44 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [FEBRUARY, I913- 
THE AMATEUR’S COLLECTION. 
By C. ALwyn Harrison, F.R.H.S. 
TuIs month is rather a trying one for beginners in Orchid culture, for we 
experience much variability in respect of the weather, cold winds often 
being accompanied by bright sun or damp, chilly days, and these following 
each other in succession. Such climatic conditions render the matter of 
ventilating rather difficult, and it is a point upon which no set rules can be 
given, but must be left almost entirely to the good judgment of the amateur. 
A few suggestions can only be given. Ventilate as soon as the thermometer 
rises several degrees above 58° Fahr., and be careful to open only those 
ventilators which are situated on the side of the house well away from the 
prevailing wind. The main secret of success in growing Orchids is to 
maintain a damp atmosphere at all times, and therefore do not open the 
ventilators so widely as to cause all the moisture to evaporate from the 
house. It is yet too early to begin any repotting, and watering should be 
practised as advised in the article for last month. 
Cypripediums will now be mostly over. These, without doubt, are the 
Orchids par excellence for a small house, for they flower freely, remain a 
long time in bloom, and small plants soon increase in size and make many 
strong flowering growths. A good dozen, requiring 50° Fahr. as a 
minimum, would comprise C. aureum, Boxallii, Calypso, Euryades, 
Harrisianum, Leonia, Leeanum, nitens, Sallieri, Spicerianum, villosum, 
and any variety of insigne. But there is now a long list to choose from, 
and all the insigne hybrids will succeed under the treatment mentioned, 
and they form the majority of the winter-flowering kinds. 
WONDERS OF HEAT AND MOISTURE. 
THE wonders of solar heat and moisture were recently discussed by Sir 
James Dewar in a lecture at the Royal Institution. Speaking of the solar 
radiation in tropical places, Sir James said that in six hours about four- 
tenths of a square mile received heat equivalent to the combustion of 1000 
tons of coal; while an area of 1300 square miles got in one year heat 
equivalent to one billion tons of coal—the whole estimated coal output of 
Europe and America. Between the months of April and July, a field of 
wheat transpires sufficient moisture to cover the surface of its ground to a 
depth of nine inches. Another interesting fact is that it requires 34]bs. of 
water to produce 16 grains of corn. The famous vine at Hampton Court, 
which has a leaf surface of 1820 square inches, gave off in twelve hours 
two-fifths of a pound of water. It would be very interesting and instructive 
_if the problem could be extended to cover the field of Orchid culture, im 
which heat and moisture are such important factors. 
So oe ae ee 
