322 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
times on the bench, so as to settle the soil among the roots, and hold 
the plant firm. The compost 1s left a little below the rim of the pot, 
and this space is then filled with a thin layer of sphagnum, to ensure 
a light humidity and facilitate the emission of roots. It may be added, 
however, that Messrs. Duval consider the sphagnum superfluous, 
because after trial they find that the shoots push as well without it. 
Although the new method differs considerably from the existing one, 
there is nothing very difficult to understand until we come to the question 
of watering. Habituated as we are to the system of saturating our 
Orchids with water during the growing season, it is somewhat perplexing 
when Messrs. Duval tell us that it is not necessary to water the plants. 
A light syringing of each pot maintains a degree of humidity, very moderate 
it is true, but sufficient to prevent the soil from becoming dust dry. If the 
plants are watered it should be done with great moderation, and instead of 
Saturating the whole of the compost, it is sufficient to moisten the upper 
part, and the moisture descends along the sides of the pots, where, under 
good culture, such a profusion of roots is found. This watering should 
always be performed by the same person, who should be able to estimate at 
a glance the hygrometric state of the compost in the interior of each pot. 
So important is this operation considered by M. Delanghe, the well-known 
horticulturist of Brussels, who initiated the system of culture in leaf mould, 
that he waters his Orchids himself, only trusting to his own experience as to 
the conditions of humidity or dryness which he considers necessary. By 
using this compost M. Delanghe has obtained marvellous results, and it is 
this which led Messrs. Duval to adopt it, and they have recognized its 
superiority by this year repotting the whole of their eleven houses of 
Orchids in it. 
After giving all these explanations, Messrs. Duval conducted the Com- 
mission through all their houses of Orchids, and they appeared so confident 
of the success of the system that they commenced by showing us a new 
importation of Cattleya labiata which had been potted up on its arrival 
directly into this compost. We next saw some Cattleyas which had been 
in this compost for several years, and these comprised C. labiata, C. Trianz, 
and others which had just finished their period of repose, and which had 
not the seductive aspect of plants in full vegetation, as seen in August and 
September; but they appeared to us very green and well nourished; and 
what excited our curiosity was that each pseudobulb of the previous year 
had produced two growths, thus giving promise of a double flowering 
next year. 
