110 
THK ORCHID WORLD. 
[Februar)', 1913. 
ORCHIDS FOR AMATEURS. 
THE amateur who has but little spare 
time, and is unable to afford the prac- 
tical assistance of an experienced 
gardener, naturalU- desires to select plants 
which will give the best results under the 
somewhat hunted means at his disposal. On 
the fine hand, he requires plants Iikcl\- to 
produce a fair amount of bloom ; on the other, 
he does not wish to possess those that make 
a gorgeous show for a few days and then fade 
awa)-. The smallness of his greenhouse 
compels him to select plants that will look 
neat and green throughout the year, for he is 
without the resting houses often seen in large 
establishments. Again, he never desires to 
attempt competition at the miportant flower 
shows, his only and earnest ambition being 
to produce a few flowers durmg every week 
of the year. 
Now such ambitions are in the minds of 
many hopeful amateurs who often attempt 
the culture of plants which in the hands of 
experienced growers frequentl\- fail to give 
good results. How then can a beginner reap 
success? More than one amateur has given 
up the culture of Orchids b\- reason of 
beginning" in too ambitious a manner, his 
early hopes are extinguished, patience gives 
way, and the collection is heard of no more. 
The amateur is not alone to blame ; in fact, 
he deserves our sympathy and kindly assist- 
ance more at the commencement of his hobby 
than at any future time. Many of our 
renowned amateurs of the present day owe 
all their prosperity to the praise worth \' aid of 
a helpful friend m their childhood days of 
Orchid growing. A friend in need is a friend 
indeed, and without such timel\' aid disaster 
takes the place of success. 
Orchids for amateurs comprise those which 
may be left for a day or so without requiring 
much attention. In this matter one does not 
wish to suggest to amateurs that Orchids may 
be stored away like so many dry bulbs, but 
rather that some preparations should be made 
whenever absence is likely to be of more than 
a day's duration. One hnlf-da\- a week siT-nt 
in potting or cleaning the house is all the 
time necessary to keep a small collection in 
general health during the greater part of the 
)-ear, although one should not forget that a 
few minutes must he spent every day in 
watering the plants, and m keeping the fire 
going during the cold weather. But these 
matters are part of the every-day work of the 
dwelling-house, and may be well attended to 
by the same person. 
If one can s])are more time tl\eie is no 
reason wh)- these and other matters should 
not have still greater attention, for in Orchid 
growing, as in almost everything else, nothing 
can really be too well done. Thus, in.'-tcad 
of permanent shading, some material, such as 
canvas or lath blinds, might be used with 
advantage to those plants requiring a greater 
quantity of sunshine or bright light. The 
essence of the whole matter is for the amateur 
to decide what conditions of culture he can 
reasonably maintain, and then to purchase 
and grow only plants likel_\- to suit these con- 
ditions. Success instead of failure will be 
sure to follow. 
During the ensuing year we shall comment 
on some of the most suitable Orchids for the 
commencing amateur to cultivate. These will 
include only those of reasonable price, eas\- to 
cultivate in the small greenhouse that an 
amateur usuall)- possesses, and, at the same 
time, those which will amply repay one for his 
trouble b\- yielding pretty and long-lasting 
flowers. 
A few strong plants of Lycaste Skmneri 
can be well recommended ; costing but little, 
they produce several large blooms during the 
winter months, a period when flowers are 
much appreciated. These flowers are more 
or less deeph,- tinted with rose, the lip 
frequently having a crimson blotch, and the 
larger and better coloured this is so much 
finer may the variety be considered. This 
plant is a strong rooting kind and delights in 
a firm compost of about one half peat and the 
remainder good loam, with some sphagnum 
moc-s During the simimer and spying mon;hs 
