NOVEMBER, 1912.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 333 
CaTTLEYA HOUSE. 
As far as is practicable the thermometer should not be allowed to descend 
below 58° Fahr., for many Cattleyas and members of the allied genera are 
in full growth, and need heat to ripen their bulbs in lieu of the heat of the 
sun, which 1s obtained by those which complete their growth by the end of 
September. There is little doubt that sunlight is of the greatest value to 
this class of plants, and this fact is clearly borne out in an examination of 
the size of bulbs made by imported plants, and of those grown in the United 
States, where a greater proportion of sunlight is obtained. The damping 
down of this house and the watering of its inmates should be done as 
advised last month. There is little to be done now beyond maintaining the 
specified temperature, and creating a moist buoyant atmosphere. 
Unless temperatures above 60° Fahr. by day and 55° at night can be 
successfully maintained, I should strongly advise amateurs to avoid Cattleya 
chocoensis, Eldorado, gigas, Dowiana, Hardyana, maxima, Skinneri, and 
Brassavola Digbyana, as these require a higher temperature to bring them 
to perfection, and nothing is more disheartening than to grow Orchids 
which are unsuitable, and which merely exist, and never make bulbs fit to 
flower. Weak plants of Cattleya, particularly of C..Mossiz and Triane, 
are not worth house room, for they take years to develop properly, but 
strong sound pieces of these two species are excellent for amateurs’ 
collections. 
Vanda ccerulea is now at rest, and should receive merely enough water 
to prevent the leaves from shrivelling. Dendrobiums are still growing, and 
should be kept at the warmest end of the house, where they may be well 
syringed. When growth is completed they should be removed to a cooler 
house, and be kept comparatively dry, to ensure a good rest. 
SUGGESTED ADDITIONS. 
L&LiocaTTLEYA Nysa.—This is undoubtedly one of the finest autumn- 
flowering hybrids yet produced, and being of comparatively early raising, 
can be procured at a moderate price. For an amateur’s collection it is 
invaluable, since it is free-flowering and of robust constitution. The 
blossoms are of a large size and pleasingly perfumed, the sepals and petals 
being pale lilac and the lip deep purple with golden veining in the throat. 
Its parents are Cattleya Warscewiczii and Lelia crispa, and all the varieties 
are good. 
ONCIDIUM CRISPUM.—This is a pretty Cool-house species, and worthy 
of inclusion in every collection. Strong healthy plants are reasonable in 
price, and bear long branching flower spikes, the individual blossoms of 
which are of various shades of yellow and brown, and retain their beauty 
for several weeks. There have recently been importations of this fine 
species, and such plants should by now be breaking well. 
