Hugh Cvans 
Christmas Orchids 
Many gardeners in the past have, | suppose, re- 
frained from buying and planting Cymbidium 
Orchids owing to their initial cost. Now, however, 
excepting only the rarest and choicest varieties, 
these beautiful plants can be purchased for much 
less than has formerly been the case. They are 
not particularly social plants and though happy 
and contented with one another's society, they 
should for best results be kept away from other 
plants, otherwise they are likely to receive too 
much or too little water. The principal requisite is 
perfect drainage and protection from the hot sun. 
We have reconstructed our’ideas with respect to 
fertilizers and have come to the conclusion that 
Cymbidiums young and old, whether grown in the 
ground or in containers, respond to fertilizers in 
reason. 
Most gardeners, | imagine, are familiar with 
Epidendrum O'Brienianum (see illustration), with its 
long sprays of vivid scarlet or orange flowers. 
Grouped in a sunny spot in the garden, these bril- 
liantly colored Orchids will actually outbloom any 
ather plant in the garden, in areas free from severe 
~ frosts. All they ask is water and a fairly rich soil; 
the sprays cut and brought into the -house invari- 
ably evoke expresions of delight and admiration. 
There are, too, a number of epiphytal Orchids 
from Mexico and Central America which are easily 
grown outside for most of the year, indeed we 
have had baskets of the Mexican Laelias hanging 
in our lath houses for many years, summer and 
winter. These species of Orchids are interesting 
and graceful and add charm to any patio or sun 
room. L. anceps and autumnalis, now blooming, 
have rose and lavender blossoms. 
‘-uatemalan Oncidiums, too, are commencing 
\ 
FROM WHERE 
WE SIT 
To sleep, perchance to 
dream. Yes, let us dream for a 
while, not about Christmas, 1951], 
nor Christmas in years gone by, 
the so-called good old days, but of 
Christmas a few years hence, the 
sort of Christmas that every think- 
ing man, woman and child would 
give a right arm for, and for which 
many — alas — give much more 
than that this very day. 
Let's dream about a Christmas 
where all families can be thanking 
God again that they are together, 
where the radio can pick up the 
sound of young voices singing 
Christmas carols the world over: 
in Korea, Egypt, Indio China, yes, 
and behind what used to be an 
lron Curtain. . 
Let's dream of the day when 
the United Nations will be an as- 
sembly of nations which are united, 
not against a common enemy, but 
for the exchange of productive ~ ~- 
ideas—a clearing house to which 
each may bring the sum total of 
his nation's best efforts, so that 
all may benefit and share. 
Let's dream of Service and Vet- 
eran's hospitals being gradually 
vacated, let's pray for the day 
when they are no longer in exist- 
ence at all. 
Let's dream of the day when 
the words bigotry and prejudice 
are eliminated from all languages, 
including our own, when people of 
all races and religions can look up 
and say, ‘I'm glad | was born, 
and I'm glad | am alive." 
Now, let's rub our eyes, give a 
good stretch, and proceed to do 
everything in our power to make 
our dream come true. 
their blooming period. O. tigrinum 
splendidum displays long sprays 
of yellow, spotted-with-brown flow- 
ers, while O. Cavendishianum has 
smaller yellow-green blossoms. The 
former prefers a warm lanai at- 
mosphere while the latter is hap- 
pily situated out-of-doors. 
£ 
