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November  27,  1902.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
But  with  the  best  care  some  plants  will  suffer.  The  lovely 
I  liaise  nop  sis  and  the  showy  Calanthes  are,  perhaps,  the  most 
liable-,  the  double  roofed  houses  in  vogue  some  years  ago  did 
little  to  check  the  damage,  and  it  seems  useless  to  try  and  pre¬ 
vent  it.  Any  choice  specimens  or  unflowered  plants  from  which 
much  is  expected  may  have  the  shelter  of  a  handlight  in  the 
house,  a  precaution  that  may,  when  the  fog  is  of  short  duration, 
in  some  cases  save  the  flowers.  A  dry  state  of  the  compost  is 
of  course  beneficial,  but  this  cannot  always  be  arranged,  as  one 
is  often  tempted  to  water  the  plants  on  a  bright  sunny  day,  and 
the  next  morning  may  prove  foggy. 
Speaking  of  Calanthes,  these  useful  and  beautiful  winter 
flowering  Orchids  are  often  injured  by  being  stood  about  in  cold, 
draughty  corridors  and  conservatories  while  in  bloom.  They  are 
natives  of  tropical  countries,  and  cannot  stand  this  treatment; 
Laelio-Cattleya  x  Bletchleyensis,  Fowler’s  variety. 
This  magnificent  form  was  exhibited  before  the  Orchid  Com¬ 
mittee  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  on  October  21,  from 
the  Treasurer  to  the  Society,  and  received  a  First  Class  Certifi¬ 
cate.  Mr.  Geo.  Shay]  er’s  drawing  below  represents  the  natural 
size  of  the  flowers.  The  sepals  and  petals  are  beautifully  tinged 
Laelio  =  CattIeya  X  Bletchleyensis,  Fowler’s  variety, 
and  veined  with  rose-purple;  while  the  lip  is  of  a  dark  ruby-red 
tint,  with  lighter  purplish  margin. 
The  Week’s  Cultural  Notes. 
While  all  growers  of  Orchids  are  very  much  at  the  mercy  of 
the  weather,  those  residing  within  the  metropolitan  area.,  or 
within  the  vicinity  of  large  towns,  are  seriously  troubled  with 
fog  at  this  season  of  the  year.  I  may  as  well  admit  that  I  have 
no  panacea  for  the  ills  that  Orchids  suffer  by  this  cause ;  but 
I  have  found  that  in  many  cases  the  injury  done  to  the  plants 
has  been  much  worse  when  a  very  damp  atmosphere  has  been 
kept  up,  and  no  attempt  made  to  create  a  proper  air  circulation 
by  means  of  gentle  heat  on  the  pipes  and  judicious  use  of  the 
ventilators. 
consequently,  though  no  harm  is  apparent  to  the  eye,  the  plants 
are  checked  and  start  weakly,  and  do  badly  in  consequence. 
Moderately  dry  and  warm  conditions,  without  any  moisture  in 
the  soil  after  the  last  leaf  falls,  is  what  they  like,  and  opposite 
treatment  is  sure  to  be  detrimental. 
That  beautiful  cool  house  Orchid,  Disa  grandiflora,  and  its 
allies,  are  now  growing  freely,  ancl  should  be  encouraged.  To 
dry  it  now  is  to  weaken  the  young  growth  and  cause  it  to  be 
flowerless.  It  also  tends  to  insect  attacks.  Should  any  of  the 
later  specimens  appear  to  need  more  room,  there  is  still  ample 
time  to  repot  ;  but  should  young  roots  be  present  use  great  care 
not  to  damage  them.  Offshoots  potted  up  now  stand  a  good 
chance  of  growing  into  flowering  specimens;  but  no  more  time 
must  be  lost. — H.  R.  R. 
