140 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [May, 1914. 
develop their spikes to their full beauty, and should have the leaves 
frequently sponged, for they are sometimes attacked by mealy bug, which, 
when once it has become settled in the distichous growths, is difficult to 
eradicate, and where this is present the plants should be sprayed with a 
solution of soft soap and nicotine, or with some approved insecticide, 
afterwards syringing them with pure rain water. 
Importations of the beautiful blue Vanda coerulea have recently been 
arriving in quantity, and where any imported pieces have begun to show 
signs of re-awakening should be potted up and treated as advised for 
Dendrobiums, shading them for the present from strong sun. 
Zygopetalum Mackayi, crinitum, and Gottianum are excellent subjects 
for an amateur’s Intermediate house, and these may now require repotting. 
The usual method should be carried out, using a compost of loam, osmunda 
fibre, and moss, whilst plants freshly potted should be kept slightly drier, 
sprayed overhead, usually daily, and shaded from sun. The coolest end of 
the house forms a suitable position for these useful winter-flowering Orchids. 
SUGGESTED ADDITION. 
SOPHROCATTLEYA. Doris.—For an amateur’s Cattleya house this 
beautiful Orchid is most suitable, and its brilliant scarlet flowers, with the 
handsome yellow colouration on the lip, render it very attractive. It was 
raised some years ago from Sophronitis grandiflora and Cattleya Dowiana 
aurea, and is still one of the best of these bigeneric hybrids. Being rather 
a dwarf grower, it should be suspended near the roof glass. Give sufficient 
water when in active growth to keep the soil damp, but less when at rest, 
and overhead-syringing must not be practised. Pans are preferable to pots 
for its accommodation, and re-panning is needed usually every alternate 
year, a fine mixture of well-chopped Polypodium fibre and sphagnum moss 
being the best rooting medium. The flowers are of fair size, and continue 
long in perfection. 
DISA CHRYSOSTACHYA.—A plant of this remarkable Cape Disa wa 
exhibited at the R.H.S. meeting held on April 21st last, by Messrs. Flory 
& Black, Orchid Nursery, Slough. It is allied to D. polygonoides, Lindl. 
(Bot. Mag., t. 6552), but has a very much longer spike of deep orang® 
yellow flowers; the spike in this case measuring nearly a foot long. It . 
seldom seen in cultivation, but a specimen is preserved at Kew which 
flowered at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, in April, 1890. The 
Species is rather widely diffused, extending from the eastern parts of Cape 
Colony to the Transvaal and Natal, and occurring on grassy hills and damp 
places from about 2000 to 4000 feet elevation, and occasionally higher-. Jf 
is well figured in the recently issued volume of Bolus’s Orchids of South 
Africa (vol. iii. tt. 68, 69). RAR. 
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