THE ORCHID REVIEW. 307 
from our own standpoint. _ It is evident that the bees, ants and flowers get 
along together in a surprisingly effective and harmonious way, in spite of 
any sentiments we may have about the matter. We should much like to 
see these remarkable plants better represented in our collections. 
THE CATTLEYA DISEASE, 
We have received some examples of diseased pseudobulbs of Cattleya 
Dowiana aurea from Mr. E. Pidsley, gardener to Richard Ashworth, Esq., 
Ashlands, Newchurch, Manch with request that we should ascertain 
the cause of the attack, if possible. Insome cases the mischief commenced 
in the leaf, and in others at the base of the pseudobulb or in the rhizome, 
the plants hanging side by side with others which remain perfectly healthy. 
Mr. Pidsley has seen several plants in other collections affected in the same 
way, and in each case the gardener was unable to suggest any cause for the 
attack. We also have seen it in this species, and exceptionally in C. labiata 
and C. Trianz, if not in others, and once it was a good plant of C. 
X Hardyana (of which C. Dowiana aurea is one parent) which suddenly 
went off without any apparent cause. We believe that some time ago some 
ical with a view 
diseased portions were submitted to P 
to ascertaining if any fungus was present which would account for the 
mischief, but the result was negative or doubtful, as the only fungi present 
were such as live upon decaying tissues, and not the cause of the disease. 
In the case of the “ Spot” disease, it was shown that the initial cause was 
the presence of minute drops of water on the surface of the leaves at a time 
when the t is ptionally low, and the roots copiously supplied 
with water oupral p- 19), and this confirmed the opinion of those who held 
that “spot” was simply the result of improper treatment, and not of a 
Parasitic fungus. Whether this disease of Cattleyas can be attributed to 
similar causes, or to some parasitic fungus like that which produces the 
Vanilla disease (supra, III., p. 51), is at present doubtful. It would appear, 
however, that the disease is not contagious, and this rather points to its not 
being of fungoid origin. Cattleya Dowiana is usually considered =e to 
gtow, though some people succeed very well with it, and we should be Lae 
to know of any special treatment which has been applied with bene ci 
results, as well as of any conditions which seem to favour the disease. 
Almost every grower has experience of some kind or _other with ed 
beautiful Cattleya, and a comparison of notes might yield some usefu 
information. The disease is not a new one by any means, and whether it 
be of fungoid origin or not it is important to know how to combat it 
successfully, 
