THE ORCHID WORLD 
practical or not. It is, at least, interesting and 
worthy of a trial. 
The Brasso-Cattleya and Lselio-Cattleya 
hybrids are not difficult subjects to cultivate, 
provided one has the accommodation such as 
suits the ordinary Cattleya or Laelia species. 
Probably they are happier, and will make 
stronger bulbs, when given a few degrees 
more heat than is found necessary for the 
labiata section of Cattleyas. 
In dealing with these hybrids, it is well to 
bear in mind that one of the parents 
(B. Digbyana) produces a rigid and fleshy 
leaf, consequently the plant may be subjected 
to ti considerable amount of 'light. This 
thickness of leaf is to some extent transmitted 
to its progeny, and one may safely assume that 
the hybrids from B. Digbyana, with one or 
two exceptions, such as when Cattleya aurea 
and other soft leaved species have been used, 
will benefit by having a little less shade in the 
summer and growing season than the ordinary 
hybrids. 
In the United States of America, where 
they have the advantage of a strong natural 
light and a larger percentage of sunlight 
throughout the winter months than we have, 
these hybrids are greatly appreciated — and 
naturally so — for under the more favourable 
conditions the plant finishes up better, as we 
are accustomed to term it ; that is, it is enabled 
to mature its flowering-lead more naturally at 
the same time as it is growing, the result is 
that our American friends invariably get three 
flowers from the spike, whereas we have to 
be content with two, but more often one. 
But who will complain if even only one 
flower is produced ; what a gorgeous flower it 
is, with its broad and deieply frilled lip, and 
the beautiful tints of colour running back into 
the throat ; while still more lovely, perhaps, 
is the pure-white hybrid obtained by the 
use of an albino Cattleya Mossiae, the hybrid 
being known as Brasso-Cattleya " Queen 
Alexandra." 
G. W. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, OLYMPIA SHOW. 
July 4, 5, 6, 1911. 
The great heat of the show was responsible 
for considerable damage to many of the 
plants ; even on the second day many of the 
best flowers had withered. The damage to 
such cool growing Orchids as Odonto- 
glossums must have been considerable, and 
probably will not be noticed until a few 
weeks afterwards. If the Committee of 
Management had shaded the plants by plac- 
ing a sheet of canvas, or other light material, 
under the roof, much of the strong light and 
great heat might have been avoided. The 
floor was particularly dusty, and much of this 
trouble might have been remedied by a 
reasonable amount of damping down during 
the early hours of the mornings. It is hoped 
that experience will prevent these blemishes 
at future large shows. Although we admit 
that exhibits of a different nature to horti- 
culture are necessary for the financial assist- 
ance which they undoubtedly yield, we cannot 
help thinking that an exhibit of typewriters 
exactly opposite the grand entrance was 
carrying this matter beyond all reasonable 
fairness to horticulture. 
Members of the Orchid Committee pre- 
sent : Harry J. Veitch, Esq. (in the chair), and 
Messrs. Jas. O'Brien (hon. sec), de B. Craw- 
shay, H. J. Chapman, J. E. Shill, H. Ballan- 
tine, W. Thompson, A. Dye, H. G. Alex- 
ander, F. Sander, iGurney Wilson, J. Charles- 
worth, F. M. Ogilvie, W. H. White, R. 
Brooman-White, W. P. Bound, W. H. 
Hatcher, Stuart Low, A. A. McBean, R. G. 
Thwaites, C. J. Lucas, W. Bolton, H. Little, 
W. Cobb, G. F. Moore, E. Ashworth, and J. 
Gurney Fowler. 
Messrs. Charlesworth and Co., Haywards 
Heath, were awarded a Gold Medal for a 
wonderful group of Orchids, which, consider- 
ing the season of the year, was remarkable. 
