THE FLOKAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE, 
83 
little C. vestita aud C. lufea, both of which are good. They are so very 
nearly alike (the only difference being in the colour of the eye) that 
one variety in a collection is quite sufficient unless it is a large one. 
For my own part, I prefer vestita, which has a pink eye ; the other has 
a yellow one. And, again, there is C. furcafa and C.masuca, desirable 
things in their way, the last- mentioned being of great value for 
e.xhibition. Dominy’s charming hybrids, C. Bominii and G. Veitchii, 
should also be in every collection. The last has large pink flowers 
which are freely produced during the winter, and are of great value 
for bouquets. 
To have them in perfection, let them have the assistance of a tem- 
perature varying from 70° to 80° during the summer months, and 
about 55° during the winter. A compost of two parts nice light 
fibry loam, and one part each of peat, rotten leaf-mould, thoroughly 
decomposed cow-dung, with a little sharp silver-sand, will be in every 
way suitable to them. The pots must he effectually drained and 
clean, and the plants must not be overwatered at any period of the 
year, especially during the winter, when it must be nearly (if not 
quite) withheld. The bulbs must not be allowed to shrivel, but 
there need not be much fear upon that point if the plants have had 
sufficient light to thoroughly ripen the bulbs, and \inless they are 
matured, it will be useless to e.xpect them to bloom in anything like 
a satisfactory manner. They are best grown as near the glass as 
practicable, and should receive as much light as possible without 
being exposed to the direct rays of the sun during the hottest 
months of summer. I think it will be scarcely necessary for me to 
say that if the sun shines directly upon them, the leaves will be 
burnt, and the plants will suffer material injury. 
Peeistehia, the “ Dove Flower .” — Peristeria alaia, which is 
also known as tlie Esjoeritu santo {Ilohj Ghost Flower) of the Spa- 
niards. The flowers are not very showy, but they are exceedingly 
interesting from their close resemblance to the bird after which it 
takes its popular name. In my opinion, its magnificent foliage is of 
itself a sufficient reason to claim for it a place in tlie orchid-house ; 
for when well grown, with leaves from four to five feet in length, 
and of a proportionate breadth, it has a very imposing appearance 
amongst the other plants. The same temperature, soil, and treat- 
ment, as recommended for the Calanthe, will answer admirably ; 
therefore, it is not necessary to enter fully into the cultural details. 
Phajtjs. — The three fine species known respectively as P. alhus, 
P. grandijiorus, and P. WalUchii should be grown in every collection, 
more especially the two latter, for they have very bold and handsome 
foliage. The two latter will do in a temperature of five degrees 
lower than the Calanthe, aud require a richer soil. They all grow 
freely, and bloom profusely when potted in a mixture of equal 
parts of fibry loam, leaf-mould, and rotten cow-dung. P. alhus does 
very well treated exactly the same as the Calanthe. 
SoBRALiA. — This genus should he well represented in every 
orchid-house, as some of tlie species are very lovely ; especially to 
be noticed is S. macrantha, which produces its immense and beau- 
tifully-coloured flowers for a long time in succession from the old 
March. 
