,8o THE ORCHID REVIEW. [December, 1021. 
around the base of the. flower stalk. Penyester Magic Paste obtainable 
from any chemist or horticultural sundriesmen, is very effective in the 
destruction of cockroaches and crickets. Ants, which are sometimes very 
troublesome in Orchid houses, may be destroyed after first attracting them 
to sugar or treacle placed in patches about their haunts, and when they are 
feeding spraying them with a strong solution of nicotine insecticide. 
AN AMATEUR’S EXPERIENCE. 
By Josephine R. Walker. 
I N approaching this subject I should first like to pay tribute to Mr. Black, 
Mr. Alexander, and Mr. Barker, for the assistance derived from 
articles written by them ; to Mr. Thrower, of Messrs. Sanders, and to 
Mr. J. Howes for their kindly advice. It is only because I am told we have 
attained a fair measure of success under conditions that are very difficult, 
and have many trying situations to contend with that seldom fall to the lot 
of the professional grower, that I thought our trials, troubles, failures—and 
successes, may be helpful to the amateurs. 
When we moved in here, some nine years ago, we had a small collection 
of Orchids, my husband having been an enthusiast for some years, but the 
only accommodation was a conservatory on the side of the house. It stands 
30 ft. high, 30 ft. long, and 15 ft. wide, facing due south, with a white tiled 
•wall on the house side, a tiled floor, and containing some tons of rockery. 
It looked almost a hopeless proposition to tackle for Orchids, but we were 
determined to stick to them, so faced the task. When we cleared out all 
the rockery we found thfee rows of pipes round the sides, and in the centre 
a grating covering six coils, so we could get and maintain 60—65 degrees of 
heat. The boiler is in the cellar, and the conservatory opens from the 
dining room, both distinct advantages, especially in wet and wintry weather, 
as the plants are only touched by my husband, myself, and our maid, who 
in ten years has herself become something of an enthusiast, and takes 
charge when the family are away in the summer and odd times. She 
possesses quite a working knowledge. 
We put staging round the outside and in the middle, three feet wide 
and covered with slates. We soon found we had some serious difficulties, 
according to the books. Firstly, the glare of the sunshine, which was very 
difficult to'combat: some Odontoglossums soon showed their dislike of the 
conditions by dying, and when we have since tried to grow them we cannot 
persuade them to last for more than one season, so, much as we love them, 
they are off the list for the present. The Mexican Laelras revel in their new 
quarters. They are hung in the full glare of the sun, and this, together 
with the buoyant atmosphere—it is always “ that” in the evening—seems to 
suit them. This year particularly, they have made magnificent bulbs. The 
