November, 1915.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



33 



parent, while others inherit the unmistakable 

 characters of the Sophronitis to a wide 

 extent. Now if the larger flowering 

 varieties, that is, those which partake more of 

 the Cattleya-like type, were selected it would 

 be wise to give them the treatment generally 

 accorded to such plants, that is, a compara- 

 tively hot and sunny situation, for their habit 

 suggests that they are composed more of the 

 Cattleya constitution than anything else. 



But, as anyone knows full-well, it is the 

 varieties which perpetuate the glowing scarlet 

 colour that are selected from a batch of 

 seedlings. It is the very plants that follow 

 most closely the .Sophronitis habit of growth 

 that are really the valuable gems so much 

 sought after by connoisseurs. Therefore, it 

 requires but little consideration to decide that 

 the mode of cultivation must follow the 

 treatment usually given to the .Sophronitis 

 species. 



Gardner, when travelling in Brazil, found 

 Sophronitis grandiflora at an elevation of 

 4-5,000 feet, where the climate is much 

 cooler than at Rio, the thermometer in the 

 months of May and June falling as low as 

 32° F. just before sunrise. The hottest 

 months are January and February, when the 

 highest observed temperature at noon was 

 84° F. ; this is also the season of heaviest 

 rains, and when violent thunderstorms occur 

 almost daily ; they come on with great 

 regularity, about 4 p.m., and when they pass 

 over leave a delightfully cool evening. 



Disregarding the periods of extreme high 

 temperatures in our country and Brazil, which 

 may be taken as the respective summer 

 seasons, we find that Sophronitis grandiflora 

 enjoys a comparatively cool atmosphere ; in 

 fact, one much lower than is required by the 

 majority of Cattleyas. On this account 

 almost all Sophronitis hybrids should be 

 given a relatively cooler situation. One 

 usually finds, more especially in amateurs' 

 collections, that these plants are suspended 

 near the glass in a very warm house. The 

 owner has no doubt paid a high price for 

 them, although not an excessive one, when 

 their rarity and beauty is considered, and 

 quite naturally he selects what is, in his 



opinion, a safe and suitable situation for their 

 cultivation. 



The writer has seen S.-C. Doris (.S. 

 grandiflora x C. aurea) suspended from the 

 roof of an unnecessarily warm house, with the 

 result that the plant was continually being 

 excited, no sooner had one growth started 

 than another eye was stimulated into prema- 

 ture action. And so it went on, quite half a 

 dozen new growths were made in one season, 

 and all so weak and drawn that not a single 

 one showed the slightest inclination to 

 produce a flower bud. It was impossible for 

 the plant to rest, or even accumulate reserve 

 nutriment, and should it have attempted the 

 ]iroduction of a flower, the resulting strain 

 would undoubtedly have brought about its 

 early death. 



It is fairly certain that Sophronitis hybrids 

 require a cooler atmosphere than many 

 growers are accustomed to give them. Not 

 so long ago, in a large collection where this 

 class of hybrid is well represented, the plants 

 rarely made the vigorous growth expected, 

 the leaves had a more or less shrivelled 

 condition, while the bulbs were never very 

 plump. It was decided to adopt a cooler and 

 less sunny atmosphere, one approaching that 

 of a warm Odontoglossum house. The 

 wisdom of this change was soon apparent, the 

 plants rapidly grew stronger, the new leaves 

 were larger, while there was increased root 

 activity which surpassed anything previously 

 seen in Sophronitis hybrids. This all 

 happened during the summer months ; during 

 the winter period a minimum temperature of 

 60° is advisable, although further experience 

 may show that even this figure may be 

 reduced with safety and even beneficial 

 results. 



In its habit of growth Sophronitis grandi- 

 flora resembles closely Laslia pumila and L. 

 Jongheana, and both these species have been 

 found to benefit considerably when removed 

 from the Cattleya house to a warm position in 

 the Odontoglossum house during the summer 

 months. 



VOL. VI. 



6 



