THE ORCHID REVIEW. 147 
time,”’ but now, since the re-introduction of the autumn flowering Cattleya 
labiata, Dendrobium Phalenopsis, and the accumulation of hybrid 
Cattleyas, Lzlias, Dendrobiums, and Cypripediums, as well as other less 
showy species, it is not so easy to define the period when the best display 
of Orchids may be seen. However, May undoubtedly is one of the best 
months, for then it is that such magnificent Orchids,as Cattleya Mossiz, 
Mendelii, Warscewiczii (gigas), Warneri, intermedia, Schilleriana, Skinneri, 
superba, and Lueddemanniana (speciossisima), Lelia purpurata, grandis, and 
tenebrosa, Sobralias, Odontoglossum crispum, Pescatorei, &c., Miltonia 
vexillaria, Masdevallia Harryana, Lindenii, Veitchii, and ignea, Coelogyne 
Dayana, and tomentosa, Vanda teres, and hosts of other pretty if less 
gorgeously-coloured Orchids, turn our houses into a veritable blaze of colour, 
to say nothing of the (to true Orchidists) wonderful charm to be found in 
the diversified forms of the various floral appendages of the different species. 
The potting and top-dressing of Cattleyas should be proceeded with as 
each individual member advances into a suitable condition to be operated 
upon, carrying out the principles advocated in last month’s Calendar. 
Amongst the many species to be operated on this month is Cymbidium 
Lowianum, than which there is no Orchid that gives such good results, 
irrespective of locality, in this respect differing from the Odontoglossums, 
which are affected, adversely or otherwise, by the geographical and geological 
nature of the locality in which they are. The period of flowering of this 
species extends from the middle of March until the end of April, or later, 
according to whether or not the wise course be adopted of cutting off the 
spikes after the flowers have been in an expanded condition for about four 
or five weeks. I have known them to remain on the plants in bloom for 
three months, but the folly of this was shown by the exhausted and shrivelled 
condition of the bulbs, and in the weakness of the succeeding growths. 
. Plants in a vigorous condition will need repotting about every third year, 
top-dressing to these being of little use, and difficult to carry out if decided 
upon. The system adopted here, with more than ordinary success, 1s to 
repot a few plants every season, and this is done about the end of May or 
early in June. The compost used consists of two parts each of good fibrous 
loam and peat, obtained in as lumpy a nature as possible, one part of well- 
decayed farm-yard manure, partially dried before using, and sufficient coarse 
silver sand to render the whole porous. The plants should be allowed to 
become dry beforehand, and then turn each out without disturbing the 
.crocks, which are held together by a mass of roots; select a suitable-sized 
pot, place a large piece of crock over the hole (first seeing that the latter 1s 
sufficiently large to allow water to drain away quickly), arrange the ball of 
the plant in the new pot so that, when completed, the surface will be about 
one-and-a-half inches below the edge, fill in around the ball with drainage 
