ON ORCHIDS. 



605 



using for the purpose a compost of two parts good fibrous peat 

 and one part fibrous loam and sphagnum, to which may be 

 added a liberal sprinkling of rough sand. The compost should 

 be made moderately firm about the base of the plant. The pots 

 used should be thoroughly cleaned and half-filled with clean 

 broken crocks, thereby carefully avoiding any possibility of 

 stagnation. 



Fig. 386. — L^elia anceps Sanderiana. 



Maxillarias. — These are closely allied to the Lycastes, and 

 require similar treatment. 



Miltonia. — The bulk of the species require the cool inter- 

 mediate treatment. The most popular is M. vexillaria (Fig. 389), 

 which flowers during the summer months. It does well in the 

 cool house during the summer, but requires a few degrees warmer 

 treatment during the winter. Potting should be done just when 

 the spikes are about to make their appearance, as this is the 



