ORCHIDS 191 



ginners, especially those that thrive well in the cool-house, either grown 

 with the Odontoglossums or with the Masdevallias. They require the 

 same potting material, and should in all cases have ample drainage. They 

 require an abundance of water at the roots during the growing season, 

 and should never be allowed to suffer from want of moisture at the roots 

 whilst dormant. The best kinds for amateurs are M. venusta, M. gran- 

 diflora, M. luteo-alba, and M. sanderiana. The last-named kind should 

 be placed under slightly warmer conditions from October and April. 



Miltonia. With few exceptions the species and hybrids, both 

 natural and raised at home, may be grown successfully in a house where 

 the temperature does not fall below 50 degrees at night. The most 

 easily cultivated is M. vexillaria. This Orchid produces flower-scapes, 

 bearing several flat pansy-like flowers in various tints from white to 

 rose. This species and its varieties are amongst the most perfect and 

 distinct in colour of the entire race of Orchids. They require a potting 

 compost of two parts living sphagnum moss to one of fibrous peat. The 

 pots should be drained to two-thirds their depth with clean broken 

 crocks and the plant placed in the centre of the pot, so that the base of 

 the new growth is level with the rim. After spreading out the roots, 

 work the compost carefully among them and press moderately firm, and 

 finish off with a mounding slightly to the centre, but be brought up 

 sufficiently high so that the new roots may be just beneath the surface. 

 They will thus grow quickly away and establish themselves in the new 

 material. The best time to repot M. vexillaria is in the spring, when 

 the new growth is commencing to form the bulb. This is the period at 

 which the new roots are being emitted and just before the flower-spikes 

 are produced. After repotting water freely with soft rain water. The 

 plants will require plenty of root moisture from now until the flowers 

 are expanded, and when these commence to fade gradually decrease the 

 moisture at the roots until the new growths are about three inches long. 

 Only sufficient moisture should be given to maintain a plump condi- 

 tion of the pseudo-bulb until the young growths get well away from the 

 base, after which more liberal treatment may be afforded. They should 

 have a position within reasonable distance of the roof-glass. Although 

 they need protection from the direct rays of the sun, an abundance 

 of light is appreciated. The same remarks apply to nearly all the 

 kinds except M. Roezlii and M. Phalxnopsis, which need a temperature 

 of not less than 60 degrees in winter. Those belonging to the M. spec- 

 tabilis section require plenty of strong light to induce them to flower 

 satisfactorily, and may be grown under the same conditions as the 

 Mexican Laelias. 



Qdontoglossum. As Orchids for amateurs none are so charming, 

 useful, or more easily grown than the various species of Odontoglossum. 

 If kept cool during the hot summer months they may be easily cultivated 

 in the ordinary greenhouse ; but in the neighbourhood of large towns, 

 owing to the subdued light during several months of the year, it is 

 almost impossible to obtain flowers of firm texture. Especially is this 

 the case when the flower-spikes are developing during the winter to 

 reach their full beauty in early spring. Fortunately the seasons 



