will be to fill the basket with a very fibrous peat, as free as possible from small, 
fine earthy particles. A well-decomposed swarth from a common, grows them 
admirably ; indeed, they are far from difficult to suit in the medium for the roots. 
When they can be procured, the old decayed root-stocks of Ferns, such as 
Aspidiums , will be a very appropriate material. 
It may be questionable whether the plants will succeed best if the roots are 
planted in the basket before they begin to grow ; or whether it may not be more 
advisable to transplant young specimens already started in small pots and grown a 
few inches in length. This may soon be decided by practice. Whichever way 
may be adopted, they should be spread over the whole surface, botli upper and 
under, or at least upon the top and sides, so that the basket may be concealed as 
much as possible. 
In many stoves and intermediate houses, the back wall is covered with rough 
pieces of bark or wood, disposed in such a manner as to admit a portion of moss 
to grow Ferns, or Orchidaceous plants. A few plants of the different species of 
Achimenes inserted among these, will add a very agreeable feature. The only 
care required, will be to select places where there is some material for the roots to 
spread into, and where they may not be smothered with other things. 
Every one, moreover, who has been in the habit of visiting collections of 
Orchidaceee, must have been struck with the disagreeable predominancy of the 
dark-brown colour of the blocks of wood, &e., to which the plants are attached, 
over the green hue of the foliage. As a means of giving a more lively appearance 
