THE MOST USEFUL ORCHIDS 135 



under the pipes and staging, the air is moistened, and refreshes 

 the plants. 



Artificial heating is unnecessary for Odontoglossums during 

 July and August in most parts of the country. It may probably 

 be dispensed with a little earlier, and a little later also, in many 

 districts. Bottom ventilation, fairly heavy shading, and the 

 shading kept six inches or so above the glass, ought, with 

 plenty of moisture about the house, to keep the temperature 

 within reasonable limits during the hottest part of a hot 

 Summer's day. At such a time give little or no top ventilation, 

 but during the cool of the evening open the top ventilators for a 

 while, closing them down a good deal, but not shutting them, the 

 last thing at night. They should be shut down first thing in the 

 morning when the floors and stages are damped and the shading 

 brought into use. 



The selection of species and hybrids for the purpose of com- 

 mencing a collection is an interesting and serious business. The 

 best dozen species for a beginner — indeed the best for anyone, are 



O. CIRRHOSUM, O. CRISPUM, O. EdWARDII, O. GRANDE, O. HalLII, 

 O. Harryanum, O. HASTILABIUM, O. LUTEO-PURPUREUM, O. NOBILE 



(Pescatorei), O. Kegeljani (polyxanthum), O. Rossii, and 



O. TRIUMPHANS. 



O. CIRRHOSUM has rather narrow segments, and these are 

 elongated into fine tail-like ends. The colour is white, lightly 

 strewn with deep maroon spots and dots. An elegant and pretty 

 species. 



O. CRISPUM is so variable as to be beyond description in a line 

 or two, but its general character is so well known to all who are 

 interested in flowers, that a detailed description is not necessary. 

 In general terms, the flowers are white with a few red or chocolate 

 spots on the lip, and a yellow crest at the base of the lip. Some- 



