270 THE ORCHID REVIEW. (SEPTEMBER, I912. 
plants. The photograph shows one of the boxes with the lid turned back 
before the plants were removed, and the leaves appear to be in perfect 
condition. Baron Kawada expresses the highest satisfaction with the 
transaction, and hopes that others will avail themselves of such an excellent 
system. 
THE AMATEUR’S COLLECTION. 
By C. ALWyn HARRISON, F.R.H.S. 
CooL. House. 
ALTHOUGH fire heat is not usually needed until the end of this month, yet, 
should the present inclement weather continue, it will doubtless be needed 
now on damp and chilly nights, for on no account must all ventilation be 
withheld early in the afternoon, in order to retain enough heat in the house 
for the night and save lighting a fire. But artificial heating should not be 
employed unless really required, for it would tend to make the plants 
delicate, whereas they should, from now onwards, be hardened off, to enable 
them to withstand the coming winter months—a trying and unnatural 
season for all Orchids. Give more light, by only lowering the shading from 
midday till two p.m., and then only if the sun is strong. Damping down 
should now be limited to three times daily, at eight a.m., at midday, and, if 
necessary, at three p.m. Be careful not to overwater any Orchid, and, asa 
general rule, the following may serve as a rough guide. Water all growing 
and flowering plants every other day, and those at rest every four or five 
days. Admit as much air as possible, as this will help growing plants to 
ripen their pseudobulbs, well-matured growths being the precursors of 
strong flower spikes. 
This month is an ideal one for the general overhauling of the house, and 
the stagings should be cleared of all plants, every corner of the house and 
between the laths of the staging should be syringed with a strong insecticide, 
the glass well scrubbed inside and out, especially on the latter, to remove 
the liquid shading or other deposit, the ashes or coke under the staging 
raked over, and all pots and pans well cleaned. Then re-arrange the plants, 
at the same time cutting away and destroying any decayed pseudobulbs or 
decayed leaves. 
As regards positions, I would refer my readers to the article for March, 
1911, but a few of the main suggestions may be repeated, Odontiodas, small 
seedlings, and any Odontoglossums with the undermentioned as parents— 
Harryanum, amabile, Edwardii, Hallii, Uroskinneri—at the warmest end of 
the house, and Cypripedium insigne, villosum, Odontoglossum crispum, and 
Pescatorei at the coolest end. The house should be gay with many of the 
early autumn Odontoglossums, such as Alwyn, Crawshayanum, Hallio- 
triumphans, Charlesworthii, Marie, Goodsonii and many others. 
