THE CULTIVATION OF ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS. 
.'32.3 
in all probability arising from an excess of 
care. 
" Should, however, any one feel desirous of 
attempting the culture of British Orchideas as 
a iirst step, it would be well to inquire as to 
the character of the localities from which they 
are derived ; for many of them, especially 
those from a chalky district, refuse to vegetate, 
unless supplied with their accustomed food. 
In these cases, and indeed in all where prac- 
ticable, it is advisable to assimilate the artifi- 
cial treatment as nearly as possible in every 
particular, but more so with the soil, to their 
natural position ; they generally succeed mode- 
rately well under the management usual for 
half-hardy plants, keeping them in a cold 
frame, with protection from heavy rains 
and severe frosts, through the winter, and the 
scorching influence of the sun's rays during 
summer." 
The author's mode of treating each genera, 
or each division, for it must be observed that 
many require the same treatment, and several 
are included in the same chapter, is described 
in a plain, understandable manner, and suffici- 
ently in detail to make a novice acquainted 
with the proper method ; and here he has 
avoided those technicalities which almost ob- 
scure the meaning of ' one half the authors of 
the day. There is no attempt to show off 
scientific attainments ; no waste words, and, 
which is better still for the young practitioner, 
no hard ones. We do not know that we could 
do better than quote the chapter on the genus 
Cattleya, one of the most beautiful of the 
whole family of Orchidaceaa : — 
THE GENUS CATTLEYA. 
" Cattleyas are, beyond question, among the 
finest of Orchidese : their flowers are gene- 
rally large and splendidly shaded with various 
hues. They are inhabitants of South America, 
luxuriating in places possessing a temperature 
of 60° to 70°, and frequently damp almost to 
excess ; the rains in such situations being very 
heavy at certain times ; but under artificial 
treatment less water is required, and while 
resting very little indeed will suffice, neither 
should they be allowed to make more than two 
gyowths in a year, as it causes them to become 
weak and not flower so fine when three growths 
are made in one season. 
"The system that I recommend for their 
cultivation is in middling sized pots, as they 
seldom require moving ; the pots should be 
three parts filled with broken sherds, to give a 
good drainage, for if that is not done the plants 
will soon become sickly, and from which state 
they seldom can be recovered. 
"The mould that I prefer for them is peat, 
naturally mixed with sphagnum, but if this 
cannot be had, a little sphagnum, well chopped 
with it, will answer the same purpose ; the 
peat should remain in small pieces, and a 
portion of potsherds be mixed with it. When 
potted, the plant should be about two inches 
above the rim, in the centre of the pot ; round 
the outside a little rough peat should be placed, 
and secured down with pegs ; this will keep 
the other mould together. 
" The base of the plant, by no means, should 
be buried in the mould, for then water often 
effects a lodgement which will destroy the 
plant, particularly the young shoots that are 
just beginning to grow. 
" The best time for potting I have found to 
be from July to the latter end of August; they 
are then beginning to form new roots, from 
the base of the young shoots : this operation 
should not be delayed too long for this genus, 
as their roots are liable to be broken by it, 
and a great check would thus be given to the 
plant ; water must be given but gently at first, 
increasing as the plant becomes more strongly 
rooted : and when the plant has nearly com- 
pleted its growth, the supply of moisture 
should be reduced by degrees until it arrives 
at a dormant state ; very little water will then 
be required, as the only object then is to keep 
the mould from getting too dry. During their 
flowering season they should be removed into 
a cooler house, or the drawing-room, as their 
flowers will last longer and the colour be much 
finer than if allowed to remain in the growing- 
house, the moisture of which would cause 
them soon to decay, and consequently abridge 
the period of their beauty. The temperature 
most suitable to their growth is that of a cool 
house, such as is recommended for the North 
American species, and the same when at rest 
will suit them." 
This exemplifies the author's style and mode 
of treatment. It would be unfair to quote 
more, or we should certainly like his chapter 
on the destruction of insects ; but as we trust 
it will become a hand-book, and that those 
who possess plants will supply a copy for the 
use of the gardener, we shall leave them to 
search for that information in the volume. 
With regard to the select Catalogue of Plants, 
we observe, that it is not only more complete 
as a whole, than any other extant, but it is 
also more complete on any separate genera 
than any thing we have to refer to of a useful 
form. We have seen but one work, of a mo- 
derate size, upon the subject of Orchidaceous 
Plants, and that is upon too small a scale to 
be of any permanent use ; indeed, it relates 
more to the means of fixing of them than to 
the treatment as to heat, moisture, and air, 
growth and rest, or any peculiar management 
in the blooming. Upon the whole, therefore, 
we congratulate the Orchidaceous Plant 
growers upon the acquisition of a volume 
which doubtless contains a good deal that they 
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