AXI) THEIR MANAGEMENT. 347 



Odontoglossum. 



Culture. — 0. crispum, which is the species most sought 

 after at the present time, is annually imported in large 

 quantities and offered for sale at the weekl)- auctions in 

 London, and by importers in the Orchid trade. It is 

 not b)- any means the easiest subject to import, and 

 plants are seldom met with in a robust condition when 

 thus obtained. It is, therefore, remarkable to find how 

 quickl)' the pseudo-bulbs plump and present signs of 

 renewed vitalit)- after the}- reach our greenhouses. It is 

 not advisable to pot-up imported 0. crispinii immediatel}' 

 they are received. B}- far the better plan is to lay the 

 plants out on the stage, the latter being covered with a 

 bed of ashes, sphagnum, or other moisture-retaining material. 

 If kept shaded, and the atmosphere of the house be fairly 

 humid, they quickly regain their normal proportions, and 

 commence to emit roots and make new growth. When 

 this occurs, plants may be potted up, and they soon 

 become established in their new surroundings. The pots 

 used should be just sufficiently large to contain the plants 

 comfortabl)-. The pot should be filled to two thirds its 

 depth with chopped Bracken Fern rhizome, such as is 

 discarded when picking the peat for Orchids. After the 

 plant has been placed in position in the centre of the pot, 

 the remaining space should be filled in with a compost 

 consisting of equal portions peat and living sphagnum 

 pressed moderately firm. The plants should be watered 

 as soon as potting is complete, wetting the compost 

 through. Careful watering will afterwards be necessar}-, 

 as the above compost does not dr)' nearly so quickly as 

 when the broken potsherds are used for drainage. 



In dealing with the re-potting of established plants, no 

 hard-and-fast lines can be laid down. Where the con- 

 ditions suitable to the plants' requirements are afforded, the 

 season of the year is not of much importance, so long as 

 the plant is commencing to emit new roots from the base 

 of the newly-made or developing pseudo-bulbs. As, 

 however, the bulk of the plants complete their growth, or 

 commence to emit their new roots about the end of 

 Augu.st and through September, it is advisable to get 

 all potting done at such a season. March and April are 

 preferred by some, and it is also a very good season to 

 undertake re-potting. The re-potting of cool Orchids of 



