oxarrtedna ~ as Bo oe ieee pease B pery 
on VoL. XXVI, May, 1918. No. 305. ie) 
Eaeoe NOTES FROM KEW.—V. ec 
N interesting feature of the Kew collection is the considerable number 
of miniature species that are grown, and which may be seen in bloom 
from time to time. They are of the most varied description, the majority 
being small species of familiar genera that grow naturally upon bark, and 
owing to their small size require to be grown well up to the roof glass, | 
Many of these are grown suspended from the roof, a strong wire being 
stretched along each side of the central path of the pits in which the 
plants are grown, and another beneath the apex. The plants are in quite 
various receptacles, in pans, baskets, on rafts, pieces of cork, and in some 
cases on natural bark, in most cases some fibre being attached in which the 
roots can work. This is, of course, an approximation to their natural 
habitat, and it is one of the features that give a distinct character to an 
Orchid house. In former times the practice was carried out to an even 
greater extent, in some cases the plants being suspended from suitable 
positions nearly all over the roof, but this cut off too much light from the 
plants beneath, which were also injured by the drip from those above. 
Many of the plants are specially adapted for such a position, and can 
hardly be accommodated elsewhere, on account of their pendulous habit, 
for example Cattleya citrina, Epidendrum Parkinsonianum, Dendrobium 
teretifolium, Masdevallia deorsa, whose character is indicated by its name, 
and the very distinct Lycaste Dyeriana, with others too numerous to 
particularise. The plants are, of course, grown in their own appropriate 
department, warm, intermediate, or cool, so far as this is known, but in a 
few cases a suitable position has to be found by experiment. It is not only 
a suitable position with regard to temperature, but also with regard to light, 
that has to be found, for such a collection is very various in its require- 
ments, and plants that are naturally shade-lovers seldom succeed in such 
positions. But for small species with fleshy leaves, as so many such plants 
have, the position is ideal, and a great variety of very diverse plants are 
grown with success, and interesting subjects are in bloom at all seasons of 
the year. 
Many small species are also grown upon the stages, where positions can 
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< The Orchid Review G 
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