14 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
largely depends upon the preceding conditions. He would soon observe a 
certain amount of variation in these conditions, and might specially note 
those under which the plant grew with the greatest amount of vigour, 
particularly with regard to habitat, and, in the case of a mountain species, 
altitude. In this way he would soon discover what circumstances were 
purely accidental and what essential to the plant’s existence. The latter 
information could not fail to be of great utility to the cultivator at home, 
and if these conditions were (or could be) imitated the plant could 
not fail to succeed. Non-success would only indicate that some important 
factor had been overlooked or omitted. | Viewed in this light it may safely 
be affirmed that a knowledge of the circumstances under which any given 
plant exists in a wild state is the surest guide to success in cultivating it. 
All cultivators adopt some kind of rough classification with respect to 
the treatment required by any new Orchid of which they know nothing, 
but in this they are drawing upon past experience, and should they succeed 
at the first attempt it does not in any way disprove the argument as to the 
utility of a knowledge of natural conditions to the cultivator. The fact is, 
an experienced cultivator can form some idea of the requirements of a new 
plant by simply examining it. The presence of pseudobulbs, tubers, or of 
thick succulent leaves, tells of a period of repose, for are not such organs 
store-houses of nutriment to enable the plant to tide over some period when 
the vegetative forces are dormant? Deciduous leaves have also a like 
significance. The texture of the leaves afford an indication of a plant’s 
requirements with respect to light and shade; and the position of the roots 
aerial or terrestrial—gives an idea as to the position in which it grows. But 
examination of a plant affords little clue to a plant's requirements with 
respect to temperature. I am not aware that a comparison of Goodyera 
repens with some tropical species would lead any cultivator to infer that 
the former was quite hardy unless he knew it to European, and, in fact, a native 
of Great Britain. It is true he may recognise a new plant asa Dendrobium, an 
Oncidium, or what not, but this is not by any means an infallible guide, for 
different members of the same genus often grow naturally under quite 
different conditions, and will not succeed under identical treatment. Take 
Oncidium. Here we find some species inhabiting the tropical lowlands, 
some of which thrive for almost indefinite periods in an ordinary stove, as, 
for instance, O. sphacelatum, and others which grow high up in the Andes _ 
with Odontoglossums, and which will no more grow in a stove than will the 
latter. 
Dendrobium nobile likes any amount of heat and moisture when 
growing, but in order to flower. it well it must be subjected to a long cool 
rest after the pseudobulbs are completed ; in fact, it rapidly deteriorates 
if kept under a hot exciting temperature throughout the year. I once found 
