144 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [MAY,. 1922¢ 
only to show that, in my opinion, Orchids can be grown, and grown success- 
fully under almost any conditions. And it is not the conditions that matter, 
it is the grower, who, if he has enthusiasm anda love of the plants, can 
and will overcome any difficulties. The extracts in question happened to 
appear just before we had to move our.little lot along here, where, as I have 
already stated, the only accommodation is the big conservatory, so one can 
imagine the following caused us to furiously think. ‘‘ Orchids are some- 
times grown—or alleged to be grown—in lofty conservatories. To grow, 
Orchids in a semi-detached lofty conservatory is analagous to growing a 
Dutch bulb in the neck of a bottle of water; it will yield up what was 
imported in it, but lay up little store for a future effort. I am prepared to 
be told that Cypripedium insigne, some insigne hybrids, Cvelogyne cristata, 
and a few other Orchids will grow on indefinitely in a moist corner of a 
conservatory ; but one becomes an Orchid grower in only a limited sense if 
confined to these, admirable though they are.” One.can imagine our 
feelings. My husband and I had a serious council, and_ decided that we. 
must go on, and if we had to die, to do so fighting. 
I think we may claim to have proved that not only is it possible to grow 
Orchids successfully, but that it is possible, if needs be, to acquire them, 
when they have fallen to the lowest ebb at which life can exist and nurse. 
them back to robust health. These plants have made bulbs and given. 
spikes of bloom that, as far as it is possible to judge, were not excelled 
when they were grown under what were apparently ideal conditions at a 
previous period, for some of them came from very famous collections. So 
do not be discouraged, have a try, study your plants, love them and they 
will love you. ; 
poder eal 
MAXILLARIAS.—A genus widely distributed throughout Central America; 
from Brazil to the West Indies. The species vary greatly, but- may be 
broadly divided into two sections—the one, of which Sanderiana, grandi- 
flora, etc, are representative, with short rhizomes and clustering pseudo- 
bulbs ; in the other, of which meleagris and tenuifolia are typical, the 
pseudobulbs are borne at short intervals on long, scandent, or ascending 
thizomes. In both sections the pseudobulbs are comparatively small, oval, 
rather flat, generally ancipitous, and often sheathed with the leaf bases and 
foliaceous bracts, producing the single-flowered scapes from the bases, 
usually between the pseudobulb and a leaf. The culture of Maxillarias is 
very similar to that of Lycaste, excepting that peat, or other fibre, and 
sphagnum moss are preferable potting materials. The plants should be 
kept moist all the year round, and be shaded ‘rather heavily during sunny 
weather.’ The section with scandent rhizomes are better placed on blocks 
of wood or pieces of tree fern.—Sanders’ Orchid Guide. 
