4° THE ORCHID REVIEW. [FEBRUARY, IQITI. 
But at last we have some definite information as to the habitat of C. 
Tracyanum, A number of Orchids were collected at Chengmai, Siam, by 
Dr. Alexander Kerr, and have been cultivated at the Trinity College 
Botanic Garden, Dublin. One of them was a Cymbidium, which has now 
flowered, and proves to be Cc. Tracyanum, thus affording a definite clue to 
its habitat. 
Chengmai is situated in N.W. Siam, some 300 miles S.S.E. of Bhamo, 
one of the earliest-recorded localities of C. Lowianum, which also occurs. 
further east in Yunnan, and about 20 miles east of Fort Stedman, in the 
Southern Shan States, where it was found by the late R. Moore (O.R., iii 
p. 169). It doubtless occurs in other localities in the Shan States, in some of 
which it evidently grows intermixed with C. Tracyanum. It is now evident 
that the latter grows on both sides of the Siamese frontier, and we may 
regard it provisionally as a native of the Southern Shan States, part of 
which are in Burma and part in Siam. Here is a large tract of mountainous 
country of which the flora is very imperfectly known, which may partly 
account for the mysterious way in which this fine species appeared in 
cultivation, and the difficulty since experienced in tracing its history. 
R.A. R. 
MANURE FOR ORCHIDS. 
Can you obtain and publish any further information as to the advisability 
and best method of manuring Orchids? I used the Cookson Formula last 
season on several Cattleyas and Dendrobiums without any apparent injury 
to the plants, and they certainly made good growth under the treatment. 
In Australia plants have to be potted with much more drainage than is 
usual in England, as owing to the scarcity of labour the watering has to be 
done with the hose, and the compost must be very firm and open. Leaf 
mould is out of the question, and it seems as if we must rely on some 
chemical manure to supply the natural food the plant requires. Perhaps 
some of your correspondents will give their experience in this most 
important detail in Orchid culture. In going through some of the back 
volumes of the Orchid Review I find that the American growers use manures 
systematically. Could they let your readers know the result of their 
experience ? Do the plants die out after a few years forcing with manure ? 
One would think that if not used to excess the manuring should prolong the 
life of the plants. In any case the want of reliable information is unsatis- 
factory. Could you also say if there is any remedy for black spot in 
Calanthes? The usual opinion is that once the bulbs are attacked they can 
never be cured of it. Is this so? : 
Sydney. - ARTHUR YATES. 
(We hope that some of our readérs will give their experience.—Eb.] 
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