p, I procured in July last, from the farmer himself at Maddington, a bundle of this graft when it was in spike; and by this means I found it to be no other than the *triticeum repens*, Hudson, p. 57, or common dogs grafts, quick-grafts, or couch-grafts, in a most luxuriant state of growth. The length of the culm is greatly influenced by the nature of the seasons. Its place of growth is in a meadow that is covered with water during the greatest part of the winter and spring. In this inundated soil it acquires a length of stalk, a succulence, and vigour, which are indeed very surprising. Of the bundle that was sent to me, most of the plants were seven feet long, and many of the spikes or ears contained 38 and 40 glumes, or flower-bearing husks; whereas the plant in common does not contain more than half that number: and it was said by the people of that neighbourhood to have been a very unfavourable season for this graft.

"That the above-mentioned species is the graft which at this time constitutes the bulk of that astonishing crop which we read of, is to me sufficiently ascertained; but whether, ever since the first notice of this graft, this species alone has been the cultured one in this situation, I do not decide, but think it a matter worthy of further investigation; since it should seem that the soil and situation are in a peculiar manner adapted to certain plants of the graminous tribe. I observed that a plant or two of the *phalaris arundinacea*, or reed *Canary* grafts, Hudson, p. 23, which by accident were sent with the above-mentioned grafts, exceeded in the thickness and succulence of the stalk the ordinary size, and were also equal to the dogs grafts in length."

These extracts we thought it our duty to lay before our readers; and we have done it without any observation or comment of our own; because we wish to give them every information which is either curious or may be useful; and with this we rest satisfied, not wishing to obtrude our remarks, where, from the scantiness of information or the doubtfulness of the case, they cannot be made with confidence.

**ORCHESTRA**, in the Grecian theatres, was that part of the *proscenium* or stage where the chorus used to dance. In the middle of it was placed the *dais* or *pulpit*. The orchestra was semicircular, and surrounded with seats. In the Roman theatres it made no part of the *scena*, but answered pretty nearly to the pit in our playhouses, being taken up with seats for senators, magistrates, vestals, and other persons of distinction. The actors never went down into it. See THEATRE.

**ORCHIALEX**, instituted by Orchius the tribune in the year of Rome 566. Its intention was to limit the number of guests that were to be admitted at an entertainment; and it also enforced, that during supper, which was the chief meal among the Romans, the doors of every house should be left open.

**ORCHIS**, FOOL-STONES: A genus of the diandria order, belonging to the gynandra clas of plants; and in the natural method giving name to the seventh order, *Orchideae*. Its characters are these: It has a single stalk, with a vague sheath, and no empalement; the flower hath five petals, three without and two within; the nectarium is of one leaf, fixed to the side of the receptacle, between the division of the petals; the Orchis upper lip is short and erect, the under large, broad, and spreading; the tube is pendulous, corniform, or like a horn, and prominent behind; it hath two short slender stamens, fitting upon the pointil, with oval erect stamens, fixed to the upper lip of the nectarium; it hath an oblong contorted germen, under the flower, with a short style, fastened to the upper lip of the nectarium; the germen afterwards turns to an oblong capsule, with one cell, having three keel-shaped valves, opening on the three sides, but jointed at top and bottom, filled with small seeds like dust. Miller enumerates 10, and Linnæus 33 species.

All those sorts of orchis described by Miller grow wild in several parts of England, but on account of the extreme oddness and beauty of their flowers, deserve a place in every good garden; and the reason of their not being cultivated in gardens, proceeds from the difficulty of transplanting them: though this may be easily overcome, where a person has an opportunity of marking their roots, in their time of flowering, and letting them remain until their leaves are decayed, when they may be transplanted with safety; for it is the same with most sorts of bulbous or fleshy-rooted plants, which, if transplanted before their leaves decay, seldom live, notwithstanding you preserve a large ball of earth about them; for the extreme parts of their fibres extend to a great depth in the ground, from whence they receive their nourishment, which if broken or damaged by taking up their roots, seldom thrive after; for though they may sometimes remain alive a year or two, yet they grow weaker until they quite decay; which is also the case with tulips, fritillarias, and other bulbous roots. But if their soil and situation be adapted to their various sorts, they will thrive and continue several years, and during their season of flowering will afford as great varieties as any flowers which are at present cultivated.

The most remarkable species are the following:

1. The *macula*, or male fool-stones, hath a root composed of two bulbs, crowned with oblong, broad, spotted leaves; upright-stalks, a foot high; garnished with one or two narrow amplexicaule leaves; and terminated by a long spike of reddish purple flowers, having the petals reflexed backward; a quadrilobed crenated lip to the nectarium, and an obtuse horn. The flowers of this species possess a very agreeable odour. The orchis maculata, Lin. fp. pl. is the most valuable; although the roots of some of the palmated sorts, particularly of the orchis latifolia, are found to answer almost equally well.

2. The *morio*, or female orchis, hath a double bulbous root, crowned with oblong, ribbed, spreading leaves; erect flower-stalks, eight or ten inches high; garnished with a few amplexicaule leaves; and terminated by a short loose spike of flowers, having connivent petals, a quadrifid crenated lip to the nectarium, and an obtuse horn.

3. The *militaris*, or man-orchis, hath a double bulbous root, crowned with oblong amplexicaule leaves; erect flower-stalks, eight or ten inches high; terminated by a loose spike of ash-coloured and reddish flowers, having confluent petals; a quinquifid, rough, spotted lip to the nectarium, and an obtuse horn. structure of the flowers exhibit the figure of a naked man; and are often of different colours in the same flower, as ash colour, red, brown, and dark striped.

Culture and Properties. All the orchises are very hardy perennials, with bulbous fleshy roots. The flowers appear in May, June, and July, but principally in June; their mode of flowering is universally in spikes, many flowers in each spike; and each flower is composed of five petals in two series, and a nectarium. The season for removing them is in summer, after they have done flowering, when their leaves and stalks decay: plant them three inches deep, and let them remain undisturbed several years; for the less they are removed, the stronger they will flower.

The roots of all the species have a remarkable resemblance to the scrotum of animals, whence the name. This plant flourishes in various parts of Europe and Asia, and grows in our country spontaneously, and in great abundance. It is affluently cultivated in the East; and the root of it forms a considerable part of the diet of the inhabitants of Turkey, Persia, and Syria. From it is made the alimentary powder called Salep; which, prepared from foreign roots, is sold at five or six shillings per pound, though it might be furnished by ourselves at the fifth part of that price, if we chose to pay any attention to the culture of this plant. The orchis macula is the most valued for this purpose. A dry and not very fertile soil is best adapted to its growth.

The properest time for gathering the roots, is when the seed is formed, and the stalk is ready to fall; because the new bulb, of which the salep is made, is then arrived at its full maturity, and may be distinguished from the old one, by a white bud rising from the top of it, which is the germ of the orchis of the succeeding year.

The culture of the orchis is an object highly deserving of encouragement from all the lovers of agriculture. And as the root, if introduced into common use, would furnish a cheap, wholesome, and most nutritious article of diet, the growth of it would be sufficiently profitable to the farmer. See Salep.