246 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
Odontoglossum crispum and Cypripediums, as well as other Orchids. It 
used to be thought that the roots of an Odontoglossum crispum should be 
continually saturated when growing, but that it is the wrong treatment has 
again and again been proved by all the best cultivators. It will have been 
noticed during hot weather, when but little if any fire heat is required in 
any department, what an extremely small amount of water is necessary 
at the root to keep the compost in a moist and fit condition. It is during 
such times that over-watering is to be feared, more than at any other season 
of the year. 
Any plants where the moss has grown badly, or where the surface of the 
compost looks bad from any other cause, should now be re-surfaced with 
fresh, live, sphagnum moss, which will soon grow nicely and make just 
enough headway before the winter to carry the plants through, giving them 
a nice, neat, and trim appearance. Neatness and trimness, not only 
indicates that care is bestowed upon them, but it has a great bearing on the 
healthiness of the plants. In order to secure this cleanliness it is neces- 
sary, of course, to handle each individual pretty frequently, and by so doing 
little matters of importance are detected and remedied in time so prevent 
possible future trouble. Slugs are caught wholesale when a general pot 
wash takes place, thus preserving many tender spikes. Again, it is not 
always possible to see that thrip and red spider are gaining a foothold with- 
out a close view. What looks worse than leaves permanently disfigured by 
thrip punctures? It is in these days of patent, safe, and effectual insecti- 
cides a standing reproach. Weeds and ferns are better exterminated. 
None of these should be seen in an Orchid pot, for it imparts a rubbishy 
and uncared for appearance. 
Ccelogyne cristata, Lycaste Skinneri, and the deciduous Calanthes are now 
getting on well with their growth, and, if well rooted, are species that enjoy 
watering at this juncture with a little weak cow dung manure water. It 
may also be applied now to the evergreen Calanthes, Phaius. grandifolius, 
and similar species, also to Sobralias, Pleiones, and other terrestial growing 
kinds. But unless the plants are firmly rooted, and the compost isin a good 
state of preservation, no good, but more probably harm, will result from 
giving manure water. 
Black spot on the foliage of the Serktncns Calanthes is a disease to be 
dreaded. It does stick to them—in fact, when once contracted I doubt if 
it is possible to thoroughly cure them again. Certainly the application of 
manure seems then to aggravate more than otherwise. This disease, I 
think, is brought about in many cases by over-feeding. In the clear air of 
the country Calanthes usually give but little trouble if treated with ordinary 
care; but in large towns I fear their successful culture is more the excep~ 2 
tion than the rule. Even though fair sized bulbs may be produced, the 
