294 : THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
ORCHID GROWING AS A HOBBY. 
(Continued from page 268). 
Wuen the houses were completed and in working order the plants were 
removed into their new quarters, but there still remained much vacant space, 
to fill which the owner, whom we will call Dr. C., soon set about to reduce. 
A visit to the Sale Rooms and the expenditure of a moderate amount of 
cash yielded a nice little batch of Odontoglossum crispum and some 
imported Cattleyas and Dendrobiums, while a number of miscellaneous 
things were acquired at one of the nurseries. Some of the imported things 
were at once potted up, and others were hung up or laid out on the stages, 
on a layer of sphagnum moss, until the roots began to push, when these 
also were potted or basketed as the case might be. These operations 
naturally took up some little time before all were completed, and when I 
looked in one morning shortly afterwards I found the Doctor surveying the 
result with a considerable amount of satisfaction. Innumerable young 
roots were pushing out into the new compost, new growths were starting, 
and the plants generally were taking to their quarters in a way that 
promised well for the future. In the established part of the collection 
various spikes were pushing up, and there was a fair sprinkling of others in 
flower. What they were I hardly remember at this distance of time—for 
this was in the early days of the collection—but probably such as are found 
in many other similar collections in the early summer. 
Of course we made a tour of inspection through each department, and 
the Doctor was very enthusiastic over the promising outlook, pointing out 
various features which would have escaped my notice. He seemed to have 
discovered every flower spike that was pushing up, and how they were to be 
distinguished from young growths. In the case of the Cypripediums, some 
spikes were pointed out in the centre of the growths which looked like a 
new leaf just beginning to push, though I afterwards found that the opinion 
was correct. It is remarkable how quick one becomes in detecting such | 
features when constantly among the plants. Ina batch of imported plants 
one naturally watches very carefully for any sign of returning vitality, and 
from the appearance of the young roots and growths it is generally possible 
to tell what the progress will be by the end of the season. Many of these 
were examined, in some cases when only visible after pulling the moss on 
one side, and every grower will realize how the progress of such growths is 
watched almost day by day, particularly when the young flower spikes are 
beginning to push. 
One rather amusing circumstance may be related here. It is well known 
that many plants are purchased in the sale rooms in the hope of obtaining 
unexpected novelties in the way of natural hybrids or fine varieties, and 
