50 THE ORCHID .REVIEW. [FEBRUARY, 1912. 
sequently must never be allowed to become dry, though only enough water 
to keep the compost damp is required. Only pure rain water should be 
used, and from October to April this should be tepid. Frequent root 
disturbance is harmful, but when re-potting becomes a necessity the plant 
should be carefully removed from the old receptacle and placed in a pan of 
fresh soil. This should consist of osmunda fibre, with sphagnum moss, 
finely chopped, and a little oak leaf dust obtained by rubbing well decayed 
oak leaves through a fine sieve. Little shade is needed throughout the 
year, only sufficient to prevent the leaves from becoming scalded by the sun. 
When a flower is faded the spike should not be cut, for fresh flowers are 
produced on the old spike. It is unwise, however, to let the plant produce 
more than three flowers on each spike, as it prevents the new growth from 
getting proper nourishment. The leaves should be sponged once a week, 
and when in bloom the plant must never be subjected to too low a tem- 
perature. Oncidium Kramerianum is closely allied to O. Papilio, from 
which it differs, however, in having knotted flower spikes, and the blossoms 
are larger and more highly coloured. It would be interesting to know if 
any seedlings have been raised from this Orchid, for from personal 
experience it does not seem to cross readily. 
C. ALWYN HARRISON. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR FEBRUARY. 
By }. T. Barker; Fhe West: Hall, Hessle, E. Yorks. 
ALTHOUGH up to the present we have not experienced any severe weather, 
we may do so now at any time, and it is therefore desirable to keep every- 
thing as far as possible at rest, not pushing anything into growth, for fear 
it may receive a severe check. The temperatures for this month should 
remain as advised for January, except that a rise of a few degrees may be 
allowed with sun heat, and with it an increased amount of atmospheric 
moisture will be necessary to subdue the dryness that comes from an over- 
heated atmosphere. Great attention will be necessary in the ventilation of 
the houses, as, after such dull weather as we have lately had, a great deal of 
harm can be done by a spell of clear frosty weather accompanied by bright 
sunshine, if the house is allowed to go too long without ventilation. 
PottTinG.—There are many plants that may now be potted, so I think 
perhaps it would be useful to make a few remarks on the subject. The 
potting of plants, to my mind, does not consist in merely putting a plant 
into a pot or pan, and pressing so much compost around it to hold it in 
position, but every family of plants should be studied, so to speak, so that 
the compost should be of the right kind, and of the degree of firmness that 
the plant requires. Orchids are like other plants, they vary as regards the 
amount of energy their roots possess, and some are capable of pushing 
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