Apri, 1913.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 109 
artificial heat, and rising up to 80 degrees when the sun is bright. In this 
temperature it is possible to grow a great variety of Orchids, including 
some of the showiest and most beautiful kinds in existence. 
Taking into consideration the nature and general character of Orchids, 
especially the epiphytal species, one does not wonder that to master the 
essentials of their successful cultivation a longer time is required than is the 
case of other plants. By this I mean that growers fail to recognise the 
treatment necessary to enable them to keep their plants in a thriving state for 
an indefinite period. It does not require more than an ordinary acquaintance 
with Orchids to see by the character of their growth that Nature has made 
a special provision for their continual existence. In the bulbous species 
such as Cattleyas, Lzlias, Dendrobiums, Odontoglossums, Oncidiums, 
Lycastes, and others, the roots which nourish the plant are confined to the 
newly-made pseudobulbs, while the roots of the old back bulbs die after a 
lapse of time, but the better the cultivation the slower the decay. The 
advancing growth, however, suffers in no way by the death of these roots, 
providing the old pseudobulbs they have been supporting are removed, for, 
if allowed to remain, they have to be supported by the newer growth, which 
naturally very seriously hinders the young bulb’s formation and maturation. 
It is in this renewing of the tenure of life that Orchids differ from other 
plants. The removing of the old pseudobulbs should be done during the 
process of repotting, cutting them away from the last three or four leading 
ones; any that are removed from rare and valuable kinds, will, providing 
the eyes are sound, eventually start into growth, and, in due time, valuable 
Stock is secured from material which, had it been allowed to remain, would 
only have been detrimental to the parent plant. 
In the bulbless species, Vandas, Aérides, Angrzecums, Saccolabiums, 
and Phalznopsis, for example, the natural provision for their existence is 
equally apparent the lower part of the stems, after the leaves and roots 
they produced are decayed, die gradually upwards, but the upper part is 
quite independent of the dead portion below, which has simply to be 
removed to enable the plant and its source of nourishment to be again 
brought in contact. This renewal of its existence is a peculiarity of this 
type of plant. In evidence of this I may say there are at the present time 
plants of Vanda, Aérides, and other distichous-leaved kinds in the 
Westonbirt collection that have been growing there for over fifty years. 
It is impossible to lay down any rules as the best for the culture of 
Orchids. The plants are often found thriving under such very opposite 
treatment, and as one cannot be certain that the conditions and 
Surroundings are in all cases precisely similar, much more can be done by 
Suggestions than by definite advice. I will, however, venture to say that 
Observation and common sense are very important factors if combined with 
