348 ORCHIDS 



Oclontoglossum. 



an)- description, at tlie season of the j'ear when tliey are 

 like])- to become distressed after the operation, is not 

 achocated. It is difficult al\va)-s to a\-oid summer potting 

 wdien O. crispiiin flowers are required at all seasons of the 

 \-ear. Consequentl)-, in some instances, summer potting has 

 to be resorted to, espcciall)- "where the compost has become 

 sour and decomposed. 



Leaf-mould, espccialh' that knoA\-n as J-Jelgiai-i leaf-soil, 

 has of late been advocated by many prominent Odonto- 

 glossum growers as a substitute for the compost recom- 

 mended abo\-e. There can be no doubt that, with careful 

 treatment in resjiect of watering, highl)^ satisfactor)' results 

 ma\- be achieved from its use. Where leaf-soil is used, 

 a liberal sprinkling of rough sand must be added to 

 maintain it as porous as possible. The best leaves for 

 the purpose are oak and beech, partly deca)-ed ; these 

 should be mixed, dried, and rubbed through a sieve, 

 using a still finer one to separate the moderately coarse 

 from the very fine. It is the former that should be used 

 for potting purposes. The leaf-soil must be pressed 

 moderately firm, or it will be found difficult to induce the 

 sphagnum to grow on its surface. The leaf-soil absorbs 

 a quantity of moisture fntm the atmosphere, and therefore 

 watering must be done with great discrimination, spra)'ing 

 onl\- on the top of the moss being all that is necessar)-. 



O. Alexandrae {Batan.). — A form of O. crispiDii. 



O. apterum (Llav. and Lex.). — A free-growing species bearing 

 its beautiful flowers in May and June. Pseudo-bulbs large, 

 two-leaved. Lea\-es (jin. long by lin. broad. I'lower-scape 

 stout, as long as the leaves, and producing from three to seven 

 flowers, which are each 3in. across and snowy-white, except at 

 the base of the sepals and petals, where they are prettily spotted 

 with cinnamond:)rown. A native of Mexico, where it grows at 

 a height of io,ooott., in exposed situations. It should be 

 grown in a cool house, and be kept moist at the root all the 

 year round. Syn. O. Nebulosmn. (Batem. Monog., t. i.) 



O. bictoniense {Lindl.). — This was the first Odontoglot to 

 reach England in a living state ; but since the introduction of 

 so many iiner kinds it has gone somewhat out of favour, although 

 it is remarkably free. The pseudo-bulbs are ovoid. The leav'es 

 are ift. long, bright green, distinctly nerved. The scape is 

 erect, and frequently attains a height of 2ft. or even more; 



