APRIL, 1922.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. Ins 
AN AMATEUR’S EXPERIENCE. 
By JOSEPHINE WALKER, ; 
Ww have an added interest in our collection the last few weeks. Our 
enthusiastic fellow-amateur grower, Lieut.-General Sir Arthur 
C. F. Browne has very kindly bestowed on us many interesting plants which 
he has just imported from India. And, what is still more interesting, he 
has given his own views on the growing of the different species. Like our- 
selves, he has some ideas which differ considerably from our good friends 
the professionals. _ Having spent many years in India he evidently loves the 
plants, and has studied the conditions under which they grow in their native 
habitat. Consequently he cultivates them as nearly as possible to these 
conditions. I wonder how the plants of Vanda ccerulea he has kindly given us 
will appreciate our interpretation of conditions suitable to their well-being ? 
During the few weeks they have been in the cradle in the lantern roof they 
have had samples of all the winds of the heavens, a light powdering of 
snow, and some days blazing sunshine full on them, and they are very near 
the glass. One morning last week I made a mistake and saturated them 
with water, thinking the sun was coming along; it did not, but a very cold 
night did ! However, they seem happy up to the present, and are beginning 
to show green roots and fresh points at the ends. I should mention they 
are on flat. blocks of wood, with just a covering of moss to bind them on. 
Most of the roots are clear and depend on the atmosphere for moisture. I 
Wonder what is really the ideal place to grow this beautiful species. Mr. 
Mackay says in his excellent cultural article last month that he has just put 
his in the vinery, where they get sufficient moisture, shade, and ventilation 
until their spikes show in July. Our lot will certainly get plenty of the former 
and the latter, but no shade at all. 
A beautiful plant of Vanda ccerulea I saw recently in a famous collection 
Was growing in a Dendrobium house near the door. The head gardener told 
me he attributed its excellence to the fresh air it received every time the 
door was opened, so I think we agree that fresh air is essential to their well 
being. But what about shade? This species was, I believe, first discovered 
by Wm. Griffiths growing on the Khasia Hills of Assam, a locality of dry, 
$Tassy slopes, wind swept at an altitude of 4,000 feet, where the small trees 
Were knarled and stunted, and almost leafless. And there, with their roots 
sprawling over the dry, rough bark, without moss and lichen, fully exposed 
to the rays of the sun, Hlourished the Vanda ccerulea, with spikes carrying as 
Many as twenty-one flowers measuring up to four inches across. And in the 
Winter there is hoar frost on the ground—that sounds spartan engugh for 
any Orchid, so I shall be very interested to see what happens to our little 
family in the roof. 
