Fepruary, 1907.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 45 
overhead spraying may be done daily, slightly at first, increasing the 
amount as the season advances. The atmosphere of the house should 
always be a humid one. In dividing, there will be sure to be some pieces 
that have very little root, and these can be best treated if they are placed 
together, and kept well sprayed and shaded from direct sunshine. With 
such numerous fine varieties as we now have, they make a good collection 
in themselves, producing such long-lasting flowers that they maintain a 
house in a gay state from October till the end of January. 
As soon as the potting of the Cypripedium insignes is accomplished, 
C. X Leeanums may be taken in hand, and we find that these can be 
treated in precisely the same way as C. insigne. These are, perhaps, the 
two most grown at the present time for giving flowers during the winter 
months, but the fine hybrids that are now being frequently seen between 
the two, known under the name of C. X Actzeus, bid fair to become quite 
as popular. Many others that have the blood of C. insigne in them will be 
found to grow freely in the compost I have yiven, and should be treated in 
the same way. 
CYMBIDIUMS giganteum, Tracyanum, and the pleasing hybrid C. x 
Winnianum will now be in a sufficiently advanced state in growth to allow 
any necessary potting being done, using a compost of two parts good 
fibrous loam, and one part leaf soil, mixed with a liberal sprinkling of small 
crocks and course sand to ensure the porousity of the compost. Cymbidiums. 
when growing freely are gross feeders, and soon exhaust the material 
unless it is of a strong retentive nature. Afford a thorough drainage of 
crocks, using them as large as possible. It is sometimes thought that plants, 
such as Cymbidiums, that require copious supplies of water when growing, 
are not so particular as regards drainage, but I consider it is of even more 
vital importance towards ultimate success to see that such plants have a 
good drainage, than it is to those we know will only be watered when they 
become well dry. Another thing, with such a compost as this is that 
it is much more apt to clog the drainage, unless some pieces of turfy 
loam, having most of the fine particles taken from it, are placed over the 
crocks. Pot moderately firm, keeping the compost below the rim of the 
pot. 
Specimen Cymbidiums are fine objects, and wherever room can be given 
them the grower should endeavour to always have some. To maintain a 
number in vigorous condition, some should be divided each year, and then 
a young healthy specimen will always be ready to take the place of one 
that is beginning to show signs of exhaustion. When an old specimen is 
divided, it must not be supposed that it will be in a good state to produce 
and carry flower the first season, and that is my reason for suggesting doing 
some each season. 
