330 THE ORCAID REVIEW. 
specimens. This practice is much resorted to by nurserymen, and there are 
numberless instances of Orchids which were only imported as one or few 
specimens, but by propagation under cultivation have become tolerably 
plentiful, and more healthy to-day than when first imported—Dendrobium 
nobile nobilius for example. 
Even species that one grower considers difficult another manages very 
well, and those considered impossible to cultivate to-day may be as easily 
managed ten years hence by those who understand them, as some considered 
difficult to manage ten years ago are easily grown to-day—Catasetum, 
Mormodes, and Cycnoches for example. Formerly these were placed on the 
staging among other Orchids, and watered more or less all the year round, 
and degeneracy and death were the consequences. Now they receive special 
treatment, and are well grown and afterwards properly ripened, the period 
of inactivity serving the all-important purpose of ensuring their doing but 
twelve months work in one year. Other classes are at present deemed 
generally unsatisfactory, though here and there sufficient specimens in rude 
health may be found to redeem them from the list of unmanageables—which 
generally means plants not understood, or for which no proper accommoda-. 
tion has yet been found. 
Cattleya Mossiz has got the reputation of degenerating, though in some 
old gardens, where a few Orchids are grown among other plants, it is no 
uncommon thing to find great specimens of it, and of other ‘“‘bad doers,”. 
which have been there a great number of years—more often, in fact, than in 
special Orchid collections. And this points to the fact that over-crowding is 
one of the causes of so-called degeneracy, Frequently amateurs start well 
with new houses and plenty of room, and all goes well, but when large 
quantities are continually being added, the houses begin to get crowded, and 
degeneracy sets in. 
The importance of raising Orchids at home is also pointed out. At 
present experiments have been limited to raising cross-bred varieties, and 
these home-raised plants have generally a better constitution, and adapt 
themselves better to our climate and houses than imported specimens. The 
question is, then, whether it would not be wise to raise uncrossed or true 
many of he ner iti of Cateye nd ther pour Orchid, nd ths 
5 » §et also the better consti 
plants. 
Probab bd: a Fie ns H. White, Orchid-grower to Sit 
which the tdentical plants oe em F posuestesiel ssbb © 
aoa e ave been in the Burford collection 
y years (/.c., Oct. 2nd, Pp: 230). 
plants reputed difficult to manage, in so 
other plants of the same species have, j 
tution of home-raised 
Some come under the heading of 
n many cases, been lost. 
