450 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
obviate the chance of damaging any roots that may be in the way. As a 
rule, I am very much adverse to pushing stakes into the ball of a plant, as 
one can never tell what damage is being done beneath, or in the compost, 
and therefore, as far as is possible, we fix them in when there is a better 
chance of seeing where they are going to. After the plants have been 
re-potted, great care and discretion have to be exercised in the watering of 
them, as the surface will show signs of dryness long before the main portion 
is anywhere near dry. Consequently, to simply go by the surface 
appearance would be detrimental to the plant’s welfare. When the plants 
have become established in their new pots, a liberal supply will be needed 
until the bulbs have filled up. The lovely L. tenebrosa should be treated in 
exactly the same manner. 
In the Cool house Odontoglossum Rossii, Cervantesii, (Erstedii, X 
Humeanum, and Xx aspersum, have made considerable progress so far as 
leaf development is concerned, and as soon as root action is imminent, those 
that need new receptacles should be seen to. Baskets or shallow perforated 
pans are the most suited to these, as they are generally hung up, and 
receptacles of this description are lighter, bulk for bulk, than pots. To 
remove the plants from the old baskets the corner pins should first be taken 
out, and then the bars can the more readily be detached from the clinging 
roots. The utensils should be well drained, and a modicum of peat and 
moss in equal proportions used for rooting material. For some little time 
after being disturbed a little water will suffice, but when the plants have 
recovered from the shock a much larger quantity should be given, excepting 
in the case of O. (Erstedii, which thrives best under a trifle drier treatment. 
Towards the end of the month a commencement may be made with O. 
crispum, selecting only those plants whose growths are sufficiently advanced 
to warrant the early appearance of roots at the base of the new leads. 
Reference has already been made concerning the treatment and mode of 
potting this species and its allies, and the only thing I can urge upon 
amateurs is, do not deluge the plants with water, but by all means keep the 
atmosphere moist and pure. _ It is surprising how dry these plants may be 
kept without meeting any injury from that cause, providing other conditions 
are favourable. Of course, dryness with these must not be confounded with 
the dryness spoken of in connection with Cattleyas or Calanthes when at 
rest, but accepting the word in its comparative sense one will easily under- 
stand the difference. Newly-potted plants appear to become dry almost 
immediately after they are done, and inexperienced hands are tempted to 
give water days before it is necessary, the fact of the dryness being merely 
superficial never entering their minds. At this season of the year the plants 
may be dewed overhead, thus moistening the dried heads of moss and 
obviating the chance of water being applied too soon after re-potting. Do 
