CULTURE OF STANHOPEA. 
149 
less to the minute parts of their flowers, they will never be able to 
form any thing like proper genera. Nature, I am convinced, has 
properly defined every genus by its outward form. All this genus 
has one leaf to each pseudo bulb, and the flowers proceed oat from 
the base of that bulb. 
With regard to their culture, persons who wish to grow fine 
specimens, ought to put them in large baskets, or pots, so that 
they may not require to be shifted for several years ; as then the 
plants grow much finer and flower better,—for they are very adverse 
to being shifted. In the growing of them in pots, it is necessary 
that they should be elevated about a foot above the rim of the pot. 
In building up the mound, it should be kept as nearly the width 
of the pot as possible ; the pot should be filled up with large 
potsherds to within about two inches of the top ; over this should 
be laid the heathy portion of the peat; the peat in which these 
are grown should be as fibrous as possible ; it may be either cut 
or torn into small portions for building the mound ; and it may 
be fastened on by a few pegs. After the mound is formed, the 
plant should be planted in the centre, and then it should be placed 
in the house for a few days without any water. In the growing 
of them in baskets, they do not require to be elevated, as the 
baskets are open at the bottom and sides ; the baskets should be 
formed of oak billets ; each about one inch in diameter ; the depth 
of the basket should be about three inches ; and each bar should be 
placed t\yo inches apart. 
The proper time to remove and repot them should be the growing 
season, which is towards the latter end of July, or the beginning of 
August; for, if they are potted in the resting season, and have 
no water, they are apt to shrivel ; and if water is given, they will 
rot. As soon as they have done flowering they commence grow¬ 
ing ; and whenever they show signs of growth, should have great 
heat and plenty of moisture, until they have completed their pseudo 
bulbs: after this they should be allowed to go to rest,—I mean 
by rest, that they should be taken out of the moist house and put 
in the dry one till they show flower. When they do this they 
should be placed in the moist house, but should have no water, 
or at least but a small portion, till such time as they begin to grow. 
By this mode of treatment they will grow much finer than 
if they were constantly watered. All the plants belonging to this 
genera push their flowers downwards; hence the necessity of 
