NOVEMBER, 1922.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 345 
for two or three years. For young seedlings and other plants with a 
delicate root system the finer grades are especially suitable. Sphagnum 
moss can be chopped up with it or else placed in tufts near the rim of the 
pot. With small pots that are liable to dry quickly, sphagnum moss. forms 
a good guide, for it keeps green so Jong as the compost remains moist, and 
turns whitish when dry. 
The amateur who procures but one bag of fibre has not much oppor- 
tunity of selecting any desired grade, and he is often compelled to use a 
fibre that is.much too coarse for his small seedlings, or perhaps too fine and 
soft for the plants of flowering size. It is quite evident that the owner of a 
large collection, who buys many bags at a time has greater opportunities in 
this respect. But whatever the fibre may be, it is always desirable to 
thoroughly moisten it before use. Not only can it then be more readily 
pulled to pieces and prepared, but it is rendered far more pliable and thus 
the more easily inserted in the pots. If the fibre contains much dust it is 
advisable to beat it out, or at least the greater portion of it, before applying 
any water. In gardens were large quantitites are used the blocks of 
osmunda fibre are run through a chaff-cutter, and some of the flat slices: 
thus produced come in useful for the top layer when potting large plants. 
Seishin ees 
CULTURE OF CYPRIPEDIUM FAIRRIEANUM. 
HE last number of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Journal (vol. xlvii., 
pts. 2 and 3) contains several articles of considerable interest and value 
to horticulturists. Under the heading of Commonplace Notes on p. 197, 
Mr. W.H. St. Quintin contributes details of a method of cultivating 
Cypripedium Fairrieanum, which he and his late gardener, Mr. F. Puddle, 
found very successful. The method consists of using two distinct layers of 
compost. The lower one is made up of two parts Osmunda fibre or peat, 
one part calcareous loam, one part silver sand, and half a part crushed 
crocks. The upper layer is composed of two parts Osmunda fibre, one 
part Kent loam, two parts Sphagnum, and one part silver sand. Experience 
showed that the plants grew best with Sphagnum on the surface, but as 
this would not grow in contact with calcareous loam, the two layers of 
different compost were used. The limey loam was tried in various 
proportions, and the conclusion arrived at was that though this species is 
decidedly a lime-lover, one part was a sufficient proportion, and, indeed, 
better than a larger one. After potting, the surface of the compost is kept 
moist with a sprayer until the plants become established, when they are 
watered moderately at all times. The summer temperature ranged betweer 
65 and 75 deers. and that of the winter between 55 and 65 degrs., but it is 
thought that the imported plants weré better when kept in the Odonto- 
glossum house at a rather lower temperature im winter. 
