October, 191 0-1 



J HE ORCHID WORLD. 



9 



growers, although many amateurs may obtain 

 greater pleasure by cultivating the plants from 

 the earliest stage and thus be able to tell 

 their friends that they have grown Vanilla 

 entirely by themselves. A few strong 

 portions of the new growth should be 

 obtained, those having aerial roots being 

 preferable, and inserted in a light compost 

 of fibrous peat, sphagnum, and some broken 

 crocks. These shoots soon commence to 

 glow rapidly, often as much as 10 feet in 

 a single season, and will continue doing so 

 for several years. In their native country 

 a length of 50 or more feet is frequently 

 reached. The stems send forth numerous 

 aerial roots which delight to affix themselves 

 to any damp surface, and for this reason 

 frequent syringing is very beneficial. 



During the brightest of summer weather 

 a light shading should be employed, but care 

 should be taken that this is not used too 

 frequently, for if the growths are not properly 

 matured poor fruiting results will follow 

 during the next season. The temperature 

 may be as high as 100 degrees without doing 

 any harm, but throughout the winter season 

 a minimum of 60 should be aimed at. 



In some countries the Vanilla flowers are 

 fertilised naturally by insects, but this cannot 

 be expected to occur when the plant is under 

 artificial cultivation. As seed pods are rarely 

 formed on any Orchid without pollination, 

 it IS necessary to carry out this method with 

 the Vanilla before the interesting pods can 

 be produced. 



The pods vary from 6 to 12 inches in 

 length when full size is attained, and are 

 usually formed in clusters of from 6 to g. 

 After about eight or nine months' growth 

 they commence to turn yellow, and are then 

 ripe and ready to be dried for preservation. 

 In tropical climates the plants usually com- 

 mence to bear fruit in their third year, and 

 continue for many seasons. 



Our illustration is from a photograph by 

 Mr. J. Gregory, and shows part of a fruiting 

 plant cultivated by Mr. G. Wythes when at 

 Syon House. One of the clusters contains 

 no less .than sixteen pods, a very unusual 

 event, probably due to excellent culture. 



Some further notes on the cultivation of 

 Vanilla occur in the ORCHID WORLD, 

 Vol. III., page 222. 



REGISTRATION of NEW HYBRIDS 



The following resolution, proposed by Mr. 

 James O'Brien and seconded by Mr. f. Wilson 

 Potter, was carried at the meeting of 

 the Royal Horticultural Society's Orchid 

 Committee, September gth : — 



" In view of the necessity of securing the 

 earliest possible records of new hybrids, and 

 to supplement the list of plants which have 

 received awards, the Orchid Committee 

 recommend that a new record, to be called 

 the Hybrid Orchid Register, be established, 

 and that Orchid exhibitors be asked to bring 

 their new plants when in flower for the first 

 time, even although they may not be suffi- 

 ciently developed to enter for awards, and to 

 enter the name, parentage, and name of the 

 raiser of the plant, on a registration form 

 to go before the Committee. After testing 

 to prove that the name is in order it shall be 

 entered on the Society's Hybrid Orchid 

 Register, and once recorded, the name must 

 be recognised for all crosses of similar 

 parentage when subsequently shown, unless 

 valid reason can be produced to prevent it." 



ORCHID.HOUSE STAGING. 



WHAT IS the best kind of staging 

 is a question now occupying the 

 minds of many Orchidists. For 

 some considerable time past there has been 

 a growing desire to treat Orchids in such 

 a way that the atmospheric condition of the 

 house approaches as nearly as possible that 

 of their natural home. By this means it is 

 hoped to obtain results which will produce 

 flowers in their finest shape and substance, 

 and, also, success in cultivating such plants 

 as have hitherto been regarded as difficult, 

 or impossible. 



A wide difference exists between those 

 Orchids known as terrestrial and those called 

 epiphytic. The former are usually found 

 growing in damp places, where the leaves are 



VOL. IV. 



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