August, 1915.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



large extent and good colour but by reason 

 of the immense size and thick substance of 

 the flower. This elegant plant is in the rich 

 collection of Baron Bruno Schroder, The Dell, 

 Englefield Green, Surrey, and when exhibited 

 by him at the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 June 17th, 1913, it received an Award of 

 Merit. After a year's cultivation it had so 

 considerably improved that on May 5th, 191 5, 

 it was awarded a First-class Certificate. Our 

 illustration is reproduced from the Society's 

 painting. 



DENDROBIUM NOTES. 



MANY Dendrobiums have already 

 completed their season's bulbs and 

 require removing to a cooler 

 and drier atmosphere, for if there is an 

 unnecessary continuation of heat and moisture 

 the basal buds will in all probability break 

 forth into growth. The English summer is 

 only long enough for the production of one 

 good bulb, and any growths subsequently 

 formed are never able to proceed more than 

 a few inches before cold autumnal weather 

 permanently arrests their development. Hence 

 it will be seen how much importance is 

 attached to the prevention of secondary 

 growth. Several stunted bulbs on what would 

 otherwise be a handsome plant present an 

 undesirable appearance, and, moreover, they 

 give evidence of inattention on the part of the 

 cultivator. 



As soon as the new bulb shows sign of 

 completion, either by the apex being visible 

 in the centre of the topmost leaves, or by the 

 foliage assuming a yellowish tint, some means 

 must at once be adopted to gradually bring 

 the plant to a state of rest. Every few days a 

 careful inspection will detect those plants 

 requiring different treatment, which mainly 

 consists of a drier and cooler atmosphere with 

 considerable ventilation. It is of little use 

 removing individual plants to another house 

 unless they really receive the necessary 

 atmospheric change. Exposure to sunshine 

 does much to bring about the desired results, 



but even this is considerably negatived if the 

 house is shut up at night time, thereby 

 producing a heavy dew on the i)lant. That 

 plants can also be well-ripened by a free 

 circulation of air does not appear to be as 

 generally recognised as it should be. Night 

 ventilation is absolutely essential. 



A remarkable fact is the ready manner in 

 which the plant responds to the different 

 treatment. As soon as the supply of water is 

 diminished the plant endeavours to balance 

 matters by producing numerous additional 

 roots, which are frequently seen round the 

 rim of the pot and even clinging to the 

 outside. This extra power of obtaining 

 nutriment manifests itself in a rapid enlarge- 

 ment of the newly-made bulb. If the plant 

 remained in its former atmosphere but little 

 change would take place. This seems to show 

 that a dry and airy atmosphere induces the 

 plant to accumulate a large reserve of 

 nutritive material, as if to make provision 

 against an anticipated severe winter. The 

 careful cultivator, however, never allows this 

 reserve material to be thus expended, but 

 preserves it until the flowering season arrives, 

 when it is made use of with beneficial 

 results. 



After a few weeks' treatment the plants 

 will be sufficiently ripened to withstand the 

 full glare of the sun and an abundance of 

 fresh air. In fact, an empty house or vinery, 

 in which all the doors and ventilators are left 

 open day and night, is most suitable. Towards 

 the end of September the plants will require 

 more protection and may then be replaced in 

 their former position or wherever they will be 

 required when the flowering period arrives. 

 During the winter but little watering will be 

 required, only sufficient to prevent the bulbs 

 from shrivelling. The object of withholding 

 water is to maintain the plant in a condition 

 of rest. Inexperienced amateurs are apt to 

 dry the plant to an excessive degree, resulting 

 in severe shrivelling, which is not only 

 unnecessary but really retards the formation 

 of vigorous flower buds ; sometimes there is 

 only sufficient moisture left to stimulate a few- 

 buds on the apical portion, a result that could 

 never be considered satisfactory. 



