92 ORCHIDS I HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



repotted into pots or baskets, in fibrous peat and sphagnum, about 

 March or April, as it then commences to grow and push out new roots. 

 "Water moderately at first. 



All through the summer months, while the new pseudobulbs are 

 in course of formation, the plant should not be allowed to suffer from 

 drought, but watered when the compost assumes a whitish appearance. 

 When the new growths have reached their normal size, the bloom buds 

 begin to form and push by degrees from the sheath, and open during 

 the months of September and October. But, like some others, this 

 Orchid will occasionally push up its flowers from the apex of the 

 pseudobulb without the presence of the sheath ; whilst, on the other 

 hand, a sheath may be formed and a flower fail to come. But these 

 are exceptions and not the rule. It sometimes happens that autumn- 

 flowering Cattleyas, instead of pushing up their flowers, start a young 

 growth from the base of the newly-formed pseudobulb, and in such a 

 case I always pinch off the new growth to induce the flower to form 

 and open in due course. If, instead, the young growth is allowed to 

 remain, it rarely develops a full-sized, strong pseudobulb, and the 

 autumn is far advanced before the growth is even matured, and all 

 hope of seeing the bloom grow and expand may be abandoned. After 

 flowering very little water is required, only enough to keep the bulbs 

 and leaves healthy and plump ; probably once a week will be sufficient, 

 always taking care that the plant is in a warm and dry position during 

 winter. When the flower spikes have been cut, the sheath should be 

 entirely removed by pulling them clean away from the pseudobulb, and 

 the spikes also cut out close to the pseudobulb, and all danger of 

 damping or decaying will thus be arrested. 



Strong plants, newly imported or established, at from 10s. to 20s. 



CATTLEYA GASKELLIAXA. From Venezuela. 

 This is a late summer blooming species, producing its flowers 

 during the month of August and the early part of September, and 

 should be potted in March, just as they commence making their 

 growth, or may be left until after the plants have flowered. Fibrous 

 peat and sphagnum in equal proportions, with a little broken charcoal 

 mixed in suits this and all other Cattleyas, and the pots should be well 

 drained half their depth, placing large crocks at the bottom, and 

 smaller with some charcoal over them. Cattleyas should be potted 

 moderately firm, bringing the new compost well to the base of the 

 pseudobulb, and, when potting is completed, should any portion sway, 

 steady it by tying the pseudobulbs to neat sticks, it being so necessary 

 to the roots when pushing to take a firm grip of the compost, which is 

 prevented if the plant is unstable. There are numerous varieties of 

 C. Gaskelliana, varying more or less in shades of colour and markings, 

 light tinted forms predominating, so that the darker varieties are in 



