Sfptfinhcr, 1915.] 



THE ORCHID WORIJ). 



277 



ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM. 



ONCE again the journal of Horlkiilliirc 

 has encouraged the practical Orchid 

 grower, this time by reserving one of 

 its well-known monthly competitions for the 

 best essay on Odontoglossum crispum. 

 Judging by the numerous essays submitted, 

 this enterprising Journal circulates m many 

 a garden of importance where Orchids form 

 an indispensable feature. 



The final adjudication was entrusted to 

 Mr. Gurney Wilson, who awarded the First 

 Prize to Mr. W. E. Dadson, Hookfield 

 Gardens, Epsom, and the Second to Mr. 

 A. R. Moody, 28, Drake Street, Enfield. 

 The former receives a Gold Medal and the 

 Journal oj Horticulture post free for one 

 year, while the latter obtains a Silver Medal, 

 to which we have pleasure in adding a 

 monthly copy of the ORCHID WORLD for a 

 year. 



By courtesy of Mr. Horace J. Wright, 

 Editor of the Journal of Horticulture, we 

 have pleasure m publishing extracts from 

 three of the essays. 



Mr. W. E. Dadson's Essay. 



The cultivation of Orchids is no longer the 

 exclusive privilege of the few, now that the 

 cultural requirements are better understood. 

 This has arisen chiefly from three causes : 

 Firstly, from the useful information imparted 

 by those who have studied the plants in their 

 habitats ; secondly, from the close study and 

 application by means of which cultivators 

 have brought the observations of travellers to 

 bear in a practical manner on the culture of 

 the plants ; and, thirdly, from the discovery 

 that many of the species require less heat and 

 less expensive appliances than were once 

 thought indispensable. 



While the culture of Orchids demands 

 forethought and careful attention to details 

 m respect of watering, resting, cleaning, 

 temperature, shade, and ventilation, common- 

 sense enters largely into their treatment, and 

 those who apply it will find Orchid cultivation 

 as devoid of difficulties as the management 

 of any other garden plant. 



Odontoglossum crispum is most abundant 

 m the mountainous regions of the South 

 American Andt^s, between Bogota and Ocana, 

 at an altitude varying from S.ckk) feet to 

 9,000 feet ; it is a humid, temperate region, 

 with a mean annual temperature of a little 

 over 55 degrees for the higher elevation and 

 ()<^ degrees for the lower. The difference 

 between the maximum and minimum tempera- 

 ture is sometimes very great, the thermometer 

 in the heat of day often rising to go degrees 

 and falling at night to 40 degrees. From this 

 fact may be deduced the importance, first, of 

 a low night temperature, and, second, that an 

 occasional high temperature in summer need 

 not cause anxiety if the house is carefully 

 shaded and ventilated, and the atmosphere is 

 kept moist. 



Considering the immense quantity of plants 

 of Odontoglossum crispum that have been 

 imported during the past thirty years, and the 

 large number still to be obtained, there is 

 sound evidence that this species perpetuates 

 itself by seeds very freely in its native home. 

 When carefully saved seeds are sown under 

 the artificial conditions of cultivating adopted 

 in this and other countries, however, the result 

 is very disappointing, for despite every 

 attention only an exceedingly small propor- 

 tion germinates satisfactorily. Exactly why 

 this IS the case has never been discovered, 

 notwithstanding the fact that seeds of hybrid 

 Odontoglossums, when sown under similar 

 conditions, yield fairly good and encouraging 

 results. However, with close attention, 

 success is sometimes achieved, and the 

 cultivator is then well rewarded and 

 encouraged to continue his or her interesting 

 work. 



The best time to repot these plants which 

 require it is shortly after flowering, before 

 new roots are formed. It is a grave error to 

 injure the roots by the process of trans- 

 planting to larger pots while they are active. 

 The pots must be clean and well drained, 

 being about half-filled with crocks. For 

 potting material use equal parts of fibrous 

 peat and sphagnum moss, with no admixture. 

 After potting shade the house judiciously 

 during bright weather, and keep the 



