THE ORCHID REVIEW. 89 
willoccupy. Over the drainage should be placed a layer of moss, and then fill 
up with a mixture of half fibrous peat and sphagnum moss, mounting it up 
somewhat from the edge of the pot. In top-dressing those that do not 
quire a fresh receptacle, it is only necessary to pick out with a pointed 
stick what decayed material is come-at-able, and replace with some of the 
above mixture. The plants should be watered sparingly through a “ rose”’ 
for some time afterwards, more especially those shifted into other pots. 
They must also be shaded from strong sunlight, and given a temperature of 
about 60° during the day, and 55° to 58° at night, always keeping the 
atmosphere sweet and moderately moist by judicious ventilating and 
damping. Yellow thrips are very troublesome to these if allowed to gain a 
foothold, but since the advent of ‘‘ Richard’s XL.All”’ there has been no 
difficulty in that direction. 
There are other well known and deserving Miltonias that should be seen 
to now, such as M. spectabilis, and its varieties atrorubens, Moreliana, 
&c., which from actual experience we find thrive much better in the Warm 
house than in an Intermediate one. They should have no moss about their 
roots, peat alone proving the best rooting medium for this section, as it is for 
M. Phalanopsis, and even this should be used in very moderate quantities, 
interspersing a few crocks to prevent the accumulation ot too much material. 
The long creeping rhizomes having a scant supply of roots, it is rather 
difficult to fix the plants in position, but with a few pegs and a little tact 
the required result is soon accomplished. Having no moss and a greater 
proportion of drainage, water may be given more frequently than otherwise 
would be the case, M. X Bluntii Lubbersiana, a rare and handsome Orchid, 
should be grown in a pan hung at the warmest and shadiest part of the 
Cattleya house, given a fair amount of water during the growing season, but 
only sufficient to keep the material moist when inactive. 
Thunia alba, Bensone, Brymeriana, and Marshalliana having laid 
dormant through the winter, are now proceeding to make a fresh start again, 
and as soon as the young growths are about an inch long the plants should 
be turned out of their pots, have all the old soil shaken away from the roots, 
and these being dead should be shortened, leaving a sufficient length to 
_ assist in the potting operation. The stem-like bulbs may be potted singly, 
or several placed in larger pots to make specimens, according to the taste of 
the operator. The pots should be half filled with drainage, placing a stake 
in the centre before filling in with crocks and the compost, as it is no easy 
matter to put a stake in afterwards. The compost should consist of three 
parts lumpy peat, one of fibrous loam, and the remainder of moss, pulverised 
cow manure and sand, mixing the whole well together, and allowing it to 
get warm before using. Having prepared the pots, place a layer of moss 
over the crocks and a little of the material; arrange the required number ot 
