50 THE ORCHID REVIEW. (FEBRUARY, 1922, 
AN AMATEUR'S COLLECTION. 
By HAROLD WIGAN. 
‘gy WAS very much interested in the article in the December issue by Mrs.. 
Walker. Firstly, because she has a greenhouse facing south, and, 
secondly, because a great number of her Orchids were purchased at sales, 
and in very poor condition. My experiences were the same, for out of 370 
plants at least 200 were purchased at sales. I started on these at the. 
beginning of April; in fact, it so happened that the first sale was on 
April 1st, but I am glad to say it started at one o’clock. 
I had no knowledge of Orchids, except that for some years I had a few 
Cypripedium insigne and also some Ccelogynes, but my head man never 
got them to flower properly. (I do not have a head gardener now). So that 
I bought at the sale with no knowledge of what I was getting, whether the 
plants were suitable for the house or otherwise. However, up till now, I 
have only had to throw away two plants, and, as far as I can see, perhaps 
three or four may have to go. With these exceptions, all the plants are. 
looking well and growing well, whereas most of them were a sickly yellow 
when first obtained. 
Now my house is exactly the opposite to Mrs. Walker’s, inasmuch as it 
faces due north, against a wall which is one foot higher than the top of the 
house. Inside I placed asbestos sheets on the battens, with a ledge at the 
sides and ends, and about one inch or so of red ash from the waterworks’ 
boilers near here. This appears to answer well, and the plants want very 
little water these days, about twice a week for Cypripediums, and every ten 
Mays for Odontoglossums, and once in three weeks for Cattleyas. I try to 
keep a minimum temperature of 50 degrees, but I have not managed it 
very well lately, as the winds have been very cold and the weather very 
changeable. One difficulty I find is that some pots are quite a quarter full 
of crocks, some one-half, and others almost two-thirds, while the variation 
of soil in the Cypripediums is considerable. 
This house only gets a small streak of s 
and only in the summer months. 
sunshine in the summer, but little 
by summer-cloud until October. 
As far as I can see, 
unshine in the early morning, 
From the west it gets the full afternoon 
all the Orchids approve of their home, but it is too 
early to say much about the Dendrobiums. Most of these were newly 
imported, and may want more sun next year to ripen their growths, in 
which case I have a south house (a vinery and also a cucumber house) 
in which to put them. I fancy the Cattleyas should also have a rest in a 
Sunny house in their due season, 
I found Miltonias were very restless last summer. I suppose it was the - | 
