THE DISA GRANDIFLOEA. 
381 
post, when they will want more water at the roots, as well as 
over the foliage. Twice a day will do them no harm, according 
to the state of the weather. 
March, April, and May they will take copious supplies. In 
the latter month, if about 1 oz. of guano is dissolved to a gallon 
of aired water, and given them once a week, they will derive 
much benefit from it. 
The principal insects which attack the plants are red spider, 
green and black fly, which get down the centre of the young 
growths, and if not eradicated will soon cripple the young shoots. 
I used to lay the plants on their sides and syringe the fly out 
with a little soft soap and water, as tobacco smoke disfigured the 
young leaves at the tips. But now I use that gardener’s friend 
called “ XL All,” a vaporiser that will kill the fly on the first 
application without injuring the most delicate foliage, provided 
that it is quite dry at the time of fumigation. 
Slugs are also very fond of Disas, and would soon ruin the 
plants if not looked for in the evening. Some shell snails also 
are very troublesome, boring holes through the tender leaves, 
and being so very small they are difficult to find. 
About the middle or the latter end of May, if it begins to be 
very hot, I remove the plants out of the house into a cold frame 
on the north side, bringing them back to flower, as in the frame 
the spikes would be too near the glass, and could not be so 
easily inspected as in a house. During the time they are in the 
frames, if the lights are drawm off now and again during gentle 
showers of rain, it will do them a great deal of good. Bain- 
water is the best to water them with if it can be got. 
The lights should be well tilted up at all times, so that they 
can have plenty of air. If a little is left on all night, when 
the weather is favourable, the growths will be all the more 
robust. 
Hybeidisation. 
I am quite sure there is a large field for the hybridist to work 
up new varieties belonging to this Alpine genus. Messrs. 
Veitch have already given us several new ones, for which we are 
greatly indebted to them, such as Disa Langleyensis, the result 
of Disa racemosa crossed with D. tripetaloides. Also the most 
beautiful Disa Yeitchii, a hybrid between Disa grandiflora and 
D. racemosa. The sepals are of a bright carmine, with the 
