44 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [ FEBRUARY, 1914, 
stage is usually taxed to its utmost capacity where seedlings are concerned. 
The rooting medium consists of fibrous peat or osmunda fibre and sphagnum 
moss in equal parts, and must be cut up tolerably fine. Until the roots 
reach the edge of the pan careful watering is needed, or the new shoot 
will damp off. 
AERIDES, VANDAS, and ANGR2ZCUMS.—Towards the end of the month 
these should be examined and the old sphagnum moss removed and replaced 
with new. Where they have lost their lower leaves, and new roots are 
seen bursting out of the stem, it is best to repot them. The stems are 
cut back at the base to within a few inches of the living roots, and then 
placed in a pot so that the foliage is near to the soil. To achieve this 
object it will probably be necessary to put the stem in the receptacle 
before the drainage. Each pot may be half-filled with clean potsherds, and 
the compost should be made up of sphagnum and peat or osmunda 
fibre, with a good sprinkling of crushed crocks. From now the plants may 
receive a more liberal supply of water, and a higher degree of humidity 
should be maintained by damping down the stages, floors, and walls more 
frequently than at any time since September. The dwarf species are 
usually cultivated in small pans or baskets, and suspended near the roof 4 
glass. Most of these plants are grown in the Warm house, but Aérides — 
Vandarum and A. japonicum should be given a position at the warmest end 
of the Cool division. 
MASDEVALLIAS.—The month of February is usually chosen for over — 
hauling the Masdevallias, and any that have filled their receptacles with 
roots should be potted on. Some will only need top-dressing with fresh 
material, while others may be allowed to stand over till September, or even — 
till next year. All the strong-growing kinds should be placed in ordinary 
flower pots, but the small species may be cultivated in pans and the 
Chimera group in teak-wood baskets. The best position is at the warmest 
end of the Cool house, but M. tovarensis, and what is known as the 
Saccolabiate section (M. Chimera and allies) should be removed to the 
Intermediate house for the winter months. The cultural requirements are 
much the same as for Odontoglossums, but Masdevallias ought never to 
suffer from dryness at the root. In regard to compost there is’ nothing 
better than peat and sphagnum moss, providing the former is of good 
quality, but where this is inferior osmunda or polypodium fibre may be — 
substituted. In repotting large specimens the leafless part of the rhizomes 
can be cut away, when in all probability a smaller pot will be needed. 
OponToGLossums and OponTiopAs.—There is no difference in the — 
cultural treatment of these two genera, and where even a: small collection 
of these beautiful Orchids are grown’a few will need repotting at intervals 
throughout the year. The bulk are generally done in August or September, — 
