i88i.] . NOTES. 489 



higher in the pot than it is ultimately to be ; and, in finishing off, 

 work the whole down pretty solidly. Finish with short growing 

 sphagnum, and keep it growing by occasional dewings until fairly 

 established. Dead moss covered with filthy slime looks bad, and kills 

 the roots as they push from the base of the bulbs, which should stand 

 an inch or more above the rim of the pot and just clear of the moss. 

 When the moss is growing the roots enter it readily, and thrive in it. 

 Potting should be done just as the young growths appear from the 

 base of the old bulbs in spring. 



After potting, the material in the pots must be kept just moist 

 and no more, until it is fairly occupied with roots ; then water may be 

 liberally given. After one-third of the whole material in the pot is 

 roots, healthy and hungry, give once a-week a little very weak manure- 

 water, and your plants will make up great grand bulbs, throw at 

 least half-a-dozen flowers each, break double; and your Orchid-growing 

 friends who believe in peat, big pots, and only clear water, will declare 

 you have grand varieties. 



Scale sometimes attempts the colonisation of the leaves. Soapy 

 water and a sponge will exterminate it. In hot weather a dash with 

 the syringe will do good ; but try when the air outside is dry to 

 keep that inside moist by sprinkling plenty of water about three times 

 a-day. Shade from bright sun, and never let the plants get dry. The 

 "drying-off '' of cool Orchids, as sometimes practised, is ruinous. 



A. H., H. 



NOTES. 



A GOOD Dendrobium just now in flower is D. formosum giganteum, 

 with its great ivory-white flowers almost lily-like in size and purity, 

 the only bit of colour being a broad blotch of orange -yellow on the 

 lip. I saw this in first-rate condition at Loxf ord Hall the other day, the 

 plants being grown in wood baskets, suspended from the roof of a 

 warm Orchid-house. The great blossoms are valuable for cutting, and 

 if left upon the parent plant in a suitable atmosphere they will en- 

 dure for a month or six weeks quite fresh and perfect. D. chrysotis, 

 another good kind, is quite distinct, bearing five to nine golden-yellow 

 flowers on a drooping spike, the elegantly fringed lip being a great 

 ornament to the flower. 



Yanda ca3rulea is one of the choice and popular Orchids now im- 

 ported by the hundred every year ; and yet how rarely is a really good 

 and perfectly healthy plant to be met with in our collections ! It flowers 

 very freely if it has been grown well. The difhculty in this matter is 

 to induce free and healthy growth. It is one of the hill Orchids of 

 India, which will endure a great range of temperature. I find a warm 

 Cattleya-house suits it best, being particular to leave a ventilator quite 



