May, 1914.] THE ORCHID REVIEW, 139 
By C. ALWYN HARRISON. 
THE AMATEUR’S COLLECTION. Vee 
*5 
NCREASED atmospheric moisture and ventilation will now be the 
order of the day, whilst-the blinds will need lowering about 10.30 a.m. 
and will probably be better not raised again until about four p.m., as the 
power of the sun is now great, and scorching of the leaves will ensue where 
too little shade is afforded. Towards the middle of this month the roof 
glass should be painted with a mixture of flour and water, or a weak 
solution of Hall’s Distemper will answer the purpose equally well. The 
main object of painting the glass is to obviate the necessity of keeping the 
blinds down too long, for this mixture on the glass will not exclude light, 
_ but at the same time will effectively prevent any damage being done to the 
plants by the sun’s rays in the early morning and afternoon, whereas a risk 
of scorching might be run if only the shading by the blind at midday were 
resorted to. 
Damping down will be usually required about 10 a.m., midday, and 
about 3 p.m. After this final syringing it will be found a good plan to 
close all the ventilators for about an hour, opening as required, and 
according to the weather, after the superfluous moisture has had time to 
condense. All plants should be carefully examined daily, and water be 
given freely to all in bud and active growth. 
During this month many of the beautiful Cattleya Mendelii, C. Mossiz, 
and innumerable hybrids will be in full growth, and showing for flower, and 
the latter should have their leading bulbs neatly staked, when the blossoms 
will show off to better advantage. Whilst staking these Orchids time 
should be spared for sponging their leaves, and, if needed for a show, to 
place a layer of green sphagnum moss on the surface of the compost, which 
will greatly improve the appearance. : 
Cattleya Schroederz will now have passed out of flower, and any plants 
needing renewal of compost should be immediately attended to, working on 
the lines advocated in the March article. 
Imported Dendrobiums will now have plumped up and are beginning to 
emit roots. They should therefore be placed in pots, nearly full of crocks, 
with a little chopped moss and osmunda fibre over their roots, and a humid 
atmosphere always maintained around them, affording water directly merely 
when needed. 
Renanthera Imschootiana is also a great favourite for summer groups, 
its long spikes of brilliant scarlet spider-shaped blooms being very 
attractive, as is also the length of time a spike will last in perfection. 
These Orchids should be well inured to the light, so as to enable them to 
