THE ORCHID REVIEW. 323 
The Odontoglossums appeared to us very happy and very vigorous, each 
pseudobulb showing an appreciable advance on the preceding one, and the 
number of spikes was equally large and promised an abundant flowering. 
Dendrobiums were also very healthy under the treatment.  Miltonias 
had luxuriant vegetation, especially M. Moreliana, which always has the 
leaves and pseudobulbs yellowish, but here was completely green and 
glowing with health. But the most astonishing results that we saw were in 
the case of Oncidiums, whose pseudobulbs had attained extraordinary 
proportions. Cypripediums with marbled leaves, as C. Lawrenceanum, C. 
Curtisii, &c., were of astonishing vigour; those with green leaves, as 
C. insigne and C. X Leeanum, appeared less vigorous. 
At the end of our visit the members of the Commission were agreed 
that they obtained sufficiently good results by culture in polypodium, 
but it appeared to them that culture in the new compost should be 
much more simple, and that the results ought to be obtained with more 
facility. Polypodium is very costly in comparison with leaf-mould, 
being nearly the same price as ordinary peat. The preparation 
of polypodium takes much longer, and the waste is much greater. 
Again, when one has put his plants in sufficiently large pots they can 
remain several years without being overhauled, and the smaller quantity 
of water used tends to prevent the decay of the compost. These results 
are not obtainable with polypodium, which requires frequent waterings, 
and in consequence results in the decay of the compost in two or three 
years. Apropos of this last theme, Messrs. Duval had obtained from 
the establishment of M. Delanghe a clump of Cattleya Mossize which 
was potted in this compost five years ago (1895), and had not been since 
touched. We broke the pot, and were astonished to find that the compost 
was quite fresh, and in sufficiently good condition to be used to-day. 
Messrs. Duval. estimate, further, that this treatment gives more 
vigorous plants, tends to preserve those species which usually decline 
in vigour after a period of three to five years, quickens the growth of 
choice varieties or delicate species, and facilitates its propagation by: 
division with greater safety. 
The Commission does not draw definite conclusions from their visit, and 
would not advise amateurs of Orchids to throw themselves headlong into 
the new culture, as the procedure, being so little in accord with all the 
admitted theories up to this date, might prove disastrous. But they do not 
wish to condemn the new treatment, especially when they find it extolled 
by able practitioners. They recommend experimenting with a small 
