THE ORCHID REVIEW. 365 
mation obtained from Swainson. Mr. Boyle, in his account of the ‘‘ The 
Lost Orchid,” remarks on this particular point :—‘“It may well be asked 
what Mr. Swainson was doing, if alive, while his discovery thus agitated 
the world. Alive he was, in New Zealand, until the year 1855, but he 
offered no assistance. It is scarcely to be doubted that he had none to give. 
The Orchids fell in his way by accident—possibly collected in distant parts 
by some poor fellow who died at Rio. Swainson picked them up, and used 
them to pack his lichens.” He also speaks of collectors that ‘‘ went over 
every foot of the ground which Swainson seems, by his books, to have 
traversed.” : 
Had the above facts been generally known, the history of the “lost 
Orchid”’ would have been vastly different, and would probably never have 
been written at all. And it is not a little remarkable, considering how long 
and how ardently the plant was searched for without success, that the above 
facts should have remained undiscovered. 
R. A. ROLFE. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR DECEMBER. 
By H. A. BuRBERRY, Orchid Specialist, King’s Heath, Birmingham. 
For the general management of the houses refer to last month’s Calendar. 
For the temperatures the same may also be said, but in addition I herewith 
append figures which must be the very lowest the thermometers are allowed 
to descend to, and then only for short periods, or some trouble may arise :— 
- Cool house—4o°. 
Intermediate house—48°. 
East Indian house—55°. 
The above must be considered as the lowest readings allowed, and these 
only during the early mornings until the fires are again pushed forward to 
produce the warmth for the day, and very little assistance can now be 
expected from the sun for this purpose. 
This is one of the months of all others when it is advisable to be 
extremely careful with the watering can. It is really remarkable for what 
a length of time nearly all the species will remain plump and healthy with- 
out water at this season; that is, of course, supposing they are vigorous and 
have been, during the past few months, gradually but well ripened off. 
With unhealthy or weakly specimens one has, of course, to take such 
circumstances into account and watch them somewhat more closely in order 
that they may not suffer in the slightest degree from over dryness. Not 
only will plants resting require but little water, but also those in full growth, 
as many of the Miltonias, Oncidiums, Odontoglossums, and Cypripediums 
Tequire extremely little, and remain much more healthy if kept pretty dry 
during the dullest winter months. 
