302 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [OcTOBER, 1915. 
in reality they need a very airy position, such as may be found in the 
Cattleya house. They should be kept well shaded, and they appear to 
enjoy the sun-heated temperature, but fire heat to any great extent quickly 
brings them into a debilitated condition. 
VANDAS.— Unfortunately there is no pecuniary value in these handsome 
plants, and they are not generally cultivated, but to those who do grow 
and appreciate them the following may prove useful. The end of October 
or the beginning of November, when the sun has lost its power for harm, 
is the best time of the year to overhaul Vandas of the V. tricolor and V. 
suavis section. At, this time the plants commence to root freely, and 
continue to do so all through the winter, so that the foliage will suffer less 
than were the work deferred until the spring. It is not advisable or 
necessary, if they are well furnished with leaves, to disturb these plants by 
repotting, unless a larger receptacle is needed, but if a plant must be 
repotted because of loss of leaves at the base, the old materials and drainage 
should be removed, and if there be found plenty of live roots some distance 
up the stem, so much of the lower part of it may be removed as will bring 
the lowest pair of leaves, when the plant is again placed in the pot, almost 
down to the rim. After cutting the base of the old stem away, place the 
plant in the centre of the pot, and then a few large crocks at the bottom, 
and upon these a layer of sphagnum moss, over which spread the lower- 
most roots, and carefully work in amongst them some clean crocks and 
rough but clean sphagnum moss, pressing it down firmly, then distribute 
more roots in a like manner, till the top of the pot is reached, finally 
finishing off with a surface of clean picked sphagnum moss. It is 
important that each stem be made secure, by tying it toa strong neat 
stick. Plants that do not require repotting may have their surface of moss 
top-dressed if necessary. After repotting or top-dressing the plants no 
water should be afforded for nearly a week, and then water thoroughly, and 
afterwards, whenever the moss on the surface appears dry, it will suffice 
to lightly sprinkle it. For this purpose a fine sprayer is always useful, so 
as to encourage the moss to grow. When new roots begin to push out 
from the stem, and young roots appear from the old ones, the quantity of 
water may be gradually increased, but the moss must never be kept in a 
saturated state, it being preferable to keep the surroundings moist by 
damping between the pots and under the staging several times daily. 
These Vandas require a somewhat cool intermediate temperature. I have 
always found them to grow and bloom extremely well when staged by 
themselves at one end of a Cattleya house. The plants require to be well 
shaded from strong sunshine, particularly after any disturbance of the roots, 
also again during the early spring months. 
EPIDENDRUM RADICANS.—When well-cultivated and its requirements 
