150 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
pointed stick and afterwards trim off closely with a pair of scissors, as iS 
often done, or you again replace the evil. 
As to the query what to add to hard tap-water to cause it to become 
somewhat of the nature of soft rain or pond water, it is largely a matter of 
opinion. When forced to use such water direct I have been in the habit of 
adding either a pinch of guano or a small bag of soot thereto. It must, 
however, be done very sparingly or not done at all. I prefer an open tank. 
outside, which should be filled and left exposed for a day or two before 
using, stirring in it a few spades full of garden soil and decayed leaf soil,. 
and allowing it to settle, which brings it more to the nature of pond water,. 
and is safer than either soot or guano. 
SOCIETIES. 
MANCHESTER AND NORTH OF ENGLAND ORCHID. 
THE meeting held at the Coal Exchange, Manchester, on April 4th, was 
again a very successful one, the awards including fourteen First-class. 
Certificates and eight Awards of Merit. 
J. Leemann, Esq., Heaton Mersey (gr. Mr. Edge), staged a group of 
fine things, which gained a Silver-gilt Medal. First-class Certificates were 
awarded to Cattleya Schroedere alba, Lzlio-cattleya x callistoglossa mag- 
nifica, and Odontoglossum X loochristiense, and Awards of Merit to O. X 
Wilckeanum superbum and Cattleya Schroederz reticulata. 
T. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Whitefield (gr. Mr. Johnson), also received: 
a Silver- -gilt Medal for a choice group. First-class Certificates were given to 
Dendrobium xX Sybil superbum and D. x Snowflake, and an Award of 
Merit to Cypripedium x giganteum. 
O. O. Wrigley, Esq., Bridge Hall, Buty. (gr. Mr. Rogers), gained a 
similar award for a choice group, containing among other things Dendro- 
bium X Apollo album and D. nobile Wrigleyanum, each of which was. 
awarded a First-class Certificate. 
Mrs. Briggs-Bury, Bank House, Accrington (gr. Mr. Wilkinson), sent a 
neat little group, to which a Vote of Thanks was given. First-class Cer- 
tificates were given to Odontoglossum crispum Charlemagne and O. x 
loochristiense King of the Belgians. 
S. Gratrix, Esq., Whalley Range (gr. Mr. G. Cobar: sent a few fine 
things, gaining First-class Certificates for Dendrobium xX Luna and Lycaste: 
, Skinneri alba, and an Award of Merit for Lelia purpurata Victoria. 
A. Warburton, Esq., Vine House, Haslingden (gr. Mr. Lofthouse), 
gained a First-class Certificate for Miltonia x Bleuana grandiflora. 
E. O. Schneider, Esq., Whalley Range, received an Award of Merit 
for Dendrobium x Leechianum. 
Mr. W. Holmes, Timperley, staged a nice group, which received a Vote 
