230 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [ AUGUST, 1910. 
occasionally omit watering in the ordinary way, and in lieu thereof pour a 
little water into the saucer, taking care that there is no more water than 
the plant is sure to use up in two days or less, and particularly that the 
water does not rise as high as the compost. I donot suggest that roots 
require to be continuously immersed in water, still, under this treatment a 
few are likely to be under water at times, but in my experience roots in 
contact with drainage only do not suffer. In pots watered by this method 
it is good to change the air at times. This may be done by removing the 
saucer when watering, or the pot may be placed in water to the rim until 
the contained air is driven out. 
I have tried this treatment on a great variety of Cypripedes for some 
time past ; most of them have benefited and none have been harmed. 
To carry out the idea of keeping the compost on the dry side while the 
drainage is constantly full of moist air, I have kept a pot of C. niveum in 
a saucer containing water for 6 weeks, giving no water at all to the 
compost. During this test the plant has improved in appearance, and has 
produced a scape bearing two good flowers. In order to save trouble the 
saucers may have a hole drilled in the side at a chosen point, or special 
Saucers may be used having low rims, say, tin. to in. high. 
I have not yet found any method of potting epiphytal Cypripedes that 
quite satisfies me. 
Plants that do well in my house are Cypripedium exul, which blooms 
regularly, one plant giving five blooms this spring, C. Rothschildianum, C. 
Parishii, which has bloomed three times, once giving a scape of seven 
blooms, Aérides odoratum, Saccolabium curvifolium and Phaius bicolor. 
The latter grows well and increases in size, but has only bloomed once in 
4 years. 
I have failed with many plants, but the failures have been due either to 
neglect of some elementary necessity or to causes which I could not 
discover. 
I find that Aluminium wire is good for hanging light pans, &c., as it 
does not harm any roots that come in contact with it, and it keeps clean. 
It is of lower tensile strength than most wires, and should be used in rather 
stout guages. MILEs JOHNSTON. 
(The foregoing interesting article, which might have been entitled “ An 
Amateur’s Cypripedium House,”’ was communicated by Dr. Miles Johnston, 
High Lea, Bideford, N. Devon, to whom we tender the best thanks of our 
amateur readers for such a detailed account of his experiences. Dr. 
Johnston afterwards sent a photograph of the fine plant of C. Curtisii, 
mentioned on page 228. We hope to illustrate it next month. We wish 
some amateur would favour us with a similar article on the Odontoglossum 
House.— Ep. | 
