ORCHIDACEOUS HOUSE. 
59 
them are suitable. Thus, some prefer the 
upper sods from a turf-bog, mixed with pieces 
of broken charcoal ; others prefer sphagnum 
mixed with potsherds ; others, again, give 
preference to a mixture of sphagnum, chopped 
small, rotten willow or poplar wood, in small 
lumps, and the under stratum of sphagnum, 
which has almost become peat. The large 
lumps of the roots of some of the larger ferns 
are very suitable to attach the plants to ; and 
they flourish well on them. Whether in pots, 
baskets, blocks, or growing in any other way, 
it is an advantage to the root, as well as to 
the appearance of the plant, to cover the soil 
with some small creeping plants, which afford 
shade to the roots, and have a lively appear- 
ance : the little Lycopodium denticulatum, and 
some other of the small species — all having 
very small leaves — are suitable for this pur- 
pose ; and so is the little native plant, Hydro- 
cotyle vulgaris, with small round leaves and 
creeping stems. When the plants in baskets 
or on blocks do not require to be shifted, the 
moss or turf about their roots should be re- 
newed, and the roots should be made com- 
fortable before the plants have made much 
growth. The following list of the principal 
genera, showing which require pots, baskets, 
or blocks of wood, will be useful : — 
Acantkophippium ; pots (not elevated). 
Acineta ; pots and baskets. 
Acropera ; baskets. 
Aerides; baskets and blocks. 
Angrcecum ; pots or baskets. 
Anguloa ; pots. 
Ancectochilus ; pots. 
Barkeria ; baskets or blocks. 
Bletia; pots (not elevated). 
Brassavola ; pots and baskets. 
Bra.ssia ; baskets. 
Broughtonia ; blocks. 
Bitrlingtonia ; blocks. 
Calantlie ; pots (not elevated). 
Camarotis ; blocks. 
Catasetum; pots or blocks. 
Catlhya ; pots or blocks. 
Cirrluea ; pots. 
Ccelogyne ; baskets and blocks. 
Compare.t/ia ; blocks. 
Coryanthcs ; pots or baskets. 
Cycnoches ; pots or blocks. 
Ci/mbidium; pots or baskets. 
( hfpripedium ; pots (not elevated). 
Cyrtochilum ; pots and blocks. 
Uyrtopodium ; pots. 
Dendrobium ; pots, baskets and blocks. 
Epidendrum; pots and blocks. 
fflria ; baskets or blocks. 
Galeandra; pots (not elevated). 
Qongora; baskets. 
Jloulhitia ; pots. 
Buntkya ; blocks. 
Lcelia; baskets and blocks. 
Leptotes ; pots. 
Li/caste; pots. 
Maxillaria ; pots. 
Miltonia ; pots or blocks. 
Mormodes ; pots or blocks. 
Odontoglossum ; pots or blocks. 
Oncidium ; pots, blocks, and baskets. 
Ornithidium ; blocks. 
Paphinia; pots. 
Paxtonia; pots. 
Peristeria ; pots and baskets. 
Pluiius ; pots (not elevated). 
Phalcenopsis ; rough blocks. 
Promencea ; pots. 
Renanthera; large blocks, or trunks. 
Rodriguezia ; pots or blocks. 
Saccolabium ; blocks or baskets. 
Sareanthus; pots or blocks. 
Schomburgkia ; blocks. 
Scuticaria ; blocks. 
Sobralia ; pots (not elevated). 
Sophronitis ; blocks (small). 
Stanhopea ; baskets or pots. 
Sienorhynckus ; pots (not elevated). 
Trichopilia ; pots. 
Trichosma ; decaying blocks. 
Vanda ; rough blocks, or baskets. 
JVarrea; pots. 
Zygopetalwm ; pots. 
Syringing. — When the plants are making 
their growth, they require syringing occasion- 
ally (perhaps once or twice a-day), in addition 
to the moisture of the atmosphere : this opera- 
tion is not to be performed with a force suf- 
ficient to upset the pots, but like a plentiful, 
gentle shower of rain. 
Gongoras, Stanhopeas, fyc. — Some of the 
large plants of them which may be starting to 
grow, may be steeped in tepid water till they 
are thoroughly soaked : unless this is done, it 
will be difficult to get the old soil thoroughly 
moistened. The same will apply to other 
plants which have been kept very dry. 
Phaius. — These plants, as soon as they 
begin growing, require re-potting into equal 
parts of sandy loam, peat, and river sand, and 
to be plunged in a brisk heat, till they have 
made their growth. Calanthes require similar 
treatment. 
Dendrobiums. — Many of the most showy 
of them will now be in flower, and will be 
available for decorating the conservatory or 
drawing-room. Keep them from currents of 
cold air ; and do not give them cold water. 
Plants in Flower. — Home of the kinds 
blooming at this season, besides several beau- 
tiful Dendrobiums, are the Phakeaopsis ama- 
bilis ; Cyrtochilum maculatum ; Zygopetalum 
crinitum; Oncidium longil'olium ; O. leucochi- 
lum; O. Cavendishianum ; CVdogyncflaccida; 
