THE ORCHID REVIEW. 373 
Cattleya Percivaliana will be the next of the labiata section to flower, and 
some of its varieties are very beautiful. It is a free-growing species, but 
unfortunately not very free-flowering. Sheaths, however, appear plenteously, 
but the flowers are most sensitive, frequently failing to push, although they 
start todo so. A slight check during this embryo stage seems sufficient to 
cause failure. After the new pseudobulbs have matured it is best to select 
a nice, warm, and fairly dry position for them, watering them at the same 
time very sparingly throughout the flowering process. I have noticed that a 
wet state at the root, also asudden low temperature, is very detrimental. 
C. Trianz is also pushing flower buds, and is not so sensitive as the 
foregoing; but still the flowers do sometimes fail, and turn yellow in the 
sheath from the same causes. But Cattleyas are not the only culprits in 
this respect. Any other species that produces its flowers in mid-winter is 
liable to the same fate. It must not always be attributed to the fault of the 
grower ; he can only do his best, and, however skilful, he will not always. 
counteract the natural climatic conditions over which he has no control. 
In the East Indian house the Phalznopses will be pushing flower spikes, 
but careful watering here also must prevail. It is thought sometimes that 
Orchids having no pseudobulbs, like these, cannot successfully withstand so 
much drought as those having them. Doubtless this is true, if a test of 
endurance was tried; but still it is remarkable what a little water is really 
necessary for the wants of pseudobulbless Orchids during the winter or 
resting season. For the next month or two they should certainly not be 
dipped or otherwise soaked with water; a surface wetting with a syringe 
occasionally being by far the safer plan. 
Again, take the case of Masdevallias. It is marvellous the amount of 
drought they withstand, and then come out, when winter is over, with 
healthier foliage and with more flower spikes than those pampered up with 
too much moisture. It is over-watering which causes Masdevallia foliage 
to fall off—rotted at the base—during winter, rather than the low tem- 
perature to which it is generally attributed. 
Peristeria elata should now be producing flower spikes. We seldom 
come across really well-grown specimens of this species; generally it is 
attacked with the black spot on the pseudobulb, which points to a moist and 
sappy growth. It is an ordinary East Indian house or stove plant, and the 
best specimens I have yet seen have been potted in ordinary potting soil of 
loam, leaf-mould, and sand, and then not again disturbed until they have 
actually overgrown their pots. Watering should at all times be done 
carefully, and a short dry rest given immediately after blooming. 
The glass roof should by this time have been freed from dirt, so as to 
allow the maximum of light. See that each plant on the stages receives an 
equal share of light, by even and regular staging, so that the small ones may 
