404 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 15, 1890. 
rang:e, called the Central Cordillera, extends northwards, and terminates 
at Cape Gallinas. Only a few species inhabit this region, but the 
valleys on both sides, that of the Magdalena on the east and the Cauca 
on the west, are exceptionally rich in orchidaceous plants. 
The third range, or Western Cordillera, has its trend near the Pacific 
coast, continues its course through the Isthmus of Panama, and onwards 
to the high table land of Mexico. No Odontoglossums are reported 
from this range within the new Granadian territory or from the Isthmus 
itself, where the lowest summit level between the oceans on each side 
o' it is probably not greater than 150 feet, but northward of this the 
land again rises, forming at places peaks of great altitude, and here the 
Odontoglossums again appear. 
Throughout Central America there extends a series of table lands, 
which gradually increase in elevation as the distance, bet ween the seas 
increases, till the great wedge-shaped plateau of Mexico is reached, the 
average elevation of which is not less than 7000 to 8000 feet. On these 
elevated lands the Odontoglossums occur at first sparingly, but gradually 
increasing in numbers on advancing northwards towards Oaxaca, where 
they appear to attain their greatest northern development, beyond 
which they again diminish in numbers till their northern limit is 
reached, at about the twentieth parallel. 
Not far from this line is the southern limit of the Sierra Madre, 
where 0. maxillare has its home ; and eastwards from this is the Irapean 
range, on which 0. maculatum and 0. Cervantesi were discovered 
nearly a century ago by the veteran orcbidologist Laxara. These are 
the most northern Odontoglossums known. 
Not only are the Odontoglossums confined to the mountain chains 
and table lands above described, but they are also restricted with few 
exceptions to a zone whose vertical range is confined within comparatively 
narrow limits. On the South American continent, from the southern 
limits of the genus to as far as the Isthmus, by far the greatest number 
occur within a zone whose vertical range rarely descends below 5000 feet, 
or ascends above 9000 feet. There are some species indeed, such as 
O. densiflorum and 0. compactum, and a few other small-flowered species 
which grow on rocks or on the bare ground above the timber line to as 
high as 11,000 to 12,000Teet elevation. 
The climate of this zone, by reason of its elevation, is decidedly 
temperate, the mean annual temperature being about 57° F. for the 
higher portion, and 65° F. for the lower ; but the difference between the 
maximum and minimum temperature observed during the year is very 
great, the thermometer sometimes standing at 90°, and even higher 
■when the sun is vertical, and descending to 40° in the night. The 
atmosphere of this elevated region is always at a very high degree of 
saturation, caused chiefly by the north-east trade wind, by which the 
enormous evaporation from the Atlantic Ocean is constantly being 
drifted towards the Cordilleras, where it is arrested and condensed. 
The rainy season of parts of the Odontoglossum region is thus 
almost continuous throughout the year. At night, when the tempera¬ 
ture falls considerably below the mean, the vapour with which the 
atmosphere is always charged takes the form of a dense fog, which 
always leaves a copious deposit of dew before being dispersed by the 
rising day temperature. As a consequence of these climatic conditions 
the vegetation of this region is uninterrupted throughout the year, and 
the whole belt is covered with a dense forest. 
The Odontoglossums are found in the greatest abundance in those 
parts of the forest which skirt the occasional openings, and along the 
numerous streams where there is freer access of light and air, and where 
it not unfrequently happens that numbers of plants are found fully 
exposed to the direct rays of the sun. It is observed of these that the 
pseudo-bulbs are always smaller than those which are in partially 
shaded situations, while those growing in more complete shade, on 
fallen trees, or on the ground where there is an excess of moisture have 
large fleshy pseudo-bulbs, rarely flower, suffer much by removal, and 
generally perish during transmission to Europe. 
North of the Isthmus, and especially within the Mexican territory, 
the local circumstances are somewhat different from those of New 
Granada, caused chiefly by the peculiar configuration of the land. Here 
, the Odontoglossums appear to be spread generally over those portions of 
the plateau wherever the conditions suitable to their well-being exist, as 
well as the slopes of the central mountain ranges, and the various spurs 
that branch from them. The climatic conditions of the Odontoglossum 
region north of the Isthmus of Panama are also somewhat different 
from the region of New Granada and Venezuela ; thus in Guatemala 
there is a wet and dry season, the first commencing in December and 
ending in April, and the second (dry) lasting through the remainder of 
the year, thus there is a decidedly pronounced rest in the vegetation of the 
country ; but on the higher grounds, where the Odontoglossums have 
their homes, there is always a high degree of saturation in the atmo¬ 
sphere even in the dry season, caused by the moisture from the Atlantic 
and the lowlands being drifted thither by the trade wind, and which 
during the nights in the early part of the year takes the form of dense 
fogs. In Mexico the climatic conditions of the Sierra Fria are similar 
to those of the highlands of Guatemala, but the rainy season is of 
shorter duration, and the temperature is remarkably uniform, the mean 
summer and winter temperature varying scarcely more than from 10° 
to 12°. The precipitation caused by the trade wind attains its greatest 
strength on the eastern slopes of the mountains skirting the high central 
table land ; here the rainy season lasts eight months of the year, and 
the temperature ranges between 53° to 60° F. 
Throughout the whole of the Odontoglossum region there is never a 
perfect rest ; in the aerial currents there is always a gentle breeze to be 
noted. 
(To be continued.) 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The schedule issued for the Society’s Show in the Inner Temple 
Gardens, May 28th and 29th, states that “ silver cups and medals will 
be awarded according to merit for exhibits in the following classes :— 
A, Flowering plants : Orchids, Anthuriums, Azaleas (Indian and 
Mollis), Begonias, Calceolarias, Roses, Rhododendrons, Gloxinias, 
Alpines, Clematises, Pelargoniums, &c. B, Foliage plants : Palms, 
Perns, new Plants, Draemnas, Caladiums. C, Cut flowers : hardy her¬ 
baceous plants. Rhododendrons, Tulips, Lilies, Irises, Roses. D, Miscel¬ 
laneous Groups (flower and foliage). E, Market plants. F, Bouquets, 
table decorations, &c. G, Fruit. H, Vegetables. The Society will 
issue for this Show a catalogue comprising a history of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society, including particulars of their meetings and shows 
both at the Drill Hall, James Street, S.W., and at Chiswick. It will 
contain the programme of the music to be performed each day by the 
band of Her Majesty’s Royal Horse Guards (Blues), and a list of 
exhibitors and of their chief exhibits ; but We are requested to state 
that no names, &c., can possibly be inserted unless they are received by 
Mr. Barron, R.H.S. Gardens, Chiswick, or at the Society’s offices, 
117, Victoria Street, on Saturday, May 24th, at the latest; 10,000 of 
the schedules are being printed in expectation of the Prince of Wales 
opening the Show.” 
As the position is the best to be found in London we shall hope for 
favourable weather and a brilliant success. 
We have received the following letter for publication ;— 
Dear Mb. Editor, —With regard to a report which has appeared in 
a contemporary of my resignation of the secretaryship of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, may I ask you to be so kind as to contradict it ? 
The report, however, has somewhat more truth in it than have most 
reports, for I am very anxious to find someone who will take up the 
work. The Society may, I think, now be said to have turned the corner, 
and has, I hope, seen its worst days. I feel, therefore, that I have done 
my duty by the Society, and that I could now h?nd things over to a 
successor in a far more satisfactory condition than I found them. A 
new era, too, is commencing, with the prospect of a new hall, and 
therefore it seems to me a most fitting time for a new shoulder to be put 
to the wheel. At the same time, though on many accounts 1 am very 
desirous of retiring into private horticultural life, I have not actually 
resigned, nor shall I do so until a successor is forthcoming unless more 
urgent reasons arise than I am glad to say at present exist.— 
W. Wilks. 
Mr. Wilks has laboured incessantly in the interests of the Society, 
and won the esteem of a host of friends. The value of his services are 
fully, and we believe unanimously, appreciated. We should rejoice to 
see him retain the honourable, if exacting, position he holds till the new 
Hall is an accomplished fact. We have done our best to make clear the 
conditions of co-operation. We are convinced that Baron Schroder’s 
project is absolutely safe, and the sums contributed—be they large or 
small—Vill be repaid to the uttermost farthing. It is a question of sacri¬ 
ficing the interest on the amount subscribed, and that alone, for a time in 
the interests of horticulture. We are glad to find from a list before us that 
additional promises of support are recorded, and we earnestly hope that 
all connected with the industry of horticulture who are in a position to 
help forward the project will do so, and that amateurs with means at 
their disposal will not hesitate to enrol themselves as supporters. 
SPARROWS AND RA.TS. 
It seems to be now pretty generally acknowledged that sparrows 
have become an actual pest to the farmer and gardener, but it is odd 
how differently they behave in different places. I have never had any 
Primroses or Crocuses injured by them, but a neighbour who lived 
less than a mile away (and each of us adjoined a farmyard where spar¬ 
rows swarmed), had to protect these flowers most carefully, or every 
bloom would be plucked off as soon as it opened. The only garden 
produce of mine which they injure is Peas. These are easily protected 
by dark thread when in the ground or just coming up, but it is a nuisance 
to have to net them when in pod. The families of young birds just 
able to fly give the most trouble at that time. 
There is no doubt they are very destructive. The worst injury they 
do, as I have before pointed out in the Journal, being the driving away 
of martins, which are naturally appointed to keep down hurtful insects 
by destroying them in the air in their winged breeding state. And I 
quite agree with Mr. A. T. Marston that “ Nature heiself provides the 
requisite balance in all things,” and that an undue increase, amounting 
sometimes to a pest, arises when that balance is interfered with. But 
