THE ORCHID REVIEIV. 369 
H. militaris is certainly a most effective Orchid when in flower, and if 
crossed would most likely bring forth some good things. What if we could 
get some half hardy strain by fertilising it with the pretty, white British 
species figured in Nicholson’s Dictionary of Gardening? There is, however, 
one great difficulty in the way, as the former blooms in September and the 
latter in June. This hardy species I believe is not common in these islands. 
Once only have I seen it growing naturally, and then I came upon a fine 
bed of probably three dozen plants, growing luxuriantly beneath the partial 
shade of a large beech tree, having an eastern aspect, on the chalky hills of 
Surrey, although I am intimately acquainted with many of the Surrey Hills. 
But unfortunately I was not discreet. Being young and so delighted with 
my find, I made no secret of its whereabouts, and there is no doubt in my 
_ mind that by this time Habenaria chlorantha, with its slender spur and its 
pure white lip, has been completely exterminated from its habitat beneath 
that particular beech tree. 
Cypripedium Calceolus is said to be a native Orchid, though I fear that 
very few plants are now to be found wild in England. I would point out the 
utter absurdity of hastening with a trowel to ruthlessly dig up these British 
gems the moment their bright flowers betray them. They cannot then safely 
be transplanted, and are almost sure to die. If it is desired to collect them, 
the exact spot should be marked, so that the tuber or root can be found in 
the winter when the stem has withered. About February would be a good 
time to take them up. 
A correspondent, who, by the way, is an amateur Orchid grower of many 
years’ standing, has just lost one of his best Cattleyas, and “‘is utterly at a 
loss to account for it, and why one plant in a hundred should die and the 
others remain healthy, beats me,” he writes. ‘“‘ All the young growths are 
black and rotting,” which is bad news, but it is one of those occurrences to 
which all Orchid growers are liable. No one can say how this disease can 
be absolutely avoided, not even the most skilful, and having the most 
favourable means at command. But I do maintain that such mishaps may 
be reduced to a minimum, under the influence of good cultivation. It is 
with this in view that practical growers are for ever urging the true 
principles of culture, upon which depends so much the building up of 
healthy constitutions in their plants. The most important points are 
warmth, moisture, air, light, shade, and rest ; all of which are essential, but 
must be applied in accordance with the time of year and the condition of the 
plants. I have heard some growers ridicule such cultural directions as 
whimsical and over exact, but they are those who have started with strong, 
newly imported plants, and found to their surprise how easily they grew. 
Time alone has proved to them the difference between right and wrong. 
Orchids, like other plants and animals, are liable to disease, and attention to 
their requirements is the best means of keeping it in check, though it cannot 
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