AUGUST, 1922.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 245 
first time, but partial achievement in this respect will be something if it 
prove of finer constitution than grandiflora, and this is not to be doubted. 
And we must not forget that in getting here a series of very fine hybrids has 
been added to this quaint and beautiful family. 
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DISA CULTURAL NOTES. 
HE culture of these plants is very simple, though there is no denying 
that many have failed with them. The Disa requires as-much care 
but no more than most popular Orchids that are well grown, and it may be 
worth while noting in passing that not infrequently it is the general 
gardening practitioner and not the specially trained Orchid grower who 
cultivates them most successfully. Backhouse, of York, grew them notably 
well at one time, and in later years Cripps, of Tunbridge Wells. They 
have been grown to perfection up and down the country, and they are at 
present being excellently grown at Borde Hill, Sussex, and other places ; so 
we must rule out locality as being the only thing that counts. Success is 
not ‘just finding a place to suit them” in the way of locality, and failure 
is not just ‘‘ because they simply won’t grow here.”’ 
The Disa is at once tuberous and fibrous rooting. A healthy plant, even 
before it has finished flowering, will be sending up young shoots which, if 
strong enough, will be the flowering growths of next year. These shoots 
are not the young growths from existing tubers, but are directly from the 
roots, and the forerunners of tubers. The roots of a healthy plant develop 
leaf-buds well down in the pot, and the healthy advancement of these 
shoots will form tubers lusty enough to throw flower spikes in due season. 
The Disa is one-of the few Orchids that like light rather than sun, and 
a cool crisp but moist air. Coddling or forcing of any kind is anathema to 
them, and a light, cool, airy position with a north aspect Is to be recom- 
mended. They have been grown well in a cool greenhouse with plants like 
Myrtle, Oleander and Azaleas. Whatever may happen to D. grandiflora in 
its natural habitat, neither it nor its hybrids should ever be allowed to 
become dry here. he young shoots already mentioned would dry off. 
But the more slowly and sturdily these are brought along the more 
assurance there is for the future of the plant. A good plan is to have the 
pots plunged three parts their depth in well squeezed-out sphagnum moss, 
so that the pots may be kept cool and evaporation checked, thus avoiding 
too frequent watering. They require just to be moist all the winter and in 
a uniformly low temperature, say 40 to 50 degrees or even less. These 
young shoots should come along ever so slowly during the short days, and 
ever so sturdily. 
Disas may be repotted in September or in February. Equally successful 
