-IT 17. 1913. 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
365 
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it 
iX 
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ORCHIDS: THEIR 
POPULARITY AND CULTURE. 
The following is the text of a lecture de- 
;*red before the Hath Gardeners’ Society 
r* ?ntly by Mr. H. Alexander, orchid grower 
Lieut.-Colonel Sir George Holford, Wes- 
tonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucester. 
The cultivation of orchids, commencing 
?r a century and a-half ago, has always 
*ii au extremely attractive subject, for 
nong these plants we have the most exqui- 
~^*|i***<>h8 and beautiful of all Nature’s 
^‘oductions. The extraordinarily formed 
’■-vrs are rich in every shade and blending 
of • dour; some of them possess a fantastic 
Appearance, and often emit the most refresh- 
and delicate odour. 
Orchid growing was at ono time looked 
■ f“;ii as exclusively the privilege of the few, 
_ as a craze. This, like manv of the old 
associated witli the cultivation of these 
«i^sting plants, was, as seen in the light 
I P^^»f-day knowledge, very extraordi- 
. formerly, there were several reasons 
admired them to 
Tvu. K undertaking their cultivation 
nearly all the showy 
"litte/itself a serious' 
^ notlungr about the uncertainty 
'Mat hqd growing, after large 
^jiHa^rlv spent in procuring them. In 
nlacedorchids, as soon as received, 
‘^**'Dher^ where a hot, steamy 
* ‘incd at 'll’] ventilation, was main- 
' ■* the dan ^ method adopted to imi- 
^ ^ oi^hids wer'^^+r 
: ,n,e. ^ supposed to have their 
-ntr^ntuT^ff middle of the nine- 
-iing orchida^^^^ci‘^ change of system in 
— bi^U£rh+^ ^k urtiticial conditions 
^'>nald Joseph Cooper and 
* ' Utific parH#»n ablest and most 
The«Lc country in thos-e 
--’the dilution grasping the truth 
paid than attention should 
lions under j climatic condi- 
‘ ^lUtud J n 
Y«ilural treatmLf ® tropics, adapted their 
to k^Ta accordingly by commenc- 
•®<i temperature, 
^*uewhere houses, 
^^t^^rwards same time Mr. Paxton 
•^i^ar t^atmenf^^!i Paxton, adopted a 
potting f“ improved method 
; ^irainage and efficient 
Thesn to root develop- 
: ^stabl:!^<>a deviations from 
; ^ approach them we see 
P^^nt dav A cultural routine of the 
^ ^?^rinous that had an 
^ un(Sr cultivation of all 
I ^all degree contributed in no 
' exten- 
**^ting of 1 ?^ orchids, was the 
g ass-houses by means of the hot- 
water system. Then folIo\ved the modern 
plant house with the improved methods of 
ventilation and means for the promotion of 
humidity. 
How to popularise orchid growing has for 
many years past occupied the minds of those 
who have been associated with these plants. 
Neverthless, one could scarcely expect much 
advance in this direction until a fair idea 
of their modest needs became more wide¬ 
spread than hitherto. For upwards of a 
quarter of a century there lias been much 
evidence forthcoming as to the right and 
wrong methods of culture, and I venture to 
say there is no branch of modern horticul¬ 
ture that e-xliibits such wonderful progress 
as the cultivation of orchids. Their jiopu- 
larity to-day Ls greater than any other class 
of plants that require to be grown under 
glass, and the ranks of their admirers are 
ever increasing. Who will say that their 
popularisation is not still in its very infancy? 
Tlie Koyal Horticultural Society, without 
doubt tile leading society of its kind in the 
world, lias recently erected at Wisley a 
very large and elaborate structure for the 
cultivation of orchids. This fact alone is of 
sufficient evidence to one and all of the popu¬ 
larity of orchids, and of the importance thac 
every gardener must in these days have a 
good knowledge of their cultivation. All 
students at W isley thus have every facility 
for acquiring proficiency in the art. The 
good and necessary example set by the so¬ 
ciety should encourage the formation of col- 
lectaons, large or small, and all gardeners 
should study the nature of these plants in 
order that they may be fully prepared in 
case of necessity. 
It is by no means necessary to have a com¬ 
plete range of greenhouses before embark¬ 
ing on orchid culture. Anyone wishing to 
add grace to the ordinary run of greenhouse 
plants will find one or two houses amply suf¬ 
ficient to successfully grow a very large and 
representative collection of beautiful orchids. 
In forming a small collection, I always ad¬ 
vise keeping to the best known and easiest 
grown kinds, selecting them to suit the 
house they are to be grown in. For example, 
it is useless to try to grow cattleyas and 
odontoglossums under similar conditions. 
Both are of fairly easy culture, and essen¬ 
tially orchids for the "small collector if ar¬ 
ranged in a suitable house and temperature. 
If only one house is devoted to orchids, 
I would always advise keeping this at an in¬ 
termediate temperature, that is, a minimum 
winter temperature of 50 to 55 degrees by 
night and 55 to 60 degrees by day, these 
figures to rise in summer 5 degrees by arti¬ 
ficial heat, and up to 80 degrees when 
the sun is bright. In tbis temperature it is 
possible to grow a great variety of orchids, 
including some of the showiest and most 
beautiful kinds in existence. 
(To be continued.) 
ANSWERS TO 
CORRESPONDENTS. 
Editorial Commuaicationa should be addreasrd to the 
Editor of the Gardeners' Magazine, 148 aad 149, 
Aldersgate street, E.C. 
Secretaries of horticultural aoeieties are inrited to 
send earl^ notification of forthcomioir exhibitiona 
and m<‘etin^, and are requested to adrise us cun- 
oerning changpcg of dates. 
Specimens of plants, flowers, and fruits for naminir 
or opinion should bo s^'nt to the Editor of the 
Oaroeners’ Magazine, " Endsleiffh," I'riory IHirk, 
Kew, Surrej, and as early in the week as possible. 
All parcels must be suibciently prejMiid. 
DISHASFI) LFAVKS OF CLFHODFX- 
DUON FALLAX. —,1. M. S., ( hew Magna: 1 
shall Ije glad if you will explain the dirty 
patches on the leaves of (’lerodcndron fallax 1 
send herewith. 1 had the same trouble la»<t 
year, and have used strong insectieid<^ with¬ 
out effect.—The pateh-e- are due to the pre¬ 
sence of one of the fungi, and the damp, 
moist surroundings in which the ])lants are 
growing facilitate the spread of the disease. 
Spray the plants occasionally with a weak 
solution of sulphide of potassium, and at in¬ 
tervals du.st affect<»d parts with fiowers of 
sulphur. 
REPOTTING A CACTUS.—S. R., Ayles¬ 
bury : Some time ago you were kind enough 
to reply to me concerning a root-bound cac¬ 
tus. I now send a piece of growth. The 
flowers are white, and the plant is about to 
flower. Can I divide and repot specimen 
safely?—The plant is a phyllocactus, but 
what species or variety we cannot state. 
After the plant has flowered it may be 
divided, but the w’ork should be done writh 
great care, and it is desirable that every 
portion carries a supply of roots. Use com¬ 
paratively small pots, as phyllocacti dislike 
overpotting; well drain the pots, and use a 
NOTICE. 
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