Juty, 1915.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 213 
see that cockroaches and woodlice do not devour them. Those species 
with fusiform pseudobulbs, as S. undulata and S. Lyonsii, will thrive under 
similar conditions, but prefer a greater depth of soil. S. crispa succeeds 
better in the Cattleya or Mexican house if given a very light position. 
PLATYCLINIS.—Plants of P. filiformis are fast sending up their thin 
thread-like flower stems, and the plants will benefit from a daily overhead 
syringing till such time as the tiny flowers open. Plants of P. glumacea 
that have finished their growth will henceforth need but little water at the 
roots, but must not be allowed to suffer from excessive dryness. P, 
Cobbiana and P. uncata require similar treatment. Sponge the leaves of 
these plants occasionally to keep them free from red spider and other 
insects. All the species of Platyclinis thrive well in a shady position in the 
Intermediate house the whole year round. Formerly these plants, like a 
great many other Orchids, were coddled and ruined by being grown in too 
much heat and too little fresh air. Being natives of the Philippine Islands 
it was considered necessary to give them very warm moist tropical treat- 
ment, but the plants, as a rule, deteriorated gradually, and were always 
infested more or less with insect pests. These pretty Orchids may be 
repotted at the fading of the flower or at the commencement of growth. 
Shallow pans are preferable to pots, as they are more easily suspended from 
the roof, in which position the plants grow best. They root freely in a 
mixture composed of equal parts of chopped osmunda fibre and sphagnum 
moss. Freshly-potted plants should be very carefully watered, merely 
spraying the surface of the compost to keep it moist, and afford a little 
extra-shade until each plant becomes re-established. 
CATTLEYA HOUSE.—lIn this house many species of Cattleya, Lelia, and 
their “numerous hybrids have recently passed their flowering stage, and 
those plants that need repotting should be attended to at once. When 
repotting any of these plants the beginner should remember that over-potting 
is an evil, and should be guarded against, the smaller the pot the better the 
safeguard against injury from excessive water at the roots. For full 
information as to repotting, compost, &c., the reader should refer to the 
Calendar of Operations for May. At this season, probably owing to extra 
sun-heat and drying winds, many of the plants, after being disturbed by 
tepotting, will not appear quite so robust as usual, and in many cases the 
back pseudobulbs, especially those without roots, will have become slightly 
Shrivelled, but no harm will result if they are watered with care, and the 
atmospheric conditions -of the house«are what they should be. As the 
young growths lengthen, and roots become numerous in the fresh compost, 
the shrivelled bulbs will soon regain their normal condition. It is not a good 
practice to saturate repotted plants with the object of inducing the pseudo- 
bulbs to retain their plumpness, because during the time the soil is wet, 
