60 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
usually take about three weeks to expand after being placed in extra 
warmth. I think Dendrobes form one of the most beautiful and useful 
class of Orchids in cultivation, and as the general culture of them is 
exceedingly easy, no one who owns a warm house should be without a good 
collection of them. There are, however, a few essential points in their 
cultivation which must be attended to. Firstly, the roots must be in a 
healthy condition. To secure this end the plants should be repotted about 
once in two years, although should the compost look to be pretty well 
preserved they may remain undisturbed a longer period and still do well. 
Secondly, repot at the right time, which is when the new growth is from 
one to two inches long, and the new roots commence to push from the base. 
Repot in good material of fibrous peat and sphagnum, or if the former 
should not be good, use the latter alone, intermixed with finely-broken 
crocks and charcoal. Thirdly, after repotting give the plants every 
encouragement to grow, by giving an abundance of heat and moisture 
and by placing them near the light; but do not hurry the plants too 
much at first. After repotting water sparingly, keeping the compost just 
moist only. Nor should the heat be too strong at first, until the new roots 
are seen to be taking kindly to the fresh compost. Fourthly, do not give 
too much root room. Err on the side of small pots, pans, or baskets, 
rather than large ones. Repotting is work which cannot be done too 
carefully, and when it becomes necessary do it thoroughly and well. Never 
insert an old ball of roots with the compost adhering, but remove all the 
old material, together with any dead roots, spread the healthy live ones 
carefully out on the new compost ‘near the surface, and simply cover them 
over with a thin layer of new material, at the same time well securing the 
pseudobulbs so that the plant is quite firm and unable to sway about when 
touched. Fifthly, keep the plants scrupulously clean, particularly guarding 
against yellow thrip and red spider. There are several other important 
points to be observed in the culture of Dendrobiums, such as resting and 
temperature during that stage, but these we may for the present pass over, 
as most of the species will from now until autumn require the same 
kind of treatment in the warmest house. From experience lately acquired, 
I prefer to repot D. Wardianum before placing it in extra warmth to bloom. 
I also prefer to grow it at the lightest and at the same time the most airy 
part of the house. I grew some last year in a house which as nearly 
approached the Mexican as the East Indian house, and am well satisfied _ 
with the results. The bulbs were not so long, but thicker, and more like the 
imported ones. These long, new pseudobulbs, twice as long, but only half 
as thick as the imported ones, are not, I think, a favourable sign. D. 
Wardianum does not like frequent root disturbance, and it should be 
established in small receptacles, the following year being shifted into larger 
ones, which should last for two or three years. Dendrobium Falconeri 
