THE ORCHID REVIEW. 119 
possibly be avoided. It is against Nature to smother Orchids up by placing 
the back pseudobulbs beneath the compost; although I admit at times, 
owing to the peculiar formation of the plant, it cannot be altogether 
avoided. Avoid it, however, as much as possible, and try to get the 
thizome from the oldest to the newest pseudobulb to lie neatly but firmly 
upon the surface of the compost. Schomburgkias grow well in this 
department. 
Lelia superbiens has just passed out of bloom, and is starting to grow, 
and should now be repotted if necessary. It should bedone in the samemanner 
as Cattleyas or Lelias. Schomburgkia Tibicinis is best managed if grown in 
a pan or basket, and suspended. The Barkerias, too, should be suspended 
in this sunny house, and must be made firm in their pans with moss, after 
which the grower is powerless to train the new roots into the moss, or to 
cause the young breaks to appear at the base of the old pseudobulb. They 
more frequently come half-way up, and the roots will start from the same 
point, pushing straight out into the air; consequently they are very 
straggling growers, and all they require is full sunshine close to a ventilator 
and abundant syringing when growing two or three times daily. The 
flowers of some Barkerias, however well the plants are cultivated, are very 
small, and give but a poor return for labour bestowed. The true B. 
Lindleyana is the best, and is perhaps the only one that I can recommend 
as being really worth growing. It has flower stems only a foot long; the 
flowers are brilliant in colour, closely set together, and of good substance, 
lasting a long while in perfection. Let no Orchid be passed by during the 
potting season if it can be possibly be avoided whose roots are ina badly 
decomposing compost. If a doubt should exist it is better to err by doing 
it than the reverse, as when repotted we know that the plant is on the right 
side, and although a slight check may result it is only for a time, and the 
plant will soon recover, and again make good healthy growth. To a 
practical grower of course there is no hesitation, a glance at the general 
condition of the surface roots, and the colour of the foliage is enough to 
show him what is going on beneath. : 
Our work here for the present month will principally be amongst the 
Cattleyas and Dendrobiums, beginning with the former, and finishing as a 
as we possibly can with the latter. Before its expiration most of the 
C. Trianze will be finished, also C. Dowiana aurea, C. Bowringiana, oe 
Rex, Lelio-cattleya x elegans, and a few others that may be sufficiently 
advanced. Always give good drainage. I aman advocate for firm ~i 
the compost of peat and sphagnum moss should be worked well . sine 
the roots without breaking them, and made firm by pressing It cue en 
astick. Firm potting is also best for Dendrobiums. Many of way 
grown in shallow pans or baskets, therefore but few crocks are needed. 
