July 26, 1394. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
77 
sufficient for 40 gallons of water, used milkwartn. I apply the mixture 
to the trees in the evening with a hand syringe, to which is attached a 
fine nozzle, with a view to economising the insecticide. The following 
morning the trees are thoroughly drenched with clean water by aid of 
the garden engine. Of course if it is very early in the season I alter the 
time of applying the liquid to the trees to a warmer period of the day, 
so that the trees should not feel the effects of the washing through a 
cold night. To all readers who have not tried this simple remedy to rid 
their trees of insect pests I would say, Go and do likewise, and if the 
results do not justify the aim I shall be very much surprised.— 
Practitioner. 
Odontoglossum ramosissimum. 
Whilst looking over a collection of Orchids recently I was 
pleased to find a plant of Odontoglossum ramosissimum in full 
bloom. This species is not very extensively grown, although it 
was introduced, I believe, many years ago. The individual flowers 
may not be so attractive as some of the better known Odonto- 
glossums, but a large number of them on the inflorescence produces 
a striking effect. There are several varieties of O. ramosissimum 
in existence, but it was the type that I saw, and were your readers 
to see it also I feel sure it would be more generally grown. 
—Suburban. 
[The illustration (fig. 12) represents a spray of Odontoglossum 
ramosissimum, a beautiful Orchid worthy of extensive cultivation.] 
Oncidiums. 
In so large and widely distributed a genus as Oncidium there 
are naturally some plants that are difficult to grow. Taken as a 
whole, however, there are few large genera which have puzzled 
cultivators less, or that give greater satisfaction and pleasure to 
those engaged in their cultivation. What, for instance, can be 
more beautiful than really well-flowered plants of such kinds as 
O. macranthum and its varieties 0. Marshallianum, O. varicosum, 
and others of this section ? Or take those species which pro¬ 
duce huge flower spikes, bearing myriads of small flowers, as 
0. Cavendishianum, O. obrysatum, and 0. incurvum. In contrast 
to these we have many small-flowered species, as O. Croesus, 
O. concolor, O. cheirophorum, and many others, all beautiful and 
interesting kinds. Most of these and many of the intermediate 
sorts are easily cultivated, and may safely be taken in hand by 
anyone interested in Orchids. 
The species of Oncidium most difficult to cultivate will be 
found among those which come from the western tropics. These 
include O. Forbesi, O. Lanceanum, O. papilio, 0. hsematochilum, 
and others. Although these latter kinds are frequently met with 
in good condition, tew, if any, cultivators can be said to have 
discovered the secret of continued success with them. They may 
do well for a few years in this country, growing vigorously and 
flowering profusely in the proper season, but after a time the 
growths annually become weaker and produce fewer flowers. It 
is then only a question of time before they cease to be of any 
real value. 
I am convinced that the principal cause of failure with the 
majority of these Orchids is our artificial atmospheric conditions. 
What the peculiarity of their native climate is it is impossible to 
say, or we could endeavour to imitate it in our Orchid houses at 
home. I say endeavour advisedly, for although with modern 
improvements in glass structures we can balance our temperatures 
fairly well with regard to heat, air, and moisture, we cannot pro¬ 
vide the ever-changing atmosphere which the plants naturally 
obtain. It may be also that some benefit accrues to the plants 
owing to the vicinity of larger kinds of vegetation. Again, the 
vapour arising from the decaying leaves of the trees may afford 
some help. _ 
These climatic conditions we cannot for obvious reasons repro¬ 
duce, and it behoves us to do the best we can with the means at 
our command. Given as congenial a temperature as possible, the 
next care must be to provide a suitable rooting medium. This 
should have unlimited capacity for aeration, but at the same time 
hold enough moisture for the needs of the plants. Some few 
Oncidiums, such as O. Jonesianum, 0. pulchellum, and 0. papilio 
may be best grown on blocks, but better results can be obtained in 
most instances by using pots, rafts, or baskets. Rafts are especially 
suitable for some of the warmer of the B azilian species, notably 
O. crispum. This Orchid will not thrive in a large body of 
material, but on a raft lightly dressed with moss it is most satis¬ 
factory. The roots can then have an occasional drying for an 
hour or two in the middle of the day. It is a good deal easier to 
grow several small plants of O. Forbesi than one large specimen. 
For this reason division of the plants is desirable. Even if large 
specimens are required these can be obtained healthier and of a 
better shape by grouping several small plants in shallow pans than 
by keeping large pieces entire. 
The amount of flower which many Oncidiums produce is very 
large in proportion to the size of the pseudo-bulbs, and as they are 
usually of a lasting character they ought not to be allowed to 
remain on the plants until they fade. Many growers do not allow 
FIG. 12.— ODONTOGLOSSUM RAMOSISSIMUM. 
some species, as 0. macranthum and 0. Marshallianum, to flower 
oftener than once in two years, the season’s rest being recuperative 
and very helpful to the plants.—H. R. R. 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
July 24th. 
There was a very fine display of plants, flowers, and fruit in the 
Drill Hall, Westminster, S.W., on this occasion, the large building being 
well filled with exhibits. Orchids were not quite so numerous as usual,, 
but hardy flowers were well represented. The annual exhibition of 
the National Carnation and Picotee Society was held on this occasion, 
and a report of the show appears elsewhere in this issue. 
Fruit Committee. —Present: Philip Crowley, Esq. (in the chair) ; 
and Rev. W. Wilks, with Messrs. G. Bunyard, J. Smith, H. Balderson, 
G. Wythes, J. Willard, C. Herrin, Thomas Jones, J. Cheal, A. Dean, 
F. Q. Lane and J. Wright. 
Although the Drill Hall was perhaps never so crowded as on the 
present occasion with meritorious exhibits, yet the duties of the Fruit 
Committee were comparatively light. It is true there were exhibits of 
considerable magnitude and excellence, for which medals were awarded, 
yet not many samples were placed on the Committee table. 
Mr. J. Walker, High Street, Thame, sent a dish of fruits, and a 
bearing bunch of the Magnum Bonum Bed Currant, large handsome 
