JuLy, 1922.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 213 
AN AMATEUR’S EXPERIENCE. 
BY JOSEPHINE WALKER. 
NE thing noticed with the Monkey House, is that although in winter 
and spring, when the fire heat is constantly on, it will grow 
Dendrobiums, and force other plants into growth admirably, now that we 
do not employ heat in the day time, because the temperature is practically 
the same as that of the large house, there is a damp clammy feeling, owing, 
I suppose, to the fact that the rays of the sun cannot reach it through the 
outer glass and the intervening space in the large house. The consequence 
is, we have had to bring out the Dendrobiums, and find a position for them 
in the large house. Some of the imported Dendrobiums are very uncertain 
about starting. We have some plants of D. fimbriatum and D. 
Brymerianum which are not yet established, and for months we have 
tried every spot around the place to encourage them to root, but without 
success ; finally, we decided to try them in the cradle, in the lantern roof 
with the Vandas, and now they are both rooting splendidly. It only shows 
how close observation of the plants is necessary. We have a plant of D. 
infundibulum, which was purchased in the imported state a couple of years 
ago. Now this is a cool-growing species, and supposedly easy to cultivate. 
We grew D. Jamesianum fairly well, and it is a close brother from the 
same district. But with every device we failed to stimulate it into growth, 
and in desperation it was put in among some Cattleyas against the white 
tiled wall, in the full glare, or blaze, of the sun, where it has at last decided 
to root and grow splendidly. So, if for some reason, a plant is not growing 
as desired, and all other points have failed, try it with a trip round the 
house in different positions. The plant’s response to a favourable place will 
very soon be apparent to the careful observer. 
There is a point I should like to make perfectly clear. In some of my 
articles I have mentioned the success we have obtained with plants 
purchased at various sales during our years of growing Orchids. I did this 
in the first place, with the sole idea of proving a certain point—that not 
only is it possible to grow Orchids successfully in a conservatory, but that 
it is possible to do so with plants that are in the last stages of neglect. 
My husband says this is capable of being misinterpreted, and bring down 
upon my head anything but blessings. He says, just imagine what hope 
an ordinary amateur would have with the majority of such plants we have 
so bought. In the first place, he would not know what to do with them, 
and after keeping them for a year, if they survived so long, he would 
consign them to the dustbin, and with the remark—if that is Orchid 
growing, not for me, thanks! Perhaps the view is right, and to make it 
still clearer, it must be remembered that my husband and I have spent 
many years on the hobby, and have read, and re-read, nearly all the 
