This Oncidium requires the heat of the Cattleya house, and we find it succeeds 
in well-drained pots of rough fibrous peat and sphagnum moss. The plants must 
be well elevated above the pot, as they lke to send their roots over the surface, 
where they will be found working amongst the material used for potting. They 
require to be watered sparingly even during the growing season, and to be shaded 
from the sun when its rays are powerful, although they like plenty of light for 
ripening up their pseudobulbs, which latter is a chief inducement towards the free 
production of their blossoms. This is the way in which Mr. Buchan’s gardener, 
Mr. Osborne, treats this plant with remarkably good results. 
Farvres Ix Orcuip Cuirure.—Many persons get disheartened through failures 
in their attempts to grow Orchids, and give up their cultivation in despair. The 
failures are sometimes, but not often, caused through the neglect of the plants by 
those to whom they are entrusted, and the owners remain ignorant of the cause 
until the failure is completed, and then give up in despair. Some of the causes 
of disaster are very simple, such as imperfect drains in a house, the noxious gases 
arising from which are most injurious to plants, causing the foliage to go bad, and 
the blossoms, if any, to become poor. We knew a gentleman who dismissed several 
gardeners, thinking they could not grow Orchids and other plants; but at last he 
found out that the sole cause of failure was that the stables were close to the 
Orchid house, and that the effluvia from the horses penetrated through the wall into 
the house. This went on for some time until the discovery was made, and then the 
walls were cemented, after which, to the proprictor’s astonishment, the plants began to 
grow freely, and he now hopes to succeed since the evil is remedied. We have also: 
heard of failures through putting the boiler under the house; all may go well for 
a time, but in a little while the smoke and sulphurous fumes will begin to penetrate 
through the brickwork, and destroy the plants. This may soon be remedied by 
taking out the boiler, and fixing it in a separate place outside the house. Some 
persons think that by having them under the houses room is saved, and the heat 15 
economised, but it is a great risk to run, and, even if it does answer, vely ‘Tittle 
room is gained. We advise all growers to guard against such calamities by ascertaining, 
before building their houses, if there are any drains running through the spot likely 
to give off effluvia injurious to the plants We once knew of a case where many 
plants were spoiled through a drain being broken into, and it was not discovered until 
too late to stay the evil. The only practicable remedies were to alter the drains, 
remove the house into another part of the garden; the former was done, and = 
Plants soon made rapid progress, and the proprietor was induced to go on purchasing 
more, until he made a fine collection. There is no doubt many an Orchid growe se 
given up in disgust through these and other failures, instead of—as we have often 
recommended—calling in some one of experience to try to ascertain the reason of oe 
damage, for two heads are generally better than one. If the cause of the mise : 
— be found out at the first consultation, try another expert, and “perseve”’ 
until it is discovered—B, 9. W. ; 
