352 



THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



a plant of easy culture, and gives most satisfaction when grown in pans 

 and suspended in the warmest house. The plants usually make their 

 growth in the summer months, and produce their flowers before this is 

 matured, which is generally during the present month. The plant will 

 -commence to make new roots immediately, and any repotting or top- 

 dressing should then have attention. The drainage should be ample, 

 and a suitable compost will consist of two parts turfy peat to one of 

 chopped sphagnum moss. 



Stanhopeas, I am afraid, are not grown to anything like the extent 

 as in former years, in fact, in a great many collections they are fast 

 becoming extinct. Nearly two or three dozen plants are grown here, and 

 seem to enjoy the conditions of the plant stove ; they are rarely disturbed 

 at the root, and seem to flower very satisfactorily under these conditions. 



The best time for repotting Stanhopeas is soon after flowering, but it 

 should only be done if the material has become decomposed, or the decay 

 of the basket necessitates it. Use bracken rhizome for drainage, as then 

 the flower scapes fiom the base can penetrate through the compost more 

 readily than when crocks are used. The compost should consist of two 

 parts peat, one of sphagnum moss, and a sprinkling of moderately coarse 

 ■charcoal and coarse silver sand ; press the compost moderately firm at the 

 base of the plant, and apply water directly afterwards. Suspend them in 

 a shady part of the house, and give them every encouragement for the roots 

 to get hold of the new compost, so that they may soon establish themselves. 

 The remarkable genus Coryanthes requires similar treatment. 



Odontoglossums, Masdevallias, and other inmates of the cool house will, 

 in the course of the next few weeks, require attention, for the autumn 

 months are undoubtedly the most suitable for repotting operations, as the 

 plants then soon become established, and root more freely than they do 

 if left until the spring months. It is not necessary that these should be 

 repotted annually, provided enough root space is afforded for a longer time, 

 and no harm will result by leaving them another year where these 

 conditions are satisfactory. 



ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM DIMORPHIC. 



A remarkable case of diversity between flowers on the same scape has 

 appeared in the collection of R. G. Thwaites, Esq., of Streatham, of which 

 photographs have been sent to us. The flowers are also remarkable for the 

 great breadth of the segments, and it was this point which first attracted 

 attention. A small plant produced a two-flowered scape, and at the end of 

 May the first flower expanded, and, on account of its fine shape and broad 

 segments, was photographed. The photograph shows the second bud, 



