178 ORCHIDS: HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



sunshine it could get. It grew well and has thrown up half-a-dozen very fine 

 growths, and is a very large plant, but so far I do not see any signs of bloom. 

 Can you give any suggestions to ensure its blooming ? 



REPLY. I presume F. A. B. W. means by "perfect appliances," hot-water 

 apparatus instead of an oil or gas stove, together with a hose pipe and a good 

 supply of water instead of a pail of water and a syringe ; more perfect 

 ventilation gear, and so on. But these " perfect appliances " have not so much 

 to do with successful cultivation as many may suppose ; some cultivators who 

 have all the improved methods at hand still fail to grow their plants better 

 than those who do not possess them. Perfect appliances are invaluable in 

 saving labour, enabling one man to do the work of two ; but what the plants 

 absolutely want is attention, and they invariably thrive if their wants are 

 attended to. There can be no question that hot water pipes are important 

 factors, but my correspondent has shown conclusively that Orchids can be 

 successfully grown with only the aid of an oil stove as a heat distributor. I 

 have the highest respect for his enthusiasm and perseverance, evidently the 

 result of much thought and careful attention. I have no doubt many 

 Cypripediums, especially those having the " insigne " blood in them, could be 

 grown much older than they generally are. I have known some of our cold 

 Orchids perish from cold, whilst Cypripediums insigne survived. Then again, 

 as I have remarked in a preceding chapter, Orchids are strange plants, and even 

 professional gardeners are often perplexed by their eccentricities. Some grow 

 like weeds without one exactly understanding why, but the position the plant 

 occupies has often much to do with its success or failure. A suitable position 

 may be the direct result of some peculiarity in the structure, or from some other 

 cause it may be almost impossible to obtain in another house. It seems evident 

 that the position of the lean-to vinery is a suitable one for Orchids, probably in 

 a sheltered position and with other advantageous surroundings, all assisting the 

 lamp or stove production of heat. The oil lamp would tend to produce a dry 

 atmosphere so necessary for such a very low temperature, and at the same time 

 it would not fluctuate so rapidly, as is often the case. There can be no doubt 

 that when a greenhouse or vinery is built against a dwelling-house, with the 

 great advantage of the back wall being so adequately protected from the outside 

 atmosphere, with probably a little extra assistance from any fire places in the 

 walls, an immense advantage is gained in plant culture. Oncidium sphacelatum 

 often indulges in this free-growing non-blooming freak. It flowers best when 

 the pot is full of roots and the growths are near th rim of the pot. You are 

 giving it the correct treatment to cause flower spikes to appear. It should have 

 plenty of light, taking care that the sun is not too strong upon the plant so as 

 to burn the foliage. When its growth is completed, give it rest by reducing 

 the quantity of water. The flower spikes should soon be seen, as the blooms 

 generally expand during the spring months. 



C. L. B., STAFFORDSHIRE, writes : I have just lost one of my best 

 Cattleyas, and am utterly at a loss to account for the cause why one plant in a 

 quantity should die, all the young growths being black and rotting, the others 

 being quite healthy. 



REPLY. It is one of those troubles to which Orchid growers are liable. 



