THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



37' 



C. Trianae, for without doubt it is the most perfect and exquisite of 

 Cattleya blooms. The flowers of the early flowering varieties are now 

 advancing, and a slight increase in the supply of water should be given 

 until the flowers have fully expanded, when the former course of resting 

 should be followed till growth commences at a later period. A great manv 

 imported plants now produce bloom of very inferior types, and are really 

 not worth cultivating, so that where good, choice and valuable forms are 

 grown they should not be allowed to bloom annually. Where this 

 cannot be avoided, however, they should be cut soon after development, so 

 that the vitality of the plants may be preserved as much as possible. 

 They should now occupy a light position near the glass. C. maxima is 

 now becoming somewhat rare, or is much less plentiful than formerly ; it is 

 a very pretty kind and blooms very freely when grown successfully. Here 

 it occupies a light position on a shelf in the Cattleya house, a position 

 which seems to suit it, and is given a decided rest after flowering, always 

 avoiding excessive shrivelling with severe drought. C. Percivaliana is not 

 one of the largest flowering species, nevertheless some of its varieties are 

 very beautiful. It grows very freely, but does not always flower well, even 

 when the sheaths appear healthy. This is doubtless due to lack of 

 necessary light at this period. Water should be given sparingly throughout 

 the flowering process, otherwise similar treatment to that advised for 

 C. Trianae may be given. 



In the warmest house the Phalaenopsis will be pushing up flower spikes, 

 and water must be given with extreme care. Plants that have had their 

 spikes removed, such as P. Aphrodite and P. amabilis, will require but 

 little moisture ; merely a slight wetting of the surface compost and roots 

 about the basket with a syringe will be amply sufficient. The freedom 

 with which these plants flower, and the length of time the flowers last, is 

 often the cause of failure to cultivate them satisfactorily for any great 

 length of time ; it is therefore advisable to remove the flower scapes as soon 

 as developed, unless, of course, the plants are in a vigorous condition. 

 The advantage of this will be an increase of vigour the following season. 



Pleiones.— Plants of P. lagenaria, P. praecox, P. Wallichiana, P. 

 Hookeriana, and P. Reichenbachiana as they pass out of flower should be 

 potted immediately, because root action so soon commences that if this 

 operation is too long delayed damage to the roots will result. Select 

 moderately deep pans, giving sufficient drainage, and a suitable compost 

 should consist of two parts peat, one of fibrous loam, one of sphagnum 

 moss, with an addition of dry cow-dung, some finely broken crocks and 

 silver sand to keep the material porous. Place about two inches of this 

 material in the pan, slightly raising it towards the centre, shake the bulbs 

 free from the old compost, and place a little of the new compost round 



