58 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
or later come to grief. The ordeal of flowering to such plants is most 
exhaustive, and they soon afterwards collapse. Unless Lelias have over- 
grown their pots or baskets, once in about three years is often enough to 
furnish new materials throughout, all else that is required being a top dress- 
ing every year. What is intended to be done to them, either in the way of 
repotting or top-dressing may be done during this or next month, _ It is 
well known that the Mexican Lelias require but little water during winter 
to keep them plump, but, like Cattleyas, they should most certainly have 
enough to do this without the least signs of shrivelling. They should be 
grown in full sun with an abundance of air, which will keep them robust. 
This end can be attained the better if the plants are suspended near the 
glass. 
The great and beautiful family of the Dendrobium is coming on apace, 
and will for some time hence do good service in the Show-house. Where 
good growth was put on last year, and afterwards well but wisely ripened, 
the flower buds will now be in a more or less advanced stage. Do not 
force or hurry them forward too much, the majority of the late winter and 
spring flowering kinds come much better and finer if allowed to come along 
quietly in a temperature of about 60°, receiving just enough water at the roots 
and atmospherically to keep the pseudobulbs plump. With the bulk of 
Dendrobes it is yet a little too early to do very much repotting, but there are 
instances where a start can be made so as to get as many as possible off hand. 
The seedlings yet too small to flower may be done and started gently into 
growth. There will doubtless also be others which are not intended to 
flower on account of insufficient strength or size, which could also be done, 
the remainder having attention as soon as deemed safe after flowering is over. 
In all cases let the watering of these Orchids be done with scrupulous care 
until the new growth gets well up, and the new roots take well to the com- 
post; and let the temperature be warm and genial, between 60° and 70°, So aS 
to encourage healthy and sturdy growth. Dendrobiums generally do best 
suspended in either small pans or baskets, 
as good culture is more reliable 
when kept to small receptacles. 
Fresh sphagnum moss and the best of 
fibrous peat in equal proportions is the most suitable compost. The old 
back pseudobulbs render little service after about the third or fourth year, 
and may be detached from the plant. These old pseudobulbs will mostly 
propagate freely if cut in lengths of about three inches, and laid on sphagnum 
moss kept moist. The small plants resulting, which may be called cuttings, 
will in about two years be sufficiently large to again replace with the parent 
plant, thus keeping up a constant supply of fresh healthy young stock, 
which is necessary to form large specimens. 
: In growing Dendrobiums there are mostly a few that are inclined te 
Bive trouble to the cultivator in a more or less degree, being more disposed 
