2098 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
clearing in the forest, and therefore fully exposed to the sun during several 
hours of the day. At this height, as well as throughout the Pacho crispum 
region, humid, chilly, interchanging fogs prevail for a few hours daily in the 
rainy season. From time to time these bleak fogs are dispersed by strong 
currents of wind, and thus gleams of sunshine alternately play upon the 
plants. 
The rainfall in this region averages from 15 to 20 inches monthly for six 
months yearly—occasionally the rainy seasons are much more prolonged. 
It is difficult to realise the extraordinary extent of rainfall and humidity 
under which crispum flourishes. I may mention that on one occasion I 
turned a running stream of water upon 500 of these plants for several hours 
daily for six weeks, and this, too, in the rainy season, but the effect upon 
the plants was nil. 
In the city of Bogota, 8,600 feet above sea-level, crispum is grown toa 
considerable extent, and most successfully, in baskets suspended to the 
sides of houses. The average daily temperature here is about 55°, seldom 
below 40° or above 70°. 
From the above remarks it will be observed that O. crispum accommo- 
dates itself to a wide range of climatic conditions, and this, doubtless, is 
the reason why the plant is so amenable to successful cultivation in 
Europe. I may add that I have always been impressed with the desirability 
of imitating in cultivation one essential characteristic of the plant in a 
state of nature; that is, after excessive watering for a month or two at a 
time, water should be withheld for a few days. 
ROBERT THOMSON. 
Forest Hill, 
ORCHIDS AT SOUTHGATE. 
THE well-known establishment of Messrs. W. L. Lewis and Co., at Chase 
Side, Southgate, has recently seen a partial change in its proprietorship, 
being now carried on under the name of Messrs. Stanley Mobbs and 
Ashton, the latter gentleman having been one of the partners for several 
years. The other day, we had the pleasure of looking round the nursery, 
and although at about the dullest season of the year for Orchids, we found 
many interesting things in bloom. 
In the first house visited, we found a fine batch of imported Lelia 
pumila, now nicely established and beginning to bloom, and here a well- 
flowered plant of the rare little Lelia longipes alba attracted our attention. 
c. A good batch of Oncidium tigrinum in spike was also noted, together with 
— & dozen well-flowered plants of O, trulliferam, one being an immense 
