84 oECHius: now to ghow them successfully. 



Darletiee for amateurs' Small 

 Collcctione. 



PURPOSE giving the names of two dozen species, which 

 are good useful kinds for a beginner to start with, and 

 can be cultivated as Cool house Orchids ; following on 

 with the same number for Intermediate house culture ; also 

 twenty-four of the best for a Warm house. Together with 

 cultural instructions for each sort, which, from my own ex- 

 perience, I have found to give the best results. 



COOL HOUSE OECHIDS. 



Odontoglossum ALEXA]>fDii^. From Colombia. 

 {Syns. O. crispum and O. Bluntii.) 



This beautiful Orchid is a great favourite, and was named in 

 honour of H.R.H. the Princess of Wales. Its flowers are white 

 (sometimes rose), marked, more or less, with chocolate blotches, 

 produced on drooping spikes, and when a quantity of plants are 

 grown many varieties are found amongst them, and there are 

 always some in flower, but March, April, and May are the 

 principal months in which they bloom. 



Very extensive annual importations of this lovely Orchid take 

 place, so that plants can always be obtained in quantities at a very 

 reasonable price, some of which may prove to be of considerable 

 value, and all are, more or less, beautiful. 



Such a compost as that akeady mentioned on page 29 should 

 be used, and the plants must not be allowed to become too dry 

 during the summer or too wet during the winter. Repot the 

 plants early in spring or the autumn, remembering that they do 

 not thrive with the sun's rays direct upon them and do best when 

 the plants are on the stage, but not far from the roof glass. 



Newly imported or established plants are from 3/6, o/- to 7/() 

 for strong leading bulbs. 



