12 THE BOOK OF ORCHIDS 



The well-known Odontoglossum crispum (Alexandra) and 

 its very numerous and beautiful varieties, is probably 

 the most extensively grown Orchid in collections. The 

 palm of superiority is universally assigned to this species, 

 on account of its exquisite beauty, its usefulness, and 

 the comparative ease with which it may be cultivated. 

 Where a fairly representative number of the different 

 species of Odontoglossum is cultivated, they generally 

 produce an uninterrupted succession of bloom through- 

 out the year. Odontoglossums as a rule arrive in this 

 country in a satisfactory condition, owing in great part 

 to the care and intelligence of the collectors, and the 

 rapidity of transit. Where a large number of these 

 plants are obtained, a stage in the coolest house should 

 be set apart for them, and, if the stage consist of open 

 wood-work, it should be overlaid with boards or slates, 

 upon which should be placed a thin layer of sphagnum 

 moss, cocoanut fibre, or finely sifted ashes from the 

 stoke hole. It is advisable to go carefully over the 

 plants at once, cutting away any decayed or rotting 

 portions, and to lay them on the sphagnum, etc., without 

 touching each other. If the plants are imported dur- 

 ing warm weather they may be slightly dewed over 

 occasionally, using a very fine syringe or sprayer for the 

 purpose, but those that come over late in the autumn or 

 early spring need no syringing overhead, the moisture 

 arising from the damped parts, and from the earth beneath 

 the stage being sufficient. Too much dampness fre- 

 quently sets up decay. In due time the new growths and 

 roots will appear, and it is then time to put the plants into 

 pots. It is not good practice to pot up the whole of the 

 plants at one time, it being better to pick out those which 

 have made the best start, and so by degrees to pot up the 

 whole of them. Pot each piece separately, it being 

 almost certain that varieties will differ, for scarcely can 

 two be found exactly alike. Select pots as small as can 



