JANUARY, 1903.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 19 
AN AMATEUR’S SECTION. 
Wout p it be possible to have an Amateur’s section in this most useful 
work, in which notes might be written for the benefit of a large number of 
amateurs who try to grow these beautiful flowers? I have often thought it 
would be useful. Personally I have profited a great deal from the perusal 
of your pages, and what a lot there is to learn for those who become 
fascinated! A special Amateur’s column would, I think, be extremely 
useful and increase the number of your readers. 
i, es Ls 
We should like to carry this idea into practice, for we have beginners 
and amateurs who personally manage their own collections among our 
readers, and we should not like them to think that their interests are 
neglected. The question, however, is not so easy as might at first appear, 
and we should be glad of further suggestions as to what would be most 
useful. Cultural methods are, of course, identical, however large or small 
the collection, and to these our monthly Calendar of Operations is devoted. 
Perhaps the reason which more than all others has led to this depart- 
ment being somewhat neglected is that so little that is new can be said 
about it, and that comparative beginners have hesitated in sending their 
experiences and difficulties, in the belief that they would have but little 
interest. But it must be remembered that all were beginners once, and we 
would suggest that the proposed amateur’s section should be conducted by 
amateurs themselves, and a promising subject to begin with would be— 
““How my collection originated.” Such notes would be extremely 
interesting, and might possibly throw light on the early history of some of 
our now famous collections, and on some that will be famous in days 
to come. 
BARBARIC METHODS 
Wy do so many of our amateurs still persist in the cruel, barbaric practice 
of “skinning alive” their Orchids? In looking over several small amateur’s 
collections recently I noticed the newly-skinned, bare bulbs, looking 
terribly unnatural, green, and glossy. I allude to amateurs chiefly, because 
I cannot think that any really intelligent professional grower.would be 
guilty of such drastic work. At this season—when bad weather puts a 
stop to outside work—the houses and plants are often subjected toa general 
cleaning. This in itself is good, but is it really necessary to strip all the 
outside protecting skin from the old and new bulbs, only for the simple idea 
of making the bulbs look nicer? This opinion, in point of fact, is open to 
some question ; as it is doubtful if the bulbs do not really look far better in 
