172 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
really necessary, still if any doubt existed in my mind as to the necessity of 
potting or otherwise I should certainly elect to do it. One must never be © 
afraid to re-pot when it seems desirable. It is absolutely necessary for con- 
tinued success with any plant. Better do it a little late in the season than 
pass a deserving plant over altogether. As I have said before, a plant, after 
a certain point of excellence, will gradually recede, and requires a lot of re- 
generating if neglected. The full benefits of re-potting are frequently not 
apparent the first year, though with some genera, such as Dendrobiums, 
Odontoglossums, and Oncidiums, the beneficial result is apparent in the first 
year’s growth, by increased vigour and healthier appearance. Cattleyas, and 
Lzlias, andmost other genera generally make more marked progress the sec- 
ond year, after which it must be left to the grower’s decision whether the pot 
is large enough and the compost porous enough to warrant it safe letting 
them go for the third year. _ A grower can generally tell the proper thing to 
do by a glance at the plant and the surface compost. It may be less easy 
for an amateur, but he soon learns by experience and practice. 
I prefer to have the bulk of the potting finished by now. Still there are a 
good many things which it has been impossible to get at before, on account 
of blooming, but these should be attended to at once. They include 
_ Cattleyas Mossiz and Mendelii, Lelia purpurata, Miltonia vexillaria, cer- 
tain Cymbidiums, and Sobralias, and others which are now passing out of 
bloom. . | 
LEAF SOIL FOR POTTING MATERIAL.—Leaf soil, or rather, half decayed | 
leaves, such as clean beech or oak collected last autumn, are now used to a 
considerable extent by some growers, either purely by themselves surfaced 
with a little sphagnum, or mixed in with other materials. Personally I 
think it a very good thing. The results of my trials have so far quite satis- 
fied me. Still I must advise growers to be careful and experiment with it 
ona few only before using it largely. I see no reason why almost all our 
Orchids should not grow and do well in it, if properly potted and carefully 
watered afterwards, although thereis still a doubt in my mind whether it will 
ultimately prove so good as our well-tried and proven sphagnum moss and 
peat, when well broken and mixed up together, with a little finely smashed 
crocks and charcoal. Yet I say, give it a fair trial by all means, for there is 
a long difference between the price of leaf soil and best Orchid peat. True, 
the former, if laid in lightly, is extremely soft and porous, and the roots 
should enter it freely, at the least for one season, when it could easily be 
removed. The leaves should be in a half rotten, or what I may 
term in a flaky condition, which, if not too wet, will easily rub through a 
half inch or three quarter inch sieve, when it is ready for use, 
and is readily worked in between the roots, afterwards surfacing — 
lightly with a layer ot sphagnum moss to keep the plant firm. With this 
