ORCHIDS : HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 21 



be mixed in with advantage, and they should be given a position in 

 the house not too far from the glass roof. Masdevallias under 

 wrong treatment, such as over-indulgence in watering, being kept too 

 dry, or when subjected to extreme heat or cold, refuse to make much 

 headway their leaves drop, the plant decays, and, having no pseudo- 

 bulbs, they quickly disappear; but, on the other hand, they are very 

 easily cultivated if the house and treatment suits them. Such species 

 as Harryana, Veitchiana, and other similar strong growing kinds, 

 are best grown in pots. The pots should be crocked for drainage 

 to one-half their depth and the plants made moderately firm in the 

 compost, as already indicated, using pots sufficiently large for the 

 plants, and allowing an inch from the leading growth to the rim 

 of the pot. In potting, the plants need not be elevated very high 

 above the rim, or trouble may be experienced in making the plant 

 secure, which must be done ; otherwise, if left in a loose and unstable 

 condition, the plants are unable to become quickly re-established and 

 consequently dwindle. Small neat sticks should be used for this 

 purpose, to keep the plants firmly in their places until they become 

 self-supporting masses. The compost, after repotting, should be care- 

 fully watered, keeping it just moist only until the new roots appear 

 and get hold of the compost, then more water may be given. Drought 

 at the roots is not conducive to good growth, but it is safer to err on 

 that side than to give too much water. The temperature really most 

 suitable for a collection of Masdevallias is one a few degrees higher 

 than that advised for the Cool Odontoglossum house during winter, 

 but in summer as cool as possible. 



The species, M. Harryana, is named after Mr. Harry Veitch, the 

 nead of the great Chelsea firm of nurserymen, and the varieties of this 

 species are very numerous and beautiful, and a great diversity of 

 colour exists. There is in existence a pure white form, and the darkest 

 colour known is the Bull's Blood variety, while M. Harryana armeniaca 

 is a lovely orange colour ; such varieties as these are very expensive, 

 but the typical forms are veiy cheap. 



The time of flowering for Masdevallias is generally from March 

 to July, but a few are to be had in bloom the whole year round. 

 Repot in February, or directly after flowering, about July. 



AETIFICIAL HEATING. 



Heating by hot water is a most important matter, and, of 

 course, the more perfect the arrangements the better can the 

 desired degree of warmth be maintained. "When this work is 

 entrusted to a hot-water engineer, it is usually properly fitted and 

 left in good working order; but it sometimes happens that when a 

 house is to be used for a class of plants it was not originally built for, 

 and there is a probability that there may be an insufficiency or a 



