March, 1916.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



137 



season I have taken a hurried look round at 

 Messrs. Armstrong and Brown's establish- 

 ment to see what I could find in this direction. 

 Among a really good display I noted, for 

 richness of colour, Swallowtail (Fairrieanum 

 X Bassano), with dorsal rich claret relieved by 

 just enough cream to give distinction, a 

 flower combining the attributes of both 

 parents. There now exists a goodly number 

 of Fairrieanum crosses, characterised by rich 

 colouring throughout the whole flower, form- 

 ing a section of great interest ; C. Minos, 

 getting on in years, but still one of the best 

 for colour and good qualities ; C. Helen II. 

 var. Fascinator, with beautifully spotted 

 dorsal and petals rosy-mauve, a fine thing ; 

 C. Mary Beatrice, dark claret-purple ; C. The 

 Premier, with bright green dorsal, amply 

 spotted black, with sufficient white edge to 

 justify the position he holds ; C. Mrs. Mostyn, 

 too well-known to need describing, of fine 

 colour ; C. Amy Moore x Mrs. Wm Mostyn, 

 the combined beauties of both giving a white 

 dorsal richly spotted blackish-purple ; C. 

 Connie (Fairrieanum x glaucophyllum) is full 

 of colour ; C. Duke of Connaught, apple- 

 green with black spots, very choice. 



A fine lot of Maudias and Holdenii were 

 also in evidence. By the way, what does Mr. 

 Paine say to the form of these gems, two of 

 the best in cultivation, out of all proportion 

 when one considers the dorsal in comparison 

 with the narrow petals? So one could go on, 

 ad libitu7n, and this at a time when many 

 have passed out of flower. Are not these 

 remarks sufficient evidence to show that Old 

 and New Cypripediums are not devoid of that 

 charm which is all their own, and makes them 

 worthy of a front position in our hearts. — 

 H. A. Fanner, Tiinbridge Wells. 



Correction. — A misprint occurs in the 

 last paragraph of the article " Modern Cypri- 

 pediums," page 102. The word Maurice should 

 read Maudiae. 



% p 



Chelsea Show, 1916. — This important 

 event will be held in the Royal Hospital 

 Gardens, Chelsea, May 23rd, 24th and 25th. 



SOME ESSENTIAL POINTS OF 

 ORCHID CULTIVATION.* 



BEFORE anyone can achieve fame as an 

 expert cultivator of Orchids it is 

 necessary to obtain as complete a 

 knowledge as possible of the conditions under 

 which these plants exist in their native homes; 

 and even if an amateur desires merely to grow 

 Orchids with only moderate success it is of 

 considerable importance that the essential 

 points of cultivation be clearly understood. 

 Too often does one see a greenhouse devoted 

 to Orchids belonging to several distinct 

 classes, each accustomed to a wide difference 

 in the atmospheric conditions, yet the owner 

 fully expects them all to thrive with the same 

 success as his bed of roses or herbaceous 

 border. Considering the fact that Orchids are 

 found in practically all parts of the world 

 where vegetation exists, they are subject to 

 an extremely wide range of temperature and 

 moisture ; some species will withstand a few 

 degrees of frost, while others require a con- 

 stant tropical heat ; not a few are quite happy 

 in a parched desert air, while some fail to 

 grow unless the atmosphere is at almost 

 saturation point. How, then, is it possible for 

 one glass structure to successfully accommo- 

 date a collection of plants having such varied 

 requirements. 



The eagerness with which an amateur 

 attempts to make his collection as representa- 

 tive of the family as possible is in truth the 

 real reason why he so often fails in the matter 

 of cultivation. By far the surest and quickest 

 way to success is to decide what kind of 

 atmosphere can be most easily maintained, 

 and then select plants that are accustomed to 

 these conditions. Of course, in extensive 

 collections one may find quite a range of 

 houses, where in each of which a definite 

 temperature and state of moisture is main- 

 tained ; it is then possible to cultivate a very 

 varied collection, for there is every facility for 

 procuring conditions corresponding to those 

 in which the plants have existed for countless 

 years. 



* Brief report of a Lecture given by Mr. Gurney 

 Wilson at the Royal Horticultural Society, February 

 22nd, 1916. 



