126 ORCHIDS FOR EVERYONE 



according to the season of the year. Throughout the whole of 

 the Odontoglossum region the atmosphere is heavily charged with 

 moisture almost all the year round, though the Mexican species 

 experience a more distinctly drying or resting season than those 

 found in the Colombian region, the latter, even in the " dry- 

 season," rarely passing through twenty-four hours without rain. 



Another point of interest is that Odontoglossums grow for 

 the most part in forests composed largely of trees belonging to 

 the Cinchona, Walnut, and Oak families. These forests are dense 

 and evergreen, consequently the sun's rays, though often prac- 

 tically vertical, have to filter through the leaves ere they reach the 

 Orchids. But collectors tell us that the plants are most numerous 

 where ravines or streams break up the general level and density of 

 the forest, and it is at such points the air circulates the most freely 

 and the light penetrates the most readily to the plants. There is 

 also a good deal of difference in the size of the pseudo-bulbs of 

 plants that grow in these lighter positions, as compared with those 

 growing in deeper shade ; under the influence of greater shade the 

 pseudo-bulbs are considerably longer than where there is more 

 light, but this does not necessarily mean the spikes are stronger or 

 the flowers larger. 



Sorry-looking things are Odontoglossums when they arrive 

 in temperate countries after a long journey through the tropics. 

 Torn ruthlessly from their homes, roots broken and leaves cut 

 away, they sufi^er many indignities, and frequently they are exposed 

 to the sun for some time, so that excess of moisture is extracted 

 from them. This treatment is necessary, so that when the plants 

 are finally packed in dry material for their long journey, there is 

 little risk of damage from damp and its attendant evils of fermenta- 

 tion and over-heating. When packed very green, there is a great 

 danger of Orchids commencing to grow while on the journey, and 



