84 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
and increased moisture, so that they come in bloom one batch after another. 
Some species, though easy enough to. grow, and very beautiful when in 
flower, are not nearly so useful as the above, for the simple reason that they 
cannot be relied upon to bloom with anything like regularity or consistence. 
I refer to such kinds as D. clavatum and moschatum, and the only thing to 
do with them is to give them a good, long, dry rest. D. Dalhousieanum, 
though not so free as some, flowers pretty well when the bulbs are of large 
size’; it should be rested well, but not ina Cool house. D. Loddigesii will 
not flower well unless severely rested in a Cool house, as the flower buds all 
turn to growths. 
RE-POTTING.—Get on with this important operation wherever possible. 
Miltonia vexillaria may be done this month with advantage, otherwise they 
must be left over until after blooming. They require potting about once in 
two years. Keep them to comparatively small pots, drain well, and use 
fibrous peat and sphagnum moss in equal parts. Water very sparingly 
during winter, and give them a light, airy position in the Cattleya or 
Intermediate house, when they cannot fail to grow well. If the tips of the 
leaves decay, it is a proof of either too much water at the root or that the 
atmosphere is too cold and damp. Among other species which may now 
be at a suitable stage for re-potting or top-dressing are Lelia Boothiana 
(lobata) and crispa, Cattleya Warneri, and C. Warscewiczii (gigas), as new 
growth is now starting. Those which are now re-potted should be kept 
pretty frequently moistened with the syringe, in order to induce free root 
action and prevent undue shrivelling and loss of foliage. The next best 
season for re-potting the above is immediately after blooming. 
BROUGHTONIAS.—Some few species of Orchids are suitable only for 
block cultivation, and this, genus is among them. A good many plants have 
recently been imported. If a piece of tree-fern stem can be secured, it 
makes a capital block on which to fix them ; next to that comes teak wood, 
and, failing that, any ordinary wood will do. Sometimes one might secure 
a plant of a suitable shape to fix in a small pan or basket, and, if so, they 
will do very well. They are heat-loving Orchids, and should be grown in 
the Warmest house. I cannot highly recommend cork for Orchid culture, 
though it answers very well for a time, but being continually exposed to the 
moisture In quickly becomes more or less decomposed. 
AMATEURS AND BEGINNERS.—Calendar writers have the habit of 
mentioning the names of the various houses in which certain Orchids 
should be grown, as the Warm or East Indian house, the Cattleya or 
Intermediate house, the Cool or Odontoglossum house, and the Mexican 
house, whichever has been found in practice the most suitable. This is, of 
course, a pretty easy and intelligible method of conveying the meaning to 
others, especially if they have a general knowledge of the treatment 
