330 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [NOVEMBER, 1909. 
and can usually be relied on to make a good display, though in urban 
districts the flowers are sometimes much injured by fogs. Oncidium crispum 
and others of this section are flowering well, and some of those mentioned 
last month are still good. The genus includes some fine autumn-flowering 
species. Cypripedes are pushing up numerous sturdy scapes, both here and 
in the Cool jhouse, and a few are already in bloom, prominent among them 
being the dainty C. Fairrieanum, which is now making a good show. It 
grows and flowers freely in this house, and it becomes increasingly difficult 
to understand why the original importations should have so nearly died out. 
C. purpuratum is also flowering well. Vanda Kimballiana and V. ccerulea 
are making a fine display, while Sophronitis grandiflora is also flowering 
freely, and is quite indispensable. 
In the Cool house a few Odontoglossums are in bloom, but the majority 
are now growing and rooting freely. They should be encouraged as muchas 
possible, for strong growths will produce strong spikes later on. A moist 
genial atmosphere, with plenty of light and air, should be secured, though 
cold draughts must be avoided, as well as anything like a hot dry atmosphere. 
The cool-growing Cypripedes, as C. insigne and its varieties and hybrids 
will soon be in bloom, and will keep up a supply of flowers for weeks. 
In the Warm house, plants of the striking and very fragrant Cycnoches 
chlorochilon are flowering well, with Vanda suavis, the beautiful Dendrobium 
Phalznopsis and formosum, and some of the warm-growing Cypripedes, but 
the show of bloom in this house is not great just now. 
Winter treatment will now be the order of the day, and the great thing 
will be to keep the temperatures and atmospheres right. There are a few 
Cool house species which thrive best in intermediate temperature during the 
winter, as the Chimzera section of Masdevallia, and if not already done these 
should now be moved to the Intermediate house. Other species which are 
actively growing during the winter are often benefited by being removed to 
a slightly warmer house. Great care must be exercised in watering during 
the winter months, for evaporation is now reduced to a minimum, and the 
compost takes a long time to dry out. 
SMALL OrcHID HousEs.—We have received a very interesting letter 
from a ‘‘ Constant.Subscriber”’ in Lancashire, respecting a note on small 
Orchid houses which appeared at page 168. He remarks: ‘‘ I have two small 
houses, one 16 by 8 by 8 ft., which I made myself throughout, and which 
will bear inspection, although I have never had an hour’s lesson from any- 
one. The other is 7 by 8 by 8 ft., which I bought, but I have made a new 
top in sections. TI also fitted the boiler and pipes for heating, and the lath 
blinds for shading. These two houses contain about 350 Orchids of a mixed 
collection.” The letter concludes with a cordial invitation to inspect the 
