238 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [AuGUsT, 1912. 
THE AMATEUR'S COLLECTION. 
By C. ALwyn Harrison, F.R.H.S. 
Coot House. 
AS we are now experiencing very hot weather, every effort must be made to 
keep the house cool and damp at all times. The rules for damping and 
watering given last month should still be followed, and a close inspection of 
every plant daily will be necessary. It will be found a great asset towards 
maintaining a cool atmosphere inside the house if the blinds are so 
arranged that a free current of air can circulate between them and the roof 
glass. This point may seem a needless expense to a novice, but the marked 
difference in the temperature of a house so fitted, with one where the 
blinds lay flat upon the roof glass, can easily be discerned. Shade should 
be given from g.30 a.m. until 3.30 p.m., or even later, if the house be so 
placed that it gets all the sun from midday onwards. If the atmosphere is 
allowed to get dry at any time, thrips will make their appearance. 
Immediately any are observed, fumigate in the evening, removing all 
plants which are in flower. Afford all possible ventilation, both during the 
‘day and at night. 
About this season, many local shows are held, and a group of Orchids is 
always a pleasing and often novel exhibit. Amateurs who put up small or 
large collections know how extremely useful the large branching spikes of 
‘Oncidiums and the Odontoglossum Edwardii hybrids are for a background. 
There are now many of the latter in existence, and most are cheap and soon 
grow into large specimens. Many, however, are inferior as to the size of 
the individual blooms, and the four undermentioned rank as the best: O. 
Clytie (Edwardii X Pescatorei), O. Dixonie (Edwardii X luteopurpureum), 
O. Harrisonii (Edwardii ™X triumphans), and O. Thompsonianum 
(Edwardii X crispum). In all of them the O. Edwardii character 
predominates. 
CATTLEYA HOUSE. 
Here, again, the methods of culture described in my last month’s 
article are needed, no radical changes being necessary until the close of the 
following month. There is one point, however, in Cattleya culture which 
may now be added. About four p.m. pull up the blinds and damp the 
house and stagings thoroughly, close all the ventilators, and leave the 
house thus till six pm. Then give some air, and water any plants which 
would get too dry if left until the morning. I find that this method of 
culture considerably helps the plants to ripen their bulbs, and assists others 
which are in a different state of growth to push fresh roots, or to develop 
their new pseudobulbs. 
Vanda coerulea should be remossed if this operation is necessary, this 
