THE ORCHID REVIEW. 213 
house, take out a small pane of glass here and there. This department has 
been quite gay with the bright Cochlioda Neetzliana, Epidendrum vitellinum, 
and Masdevallias Veitchiana, ignea, and Harryana. Their bright vivid 
colours are relieved by the white and more sober tints of the Odonto- 
glossums, while the beautiful bright-yellow Oncidiums Marshallianum and 
concolor lend the finishing touch of loveliness. Why the Masdevallias are 
so little grown and cared for puzzles me more than a little. What a fine 
show a house of them makes at this season! In what species can we find 
such a lovely variation of splendidly-brilliant colours as can be had with a 
selection of Masdevallia Harryana and its allies? Masdevallias are of most 
easy culture, and should be kept as cool as possible during the summer, but 
during the winter an intermediate temperature suits them better than the 
Cool house. They like enough water at the roots, but avoid too much, as 
they are easily over-watered. This month will see us busy overhauling the 
plants in this department, and repotting any that require it and are in the 
right condition, cleaning the plants, washing the pots, &c., and leaving 
them in good growing order, for the time is now coming when Cool Orchids 
grow apace. I like to do what repotting is required early—that is to say, 
before the growing season is past, for if left until late in the season the 
plants fail to become re-established before the winter weather sets in. 
THE Mexican HousE.—We found it necessary to shade occasionally 
during a few bright days in the spring of the year, but the foliage is now 
hardened and quite capable of withstanding the full glare of the sun without 
scorching. The shading is therefore now discontinued, and consequently 
an abundance of air is needed, and damping down is performed not less 
than three times daily. About four o’clock in the afternoon the top 
ventilators are closed, and the bottom ones partially so, the plants at the 
same time being well syringed overhead. Here again but little repotting 
remains to be done, but plenty of work is found in keeping the plants free 
from insect pests. The true Lelia x Gouldiana will now be starting, and 
if not already rebasketed, should be done at once. It is far preferable to 
Lelia autumnalis. It lasts in bloom twice as long and is, though steady, 
a sure grower. Ours grow best in baskets suspended close to the glass. If 
it is desirable to increase the stock—and the danger of having too many 
young plants of good things to grow on is remote—they may be propagated 
by cutting the rhizome clean through at about the fourth or fifth pseudobulb 
from the leading one, when a back growth will appear. Any rare Cattleya 
or Lelia, if healthy, may be propagated in this manner. The Lelia anceps 
and other short bulbed Mexican Lelias are growing apace, and aginst now 
receive plenty of water, as, being fully exposed and having so much air, they 
soon get dry. 
THE INTERMEDIATE Howse is kept more shaded, and consequently a 
little cooler, than the Cattleya house at the present season. Odontoglossum 
