March 24, 1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
235 
they are arranged with others either on a shelf or suspended from 
the roof, where they will be exposed to all the light possible with 
regard only to avoiding the undesirable scorching already men¬ 
tioned. Another important point is ventilation, for these Orchids 
need all the fresh air that can be safely admitted to the house 
without reducing the temperature too much, or exposing the 
plants to cold draughts. At least that is my experience, but I am 
aware that some advocate a comparatively limited ventilation at 
all times. In regard to the supply of water, it must be remem¬ 
bered that the plants have no pseudo-bulbs to act as a storehouse 
of nutriment; that the leaves are large and thick, exposing a great 
foliar surface, from which moisture is constantly evaporating 
when the temperature is sufficiently high ; and that the plants, 
though elevated on the branches of trees, are exposed to heavy 
rains during the period of growth in their native habitats. These 
considerations indicate that water must be given very freely 
when the plants are growing, and at other times regulating it 
according to the weather, never allowing them to suffer from an 
insufficient supply, nor yet from the opposite extreme, and 
drips must be carefully guarded against. It is advisable 
to keep the foliage clean by sponging with clear tepid 
water, and this also serves to remove that troublesome 
pest thrips, which are rather partial to the leaves and 
soon spoil their appearance if allowed to increase. Fumi¬ 
gating will be beneficial, but it requires to be done with great care. 
The foregoing notes constitute a brief summary of the culture Phalasnopsid3 
require, and it only remains to notice their adaptability for growing in or near 
cities. In this respect their chief enemies are the dense fogs and smoke, which cause 
the flower bads to fall in a very unsatisfactory manner; otherwise the plants gene¬ 
rally thrive well, as is evident from the condition of those in most of the metropolitan 
nurseries. One of the largest amateurs’ collections that I know in the London dis¬ 
trict is at The Hall, Stamford Hill, N., the residence of J. S. Bockett, Esq., who is 
a great lover of Orchids, especially Phalsenopsids. He has nearly four hundred plants 
of the latter, large and small, representing many species, but the majority being 
P. amabilis and P. Schilleriana. These are all in excellent health, growing in baskets 
chiefly, but a few shallow pots are employed. From the vigorous healthy condition 
of the plants a visitor would scarcely think he was inspecting Orchids growing within five miles of the Mansion House. Possibly 
something is due to the elevated position ; but the gardener, Mr. Ebbage, evidently well understands their treatment, and shows to 
the best possible advantage what good results may be obtained even in a great smoky city. 
The genus is not a large one, the species in cultivation numbering about fifteen, with several varieties and supposed hybrids. 
Of these the following notes indicate the most attractive or interesting. 
Phalcenoj/sis amabilis.—This was aptly named the “ lovely ” Phalsenopsis, and as the first brought to this country it was a good 
