March, i<ji3-J 
THE ORCHll> WORLD. 
■33 
IS to keep the plants in masses as larye 
as is convenientl)- possible, and in this 
\va\- a i^uod supply of bloom is generally 
produced. 
During the summer and growing season a 
cool atmosphere and plenty of moisture arc 
required to ensure large bulbs being made. 
On completion of growth the plants should 
be placed in a drier and warm position, where 
they may remain during their winter period of 
rest. Many cultivators reap success by grow- 
ing the plants in the Odontoglossum house 
during the summer, and resting them m the 
Cattleya house during the winter time. By 
this method a fairl\- regular temperature is 
maintained. The flower-spike buds are 
frequently injured when the winter tempera- 
ture drops too low, and the consequent 
inability of the plants to produce flowers in the 
early spring is a constant source of disap- 
pointment to many amateurs, who cannot 
understand the cause of their failure. 
The flowers are arranged six to eight 
together on a drooping raceme produced from 
THE UTILITY OF 
IT is somewhat difficult to determine the 
precise, age to which an Orchid bulb may 
attain before the term old may be correctly 
applied. Growers have varied in their ideas 
to the extent of several years, but for general 
purposes one may safely define the age as one 
of at least four years. Very much of the 
success in growing Orchids to their highest 
state of perfection depends upon the condi- 
tion of these old bulbs. If they are vigorous 
and give assistance to the new growth their 
retainment is advisable, but if, as often 
happens, they use for their subsistence food 
which should go to the formation of the new 
bulb then their removal is justified The 
cultivator needs to carefully consider the 
factors that determine whether he should 
separate the old bulbs from the newly formt-d 
portion, or whether their continued attach- 
ment will be beneficial to the future growth 
of the plant. The general belief, more 
especially among older cultivators, is that the 
the base of the bulbs ; the blooms are pure 
white, with a prominent blotch of yellow on 
the crest of the lip. The variet)- alba is 
entirely pure white, and is one of the few 
albino Orchids in which the yellow pigment 
is absent. Dendrobium nobile virginale may 
here be mentioned as another example of the 
peculiarit)- of producing entirely pure white 
flowers. 
Sophronitis grandiflora is quite a little 
gem ; its brilliant scarlet flowers are much 
admired, coming, as they do, in the dull winter 
time. The species is a native of Brazil, but 
grows with freedom in the cool house, 
especiall)' if placed in small pans and .sus- 
pended from the roof. Nothing looks finer 
than a well-cultivated specimen smothered 
with these brilliant blooms. There are 
se\ eral distinct types, and the amateur would 
be well advised to purchase onl\' plants of 
which he has seen the flower. A reall\- good 
shaped variety is worthy of special attention, 
and there is little difficulty in disposing of 
propagated pieces. 
OLD BULBS. 
greater the number of bulbs the stronger and 
more valuable must be the specimen. Happih-, 
the present-day and \'ounger growers full}' 
realise the erroneousness of this idea, and 
their continued success in the production of 
remarkable plants gives additional proof of 
the correctness of their opinion that old bulbs 
frequently act injuriously on the new growth 
and bulb. 
There is no need to search far for material 
that will help us in obtaining a clear com- 
prehension of the matter. Almost e\ery 
collection contains a plant, either species or 
hybrid, consisting of about eight succcssivel)- 
formed bulbs, the back or old ones of which 
are fairly plump and, therefore, natuialh- lead 
us to suppose that their apparent health)- and 
vigorous condition is of assistance to the 
leading growth. To prove whether this be a 
fact or not, the rhizome, or horizontal stem 
connecting the bulbs at their base, should be 
severed at a place that will separate three or 
