May, 1912.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 135 
The house should now be very gay with Odontoglossum crispum and 
the many hybrids. Many of the latter can now be procured in an 
unflowered size, and afford a vast store of interest for their growers. If 
any exceptionally choice varieties are possessed, and it is desired to increase 
the stock, sever the rhizome clean through with a sharp knife, two pseudo- 
bulbs behind the last-made growth. This severed portion will very often 
emit fresh roots and produce a fresh bulb, and when this is observed to be 
the case, it should be removed and potted up singly. Any of the long- 
spiked Oncidiums, such as Marshallianum, macranthum, oblongatum, 
sarcodes, and Wentworthianum, also Odontoglossum hastilabium and 
Edwardii, if in bud, should now be given quantities of water daily, other- 
wise their multitudinous flowers may fail to expand to their full beauty. 
CAITLEYA HOUSE. 
Water must now be given more freely to all the inmates of this house, 
and, for a beginner, the following rules may serve as a guide, but should 
not be absolutely carried out to the letter. From now onwards all plants 
in bud and full growth should receive a good dose of water every alternate 
day, but those just, starting every three days, and any which are resting, 
rather less frequently. The staging, path and pots should be kept well 
saturated with moisture at all times, which will probably necessitate 
damping three times a day. The plants must also be sprayed over their 
leaves once in the morning and again about 3 p.m. Give all possible air 
which can be admitted without lowering the temperature below 65° Fahr. 
Fire heat w'll now usually only be needed to maintain an even degree of 
65° Fahr. during the night, and may be dispensed with during the day. 
Shading should be lowered only as long as the sun is shining with its full 
force upon the roof glass. 
Any Dendrobiums which have now finished flowering, such as crassinode, 
nobile, or its many varieties, and Wardianum, nay receive attention or be 
repotted. Always use pots which are small in proportion to the size of the 
plant, and repotting, in fact, is only needed about every other year, merely 
to renew the compost, as a larger pot is rarely required, for when all dead 
bulbs and roots are removed, the same-sized receptacle can be again 
employed, but on no account use the same pot. Make the plants moderately 
firm, and do not place them too low in the pot; the rhizomes should be 
about }-inch below the rim of the pot. For compost use a mixture of 
osmunda fibre, polypodium fibre, sphagnum moss, and oak leaves. 
Many handsome hybrids of Cattleya and Lelia should now be 
making a fine display, together with forms of those two fine species, C. 
Mendelii and C. Mossiz. Renanthera Imschootiana should now be in 
flower, and must be sprayed over the leaves once every day, taking care not 
to touch the flowers. 
