34 THE ORCHID REVIEW, [FEBRUARY, 1923. 
Dr. CoTTLe’s Expepirion.—Anyone who takes on the work of Orchid 
collecting in the little-known lands is fully aware of the dangers involved, 
both as regards disease and the likelihood of being attacked by wild 
animals. It is only a few months ago that Dr. Cottle set out to collect 
Orchids for Sir Jeremiah Colman, Bart., and now we hear that the first 
consignment has arrived. On his outward journey in the ‘‘ Malaya,” Dr. 
Cottle called at Paramaribo, and stayed for some time in Dutch Guiana. 
He there made a motor-boat trip of 120 miles up the Saramacca River, and 
subsequently explored many creeks by means of canoes. Among the 
Orchids collected are numerous species of the following genera :—Aspasia, 
Brassia, Epidendrum, Stanhopea, Stelis, Gongora, Ornithidium, Ornitho- 
cephalus, Zygopetalum, Maxillaria, Polystachya, Rodrigeuzia, and Ionopsis. 
It is to be hoped that further consignments will be received, for many of 
the best kinds from the above locality are now rarely seen in cultivation. 
Dr. Cottle experienced much difficulty in searching the Guiana swamps, 
while insect pests were ever present. 
AN OLD-TIME OrRcHID Compost.—About the year 1845, Mr. Appleby 
wrote: ‘‘I have lately used the following compost with great success for 
Orchidaceous plants. I procure a quantity of sphagnum, or common bog 
moss, have it dried, and then chopped small; to this I add half-rotten 
willow or poplar wood. I prefer these woods on account of their great: 
lightness and the absence of resin, chopped into small pieces of various sizes, 
the largest not bigger than pigeon’s eggs. To these I add the under stratum 
of sphagnum, which has become almost peat, likewise chopped fine, the 
whole in about equal parts. These make altogether a light open compost, 
which appears admirably to suit the plants, as they root init freely, and 
thrive to my satisfaction. I use it for the species that grow upon trees.” 
VANDA AMESIANA.—This attractive species was originally introduced by 
Messrs. Low & Co. from the Southern Shan States, where it grows mostly 
on rocks in warm situations fully exposed to the sun, but sometimes on trees 
in partial shade. Its usual season of flowering is during the cold period of 
December and January, when in the early morning the ground is occasionally 
white with hoar frost. It is very successfully cultivated by Mr. Geo. Taylor 
in the Bulstrode collection at Gerrard’s Cross, Bucks, and from him we have 
received photographs showing a group of plants in full flower and a single 
specimen carrying five branched spikes. These plants are abundantly 
supplied with thick white roots, and were grown in a span-roofed pit, with 
plenty of heat and moisture during the growing season. When the roots 
have discontinued their season’s growth less water is given, and later on 
only enough to prevent the plants from shrivelling. 
