302 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [OcTOBER, 1909. 
are a little soft, and the extra dryness needed for winter seems to start the 
thrip going. The best remedy I find is the syringe and clean water used 
properly. We use the jet syringe, with the finger as a spreader. The finer 
the spray, the better it covers the leaves all over. It is not the quantity of 
water but the way it is used which keeps thrip down. Several people 
have written to me when I have advised this method, wanting to know what 
time it should be done, and how they were to prevent it from rotting the 
centre of the growths. There is no danger of growths rotting unless the 
plants are simply drowned with a rose syringe, which is commonly used 
because it is less trouble, but a little practice with a jet syringe will soon 
enable one to use it properly. We very seldom use insecticide, and when 
it is used it is made very weak. Any good make is suitable if used with 
care, and for safety rather under the strength given on the tins or bottles. 
One of the chief causes of injury to growths is insecticide carelessly used. 
There is a large collection of Cypripediums here, and neither thrip nor thrip 
marks can be found on the plants. The preventative used is the syringe and 
clean water, and care taken in using it, and we never lose young growths in 
the way mentioned. 
OncIpIuMs.— Many varieties will now be pushing up their flower spikes, 
and should be given a light position and carefully watered until the spikes are 
developed. Many varieties, such as O. varicosum Rogersii, Gardneri, 
crispum, ampliatum, incurvum, &c., throw tremendous spikes, considering 
the size of the plants, and should the latter show any signs of shrivelling, 
the spikes should be removed as soon as the flowers are developed, for often 
the strain of carrying a large spike will mean the loss of the plant if not 
carefully watched. Many of the Oncidiums are small, but very interesting 
flowers when closely examined. With few exceptions, Oncidiums like 
Intermediate house treatment, witha fair amount of sunshine. The bulbs 
should be ripened as much as possible before the dull days, as when soft 
they are liable to rot off in the winter, especially if they happen to get a 
drop too much water. O. Lanceanum will also be pushing up its flower 
spikes. This is a very sweetly-scented variety, and should be grown at the 
warm end of the Cattleya house or stove. It should be given plenty of 
water until the new leaves are fully grown, and then kept fairly dry until it 
commences to grow again. O. Papilio, the Butterfly Orchid, as it is 
commonly called, should also be grown warm. This species flowers at 
almost any time of the year, and if a plant seems at all distressed after it 
has been flowering for some time, the spike should be removed, otherwise 
it would go on flowering until it kills itself. O. Cavendishianum and 
carthaginense should also be grown in the stove, and given plenty of water 
until the new leaves are made up. These should now be in full growth, and 
kept well up to the light. Care must be taken not to overwater them in 
