2IO 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[June, 1914. 



cultivators make a practice of spreading soil 

 on the under-staging instead of the usual 

 ashes or clinkers, and no doubt considerable 

 benefit to the plants is thereby obtained. 



It is a well-known fact that many Orchids 

 are obtained from the forests, and for this 

 reason cultivators sometimes place a supply 

 of decaying leaves in the houses ; but of late 

 years this practice has fallen out of use, 

 although the same effect is produced by 

 including a proportion of leaves in the 

 compost. Decaying leaves make a good 

 hiding place for slugs, etc., and on that 

 account cannot well be recommended, but if 

 they are forked into the soil their decay is 

 more rapid, and probably increases the 

 beneficial nature of the atmosphere. 



EPIDENDRUM VITELLINUM. 



AMONG the many kinds of Orchids 

 which can be grown by amateurs in 

 an ordinary greenhouse there is 

 undoubtedly no better example than the 

 above. It is a bulbous species producing 

 erect flower spikes of twenty or more small 

 but brilliantly-coloured blooms. These are of 

 a dazzling scarlet with yellow lip, and the 

 most pleasing feature about them is the fact 

 that a spike will remain over two months in 

 perfection, and that such is produced with 

 great regularity. 



Of this beautiful Orchid there are two 

 varieties, the spring and the summer-flowenng 

 type, but in other respects they are identical. 

 A healthy and strong-flowering plant should 

 be procurable at five shillings, and such will 

 be found to grow and increase in size 

 annually. 



Its culture is very simple, and may be 

 briefly summed up as follows. A light and 

 airy position in a greenhouse in which the 

 temperature does not fall below 45 degrees 

 Fahr. in winter suits it admirably. Shade 

 is necessary from April till the end of 

 September, whenever the sun is bright. 

 Fresh air is imperative to success, and the 

 ventilators should be opened on all possible 



occasions. Frequent syringing round the 

 plant induces vigorous growth, and from May 

 to September the plants may be lightly 

 sprayed overhead in the morning and again 

 in the evening. 



In watering this Orchid it is necessary to 

 give enough at every application to thoroughly 

 wet the whole compost, a mere dribble on 

 the surface being useless. This is a point 

 upon which too much emphasis cannot be 

 placed. Sponging the leaves occasionally 

 with rain water will also be found beneficial. 



Repotting is needed every alternate year, 

 and should be done when the new bulbs are 

 seen to be forming. Remove the plant with 

 care from the old receptacle, and cut away all 

 dead roots and old bulbs, leaving about three 

 bulbs to support the new growth. Carefully 

 crock a clean Orchid pan, and after placing 

 the plant in position work in the compost 

 around it to within half an inch of the rim of 

 the pan. The most suitable compost is 

 chopped osmunda fibre, sphagnum moss and 

 oak leaves, these being well mixed together 

 and used in a damp condition. For a 

 fortnight after root disturbance keep the 

 plant rather drier at the roots. 



Thrips attack this Orchid if the atmosphere 

 is too dry. Fumigate and damp down more 

 often, and this pest will disappear. From the 

 above it will be seen that this Orchid is of 

 easy culture, and from a decorative point of 

 view it far surpasses many of the usually 

 cultivated greenhouse plants. — C. Ahvyn 

 Harrison. 



Cattleya Mossle " Nellie Hunter." 

 — A pleasing form raised from seed obtained 

 by crossing an ordinary variety with C. 

 Mossias aurea. The spike carried three 

 flowers of rose-purple colour, the labellum 

 orange with purple markings at the apex. 

 Expanse of flower 7 inches. Raised by Mr. 

 Alwyn Harrison. 



Manchester Orchid Society. — The 

 next session will contain several interesting 

 competitions, many valuable prizes having 

 been offered, of which further particulars will 

 be given. 



