142 “f THE ORCHID REVIEW. [May, 1922. 
‘the plants arrive home it is advisable to lay them separately on a warm 
-stage covered with coke, or fine coal, previously well moistened, for about a 
‘fortnight. They should then be looked over, all the dead portions and 
decayed matter carefully removed, and the old roots examined, only those 
readily noticed as useless being cut off. The sound portions of the plants 
‘that are firm, and do not give way to pressure from: the thumb and finger 
should be placed in nots or pans containing clean potsherds, using pieces of 
the latter and charcoal to fill up around them. Small stakes are required 
in some instances to make the rhizomes secure and upright. The pots 
-should then be plunged up to their rims in a bed of sphagnum moss, and 
occasional light sprayings, always with tepid rain water, should be given 
when they appear to be very dry. When signs of movement are noticeable, 
the plants are moistened more frequently overhead, but never sufficiently to 
saturate them. The crocks and charcoal naturally absorb the moisture 
‘from the moss and supply sufficient at the base to encourage root 
_action. 
On the appearance of growth the charcoal and some of the potsherds 
Should be removed, leaving the pots about three-parts filled. The compost 
should consist of coarse osmunda fibre, not lumpy, and fresh sphagnum 
-moss in equal parts. Mix these well together, and add a good sprinkling of 
fine crocks and coarse silver sand. This mixture should be used at all 
future pottings or top-dressings. Pot each plant with moderate firmness 
nearly up to the rim of the pot, and surface with fresh living sphagnum moss. 
The plants will readily root into this, and should not be disturbed again 
-until it is seen that they require more space. During very warm weather 
the oh bl should be used frequently, at least two or three times daily, and 
fs age dewing overhead during the evening will greatly assist growth. Under 
“this kind of treatment the plants are seldom in need of water at the roots, 
but when the growths are vigorous and are gradually nearing their full 
ae ain out vic a wet iain. The tg 
affoeaea stheatie eh ae ms ways be kept damp, and plenty of ventilation 
shila: Leanbtey elias : ~ permits. Care must be taken to protect 
i chidtarecit dest gr air, and to ensure that the atmosphere is at 
sAdeSS debacle en “ a temperature of 60-70 degs. during the day 
be protected Raniiehiuaa ai Gee 
dies the: ordiiby chan “Heo Ghee ee 
immediatly over-head Wik aun " 1S advisable to stipple the glass 
attended to, as regards OV ch arn Ps a ee ke a ee 
seldom attacked by insect As cae — ee 
pests, such as thrips, etc., but slugs and cock- 
r ! 
oaches are very fond of the young roots, and must therefore be constantly 
-Sought after and destroyed. W. H. WHITE. 
