202 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [Sept.-Octr,, 1918. 
flowers. It is a good plant for cutting, the flowers having been in the 
drawing room for a week when photographed. The species was described 
in 1837, but it was not until twelve years later that it flowered for the first 
time in this country. It varies greatly in the size of its flowers, and in the 
variety Rogersii the lip measures as muchas two inches across. It succeeds 
under intermediate house treatment. 
The genus Oncidium is remarkable for its extensive vertical range, some 
of the species occurring in hot river valleys or near the coast, others at 
moderate elevations, and a few are found on the Cordillera at altitudes of 
5000 and gooo feet, these differences being reflected in the kind of treatment 
required. ; 
We | CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR SEPT.-OCTOBER. 
ny 3... 4. amie late of Raton Hill Gardens, 
0 
A UTUMN is a period when the majority of Orchids will be completing 
their season’s growth, and the object should now be to consolidate 
and mature this as much as possible, so as to prepare the plants for the 
coming winter. September and October are usually very variable months, 
bright sunny weather often alternating with spells of cold and wet, so that 
it is difficult to prescribe any exact course of treatment. A great point to 
aim at is to prevent the outside fluctuations from reaching the plants, and 
this is effected by due control of the heating and ventilating apparatus, and 
by modifying the amount of atmospheric moisture in accordance with the 
outside conditions. 
Differences of locality, and in the positions and structure of the houses, 
must also be taken into consideration, as these affect their capacity for 
holding atmospheric moisture. Everything depends upon a proper balance 
being maintained in the different departments. The warmest division 
should always be kept in a fairly humid condition, to counteract the dry!ns 
effects of the artificial heat necessary to maintain the proper temperature. 
But even here, damping down should not be done too frequently, especially 
in low lying or damp districts, as the condensing moisture may in excess!¥° 
cases do much harm in causing drip from the roof, which may be fatal to 
delicate plants. Until there is need of more artificial heat—which may 
occur now at any time—damping down to a moderate extent morning and 
evening may be indulged in. It is not good practice to keep on syringing 
or spraying each time the air in the houses gets in the least dry, espec!* ly 
in the autumn when a number of the plants are finishing up and preparing 
for rest. 
It is essential at this season that plenty of sunshine should reach such 
Kt 
essle, E. Yorks. 
