THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
[August, 
and every endeavour should be made to keep the compost sweet and open. 
All through the growing season the roots should be freely watered, and 
there should be plenty of moisture in the atmosphere. Light sprayings 
overhead with soft, tepid water when the weather is favourable are very 
beneficial, especially to those kinds that have tesselated foliage. 
Succulent Cypripediums.— The distinct little group of this section, 
composed of C. concolor, C. bellatulum, C- Godefroyae, C. leucochilum, 
C. niveum, etc., may justly be included among the gems of this extensive 
genus, but it cannot be said that these are so easily managed as the 
majority of Cypripediums. Plenty of warmth and atmospheric moisture 
are essential for their successful cultivation, and the plants should be grown 
close up to the roof-glass. In a state of nature these plants are found 
growing in far more sunshine than the majority of species, and they 
undoubtedly retain their liking for a good light when under cultivation.. 
Shading of course is necessary, because exposure to direct sunshine under 
glass would ruin the foliage, but at the same time the plants should not be 
overshaded. In affording water to the roots the greatest care is necessary 
at all times, and more especially during the winter months, but during their 
most active season of growth the roots of the plants should at all times be 
kept fairly moist. Repotting is best done soon after the plants have ceased 
to flower, but disturbance at the roots should not take place unless the 
condition of the compost makes this necessary. The plants usually grow 
best in a compost consisting of turfy loam, good peat and sphagnum, and 
they display a preference for limestone used in lieu of crocks for drainage. 
Crushed limestone may also be mixed with the compost to keep it open. 
There are numerous hybrids from these species, some of which grow and 
flower freely, while others are most difficult to retain in a satisfactory 
condition, requiring very careful treatment at all times. 
Seed Raising. —Some years ago Mr. Theodore L. Mead, of Oviedo, 
U.S.A., found the following method of raising seedlings to be successful. 
•Culture tubes similar to those used by physicians for bacterial tests were 
partially filled with “ Beefbroth agar.” A little seedling Orchid, one with a 
leaf-point, was then carefully laid in the jelly and in a day or two filaments 
•of mycelium had grown from it, at the rate of about one-eighth of an inch 
per day until the surface was covered. But as it was impossible to 
sterilize the seedling to begin with, there were other moulds present besides 
the one desired. The jelly was then put into a mass of leaf-soil and 
chopped up finely with some sphagnum moss. When the mixture was well 
inoculated it was used as a medium on which to sow the seed. Mr. Mead 
also used a compost of sterilized leaf-soil, inoculating it with the surface- 
moss from vigorously rooting adult Orchids. 
