Stove and Greenhouse Plants and Flowers 187 



plants of outstanding merit among growers who maintain private collec- 

 tions. On the other hand, the weedy-flowered plants will never produce 

 fine blooms, however skilfully they may be cultivated, and their blooms 

 sell at a reduced figure. Nor must it be forgotten that it costs just as 

 much to grow a plant worth Is. or less, as it does to grow one that may 

 be worth 5s. or 50. From this it will be gathered that Orchid cultivation 

 on the basis of importations is something of a speculation. And so it is. 

 Under skilful management the crop can be made to pay, but it is the 

 finely blotched 0. crispum, and the pure-white or grandly coloured and 

 well-formed Cattleya labiata, sold 

 to a fancier, that will put the gilti 

 edge on the profits. 



All newly imported Orchids 

 must be treated as convalescent. 

 Any attempt to deal with them as 

 though they were established plants 

 will end in dismal failure, and con- 

 sequent loss of time and money. 

 Every plant must be carefully 

 handled and closely examined; it 

 must also be thoroughly cleaned 

 and relieved of all dead and decay- 

 ing matter. Lack of attention to 

 these matters in the first instance 

 has not seldom led to disaster, or, 

 at least, to the need of a large 

 amount of labour at a later stage 

 to free the plants from insect pests. 

 Clean pots, clean crocks, and an 

 abundance of the latter used to 

 secure ample drainage, are items of 



the first importance, but the plants should be placed in a comfortable tem- 

 perature for a short time before potting takes place, so that the pseudo- 

 bulbs and leaves may plump p m -the moist warm atmosphere, imd new 

 roots begin to form. During this convalescent stage fairly heavy shading 

 must be afforded, reducing this somewhat as time proceeds, for it must be 

 remembered that the plants have travelled long distances closely packed 

 in dark cases. Fortunately, in most cases these imported Orchids have 

 a large amount of reserve force stored up in their pseudo-bulbs, and if 

 they are not over-potted or over-watered in these earlier stages of their 

 new life they are not difficult to establish. 



Comparatively few Orchids like direct bright sunshine, though they 

 like good light. The houses should therefore be in a light open position, 

 but well provided with blinds. Established Cattleyas and Lselias succeed 

 under lighter and brighter conditions than do Odontoglossums, but all 

 Orchids need practically all the good light we can afford them during the 



Fig. 287. Odontoglossum crispum (white form) 



