42 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[\o\embcr, 1914. 



NOTES FOR AMATEURS. 



IN this country the month of November 

 marks the commencement of winterly 

 weather, and reminds us that extra care 

 and attention are once again required to 

 bring our plants safely through the most 

 unpleasant season of the year. The past 

 summer has been very favourable to the 

 production of well-ripened bulbs, and there 

 are but few instances in which Cattleyas and 

 their hybrids have not made sound bulbs. 

 The plants should now be in a state of 

 rest. This condition should, as far as 

 possible, be really one of rest ; it should 

 neither be one of excitement likely to 

 result in further growth, nor one of 

 unnecessary dryness causing severe shrivel- 

 ling. Too often are plants neglected and 

 placed on one side merel}' because they have 

 finished their season's work. All plants 

 require keeping in a healthy condition and 

 in a state of vigour that is barely sufficient to 

 force the dormant buds into growth. When 

 so kept they are m the right condition to 

 commence activity directly the growing 

 season again arrives. Plants that are badly 

 kept during the winter are in no fit state to 

 reap the benefits of spring time without at 

 first occupying a period of several weeks in 

 which to recuperate their lost vigour ; the 

 English season is far too short to allow a loss 

 of this description. 



The method of applying water to the roots 

 needs a little consideration. In one collection 

 visited by the writer the owner gave small 

 supplies two or three times during the week, 

 which were insufficient to penetrate more 

 than an inch or so of the compost, conse- 

 quently the upper portion was continually 

 wet, while the lower part was unnecessarily 

 dry. Of course, the plant itself never 

 obtained an excess of moisture, nor did it get 

 sufficient to cause it starting prematurely into 

 growth. Such treatment as this cannot by 

 any means be considered as among the best 

 methods. In another collection the owner 

 endeavoured to keep the compost in a semi- 

 moist condition by not allowing the water to 

 evaporate ; the plants were kept on a staging 



of wet ashes, and were surrounded by an 

 abundance of atmospheric moisture. These 

 plants certainly passed through long periods 

 in which no further applications of water were 

 required, but the continuously moist state of 

 the compost, although not sufficient to excite 

 the dormant eyes into growth, proved a 

 source of danger to their health, and before 

 the advent of spring time many were in an 

 unhealthy state. 



Those collectors who have studied the 

 natural climate in which Cattleyas are found 

 tell us that during the resting season there 

 are frequent intervals in which drying winds 

 prevail. The rains are copious so long as 

 they last, and generally sufficient to supply 

 an adequate amount of moisture to the plant 

 and the surrounding material in which its 

 roots penetrate. In the intervals of compara- 

 tive dryness the roots and surrounding 

 material have ample time in which to rid 

 themselves of superfluous water. 



B)" following as closely as possible the 

 methods of Nature we are able to obtain 

 the best results with plants under artificial 

 cultivation. A plant should never receive 

 water unless it really requires it. If in doubt 

 wait until the next day, for during winter 

 time it is better to have the compost a little 

 too dry rather than unreasonably wet. When 

 water is required, sufficient should be given 

 to uniformly moisten the whole of the 

 compost, even dipping the pot in a pail of 

 water for a few minutes is a good method. 

 The plant should then be replaced in its 

 position, or, what is perhaps a better plan, 

 suspended from the roof in a position where 

 any water falling from it will not drop on 

 other plants beneath. This suspended 

 position allows the compost to dry fairly 

 quickly, and after a few days, when the super- 

 abundant moisture has departed, the plant 

 may be taken down and placed in its old 

 position, or transferred to the place of one 

 just needing a similar application of water. 



When excessively cold nights occur it will 

 be found advisable to water the plants early 

 in the morning in order that as much 

 moisture, both in the compost and in the 

 atmosphere, may depart before night time. 



