88 



THH ORCHID WORLD. 



[January, 1914- 



completed its season's growth, then it is 

 advisable to ripen it by gradually, not 

 suddenly, allowing it more light and air, but 

 to change the atmospheric conditions several 

 times during the growing season frequently 

 has a detrimental ef¥ect. When once a 

 suitable position has been found for the plant 

 it should either be left there or else removed 

 to similar growing conditions until its season's 

 growth is completed. 



Another case where too much attention is 

 sometimes harmful is the tying up of the 

 plant's bulbs and leaves during its growing 

 season. Every plant arranges its leaves so 

 that the rays of light fall upon them in a 

 beneficial way. Careful observation will show 

 that the light usually shines on only one side 

 of a leaf, or, in other words, the leaf assumes 

 a position in which one side faces the 

 strongest light. Now an amateur frequently 

 fails to notice this important event, and in his 

 excessive kindness to assist the plant by 

 carefully tying up the leaves to a central 

 stake he usually so fixes them that the rays 

 of light fall upon the reverse side of the leaf, 

 and the side once accustomed to face the 

 brightest light now has only the shade to look 

 upon. How can this unnatural position be 

 really helpful to the plant's existence. The 

 amateur's kindness is misapplied when 

 he attempts to reverse the methods of 

 Nature. 



Cleaning the plants is a necessity in every 

 collection, no matter whether it be situated in 

 town or country. The leaves are frequently 

 marked with the sediment from the water 

 used in syringing, and various insect pests, 

 with which we are too well acquainted, spend 

 their existence in a detrimental manner upon 

 the surface of the plant. Now the removal of 

 these defects is often done in far too careless 

 a manner, so much so that sometimes the 

 remedy is worse than the complaint. All 

 plants require careful handling in order to 

 prevent damage being done to their skin 

 By the use of suitable insecticides insects are 

 easily killed and all dirt removed during the 

 same washing. Much damage is often done 

 by using a hard brush or by unnecessary 

 scraping with a knife. 



CULTURE OF 

 MILTONIA VEXILLARIA. 



THERE is no finer species of the 

 Miltonia genus than vexillaria for 

 giving a display -of bloom during the 

 spring months of the year. To obtain the 

 best results good cultivation is absolutely 

 necessary, and on this account a few notes on 

 the subject may prove useful to those 

 amateurs contemplating the purchase of a few 

 plants, or to those who have hitherto been 

 disappointed with the results of their labours. 



The first thing to consider is the receptacle 

 m which the plants are to be grown. To 

 many amateurs this may appear a very 

 unimportant point, but experience proves that 

 there is more in it than is generally supposed. 

 The nature of the root system of a plant must 

 always be known before any definite method 

 of culture can be adopted. M. vexillaria 

 produces a number of fine roots that delight 

 to penetrate the upper portion of the compost 

 where they can obtain access to the atmo- 

 sphere. On this account success is obtained 

 by placing the plants in shallow pans, or else 

 m pots that are at least half-full of crocks. 

 The compost requires keeping in a light, 

 porous condition, and the surest method of 

 doing this is by the aid of ample drainage 

 material. 



A suitable compost consists of selected 

 fibre, either good peat, fine osmunda, or Ai, 

 or a mixture of all three is often recom- 

 mended, and a few chopped-up leaves as well 

 as a liberal quantity of sphagnum moss. No 

 definite proportion of each constituent 

 material can be given, the cultivator must use 

 his own discretionary powers, always remem- 

 bering that small plants require a softer 

 compost than the large ones. On this account 

 slightly more moss and leaves may be used 

 when potting young plants. The more 

 vigorous plants that are expected to carry 

 numerous flowers of long lasting quality will 

 need a substantial compost, and one that will 

 ensure them producing well-ripened bulbs. 



Another needful reminder concerning the 

 culture of M. vexillaria is that the roots are 

 formed in lateral fashion, and consequentl)' 



