AUGUST, 1910.| THE ORCHID REVIEW. 227 
Watering this section of Cypripedes'is not difficult if the plants are 
properly potted. The only plant I ever had difficulty in watering was a 
C. concolor which I bought potted in peat, loam and moss. At that time I 
had less experience, and was afraid to repot such a “delicate” plant. When 
potted properly the plant soon ceased to be delicate, and I may say here 
that I am doubtful whether there is such a thing as a really ‘‘ difficult” or 
“delicate” Cypripedium. Our difficulties are generally of our own making, 
and so long as we apply unnatural potting materials and conditions to 
Cypripedes so long will there be “ difficult” and ‘‘ bad doers” among them. 
If we correctly reproduce in our houses the conditions under which such 
plants grow naturally, they will, I believe, grow easily and well. A similar 
remark was made by the Editor of the O. R., vol. iii. p. 247. It is a pity 
that we get so few detailed accounts from collectors and others of all the 
conditions affecting the Orchids they find growing wild. 
I judge the need for watering C. bellatulum by the condition of the 
compost and the leaves of the plant. Ifthe compost is dry and the leaves 
are soft, and their upper surfaces wrinkle when the leaf is gently bent 
upwards, I give the plant water. The plants all stand in saucers, and as a 
rule I water until there is from 4in. to rin. of water in the saucer. The 
plant is allowed to stand thus for 20-30 minutes, the water not absorbed is 
then poured off and the plant is replaced in its saucer. Testing by bending 
the leaves must be done with discrimination. Some leaves are not reliable 
guides, and leaves should be chosen which re-act definitely to water. If 
possible the zest is best done on a dull day or after sunset. I keep the plants 
a little drier in winter, when they are not making so much growth, than in 
summer.- -My plants generally require water every third to fifth day in 
summer. They do best on the south side of the house, where they get some 
sunlight. Cypripedium concolor, C. Godfroye and C. niveum are tested 
for watering on the same system as C. bellatulum. 
To avoid the risk of letting water lodge in the growths, I water most of 
these by immersing the pot in water to about § of its depth for 5 or Io 
minutes. I have watered these plants on this system for two years, and the 
plants like it. Newly-potted plants of this section, especially those with 
poor roots, must be watered more cautiously. 
C. Charlesworthii grows well with me. In potting it I use mortar 
drainage to about 3 of the pot’s depth, and the compost consists of light 
loam, 3 parts, polypodium fibre, 2 parts, and about 4 a part each of crushed 
mortar and chopped oak leaves. Equal quantities of this mixture and lumps 
of mortar are packed round the roots, and the base of the plant rests on an 
extra large piece of mortar. The late Mr. R. Moore, in his excellent and 
most helpful paper on’‘‘ Orchids of the Shan States” (O. R., iii. 170), 
describes C. Charlesworthii as growing on limestone rocks. The pots 
