Orchid Album Volume 1; Comprising Coloured Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare and Beautiful Orchidaceous Plants

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 Excerpt: ...should be placed near the light but so as to avoid the sun's rays. A north house suits them best, as it shields them in summer from the heat of the day, which they do not like, in fact, they should be kept as cool as possible at all times, very little fire-heat being required in winter, and none during the summer. They like fresh air, but in winter cold draughts must be avoided. We find that they will thrive in a heat of from 45 to 50: even somewhat less would suffice, but the temperature here named is the most suitable. Anyone, therefore, who possesses a small low house could grow them at a trifling expense. They are easily propagated by dividing the tufts, leaving about three old stems and a leading growth associated. The best time for the division to be effected is just as they are beginning to grow. They should be placed in small pots until they are estabUshed, when they should be removed to larger ones. Insects should be annihilated as soon as they put in an appearance. The thrips is their greatest pest. Cool Orchids, as a rule, are also subject to the attack of a small kind of snail, that increases very rapidly, if not kept under by constant watching night and morning. A few lettuce leaves placed in different parts of the house, or potatos or turnips cut in half and scooped out in the centre, form good traps for them, and by looking these over frequently many of them may be caught, as also by moving the plants, as they are apt to harbour about the pots. CYMBIDIUM PARISHII. plate 25. Native of Moulmein. Epiphytal. Stems fusiform, three to four inches long, annulately marked with the remains of the leaf-bases. Leaves evergreen, distichous, ligulate-linear, keeled behind, bifid with acute lobes, from one to two feet long, of a rich green colour. Racemes ...