14 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [Jan.-FEB., rgrg. 
the Cool house, and will remain so for a considerable time. After the 
flowers have faded, and the bulbs are fully matured, much less water at the 
roots will suffice, but even then they must have sufficient to keep the plants 
plump and healthy. This species suffers if kept either too wet or too dry. 
Repotting is best undertaken when the plants are seen to be pushing roots 
from the half-made pseudobulbs, and the best position for them is at the 
warmest end of the Cool house, with all the light possible, and a free cir- 
culation of fresh air. : 
MASDEVALLIAS.—Many of the smaller of these interesting Orchids, such 
as M. tovarensis, M. Schroederiana, and others of like nature, will now be in 
need of new rooting material, and the present season is the best possible 
time to undertake this operation. They should be repotted just as they 
commence to grow, not too firmly, as their roots are not capable of pushing 
through hard masses of material. They are best grown at the warm end of 
the Cool house, suspended well up to the light, all the year round. A 
suitable compost is made up of equal parts of peat, osmunda fibre, and 
sphagnum moss. 
CyMBIDIUMs that have passed out of bloom may have any necessary © 
potting done, as soon as their young growths are sufficiently advanced, 
using a compost of two parts good fibrous loam, one part peat fibre, some 
broken leaves, and sphagnum moss, with sufficient broken crocks to ensure 
the porosity of the compost. This:should be used in a rough state, as the 
fleshy roots of these plants detest too fine a compost. The roots of all 
Orchids are a good guide to cultivators in this respect, as those of a fine 
nature delight in a compost of a closer texture than the more succulent 
kinds. Afford a thorough drainage of crocks, as when thoroughly well- 
rooted they require liberal supplies of water at the roots. These useful 
plants delight in a cool position in the Intermediate house, or the warm end 
of the Cool house. Red Spider sometimes attacks the leaves if the position 
is at all dry, so that every precaution must be taken against this trouble- 
some pest. Plants that are now pushing up their flower spikes may have 
attention at a later date. After repotting, watering must be done very 
carefully. With plants so free and easy to cultivate as these, one may 
sometimes think that such care is not necessary, but if the highest point of 
culture is to be reached, it is only attained by persistent attention and pains. 
In successful Orchid growing the great things to remember are, firstly, 
doing the right thing at the right time, and, secondly, to keep the plants — 
and their surroundings scrupulously clean. 
SOBRALIAS.— Opportunity should now be taken to remove all useless 
stems, cutting them down to the roots, thus making ‘more room for the new 
growths to develop. They have already made considerable progress, and 
should be tied out.at equal distances apart, so that light and air may pass 
