December, .92,.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 179 
dull season. Cypripediums are never inactive at any time of the year., 
therefore to allow these plants to remain dry at the roots for any consid¬ 
erable length of time would prove injurious. On the other hand, excessive 
applications of water during the winter season are equally injurious. When* 
the plants of the late autumn and winter flow-ring kinds have their flowers 
fully developed, the least quantity of water is then required, following up 
this treatment during the flowering period and for some weeks afterwards. 
A moist atmosphere must be maintained always, but care should be 
exercised to avoid a saturated condition when the plants are in bloom, and 
especially during the night, if the minimum reading is likely to be reached. 
Insect Pests. —The principal work at the present time is the washing 
and cleansing of the plants for the eradication of insect pests. The leaves 
of the majority of Orchids are fully matured, and the cuticles comparatively 
tough, therefore the cleansing operation may be undertaken with little risk 
of injury. The exhausting effect of various parasites upon the plants ar<^ 
often not sufficiently considered by the novice. One of the worst insect 
pests of Orchids is a soft, white scale that conceals itself under the outer 
sheaths of the bulbs of Cattleyas and similar plants. The destruction and 
removal of this pest may be easilyaccomplished with the aid of one of the 
many safe insecticides that are now on the market. When a number of 
plants require cleansing the best plan is to prepare sufficient of the 
insecticide in a tub, or other convenient utensil, to form a bath, and 
immerse each plant head downward in the insecticide, well wetting the 
leaves and pseudo-bulbs to ensure the destruction of every pest. After 
withdrawing the plant, hold it over the tub to drain for a few seconds, and 
then place the pot on its side to drain dry. Following this bathing process 
each plant should be examined carefully and sponged, and where the pests 
are very numerous the outer sheaths of the pseudo-bulbs should be stripped 
off, and a pointed stick be used to remove the scales. Many other insects 
attack Orchids, including woodlice, snails, slugs and cockroaches, and the 
following methods are useful for capturing and destroying these pests. 
Woodlice, which cause much damage to the tender young roots, may be 
captured by placing potatoes cut in halves about the plants and on the 
compost as traps, examining these at night and early in the morning. The 
creatures are often disturbed by watering the plants, causing them to come 
to the surface of the compost, when they may be easily captured. Snails 
and slugs may be trapped by sliced carrots, potatoes, lettuce or cabbage 
leaves, saucers of bran, etc., being placed about the houses amongst the 
plants. With the aid of a lamp these traps should be examined at night, 
and the pests searched for diligently till they disappear. In the cool houses 
where slugs and snails are often most troublesome, any flower spikes may 
be protected as they are pushing forth by a band of cotton wool wound 
