12 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [Janvary, 1907. 
now have in flower or just coming into flower, L. anceps Dawsoni, 
Sanderiana, Williamsii, Schroederiana, Stella, waddonensis, alba (Bull’s), 
Hilliana, and Hilliana rosefieldiensis, and what can be more lovely than 
these at any season? Flowering, as they do, during perhaps the dullest 
month in the Orchid year, makes them all the more desirable. Generally 
speaking they are most erratic in their habits; one will throw out many 
roots now, another in a month or two’s time, some earlier, some later. 
Those that are rooting freely at this season are the ones that require most 
water, but even these should be allowed to become fairly dry before 
watering. Many of these will be ready for potting towards the end of the 
ih ae ati 
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month, and the time for potting, should they need it, is when new rootsare ; 
being emitted. rt 
We have practised, with good results, the principle of cutting away the 
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front portion of plants that have overgrown the pot or pan, taking off some — 
times only the leading bulb, in other cases two and sometimes three bulbs. 
When that is done we do not disturb the old plant till the following year, 
beyond perhaps the removal of any sour surface compost, which is replaced 
with new. When an old specimen has several leads, if it is thought , 
desirable, a young vigorous specimen may be made, and one that is not and 
will not be retarded with useless old back pseudobulbs for some consider- 
able time. When this has been done we often find that the severed parts — 
break back, as well as forward, much more frequently than when they are — 
attached to the parent plant. If it is not desirable to make up a specimen 
plant, pot up each piece separately, and this method has points in its 
favour. In the first place they can be suspended close to the light—an ? 
important item—without making an ugly effect, or impeding much light; 
then, as they are generally very uncertain in producing flower spikes, | 
the smaller flowering plants can be used better for decorative or exhibition — 
work than is the case when a large specimen has only one or two spikes. 14 
would not like to discourage the growing of specimens when suitable room 
: 
can be given them, and when a specimen is well flowered it is an object of — 
more than ordinary beauty, but if a well-exposed position cannot be give? — 
to specimens better results will be attained in smaller pots or pans. 
A good compost for them consists of two-thirds good fibrous peat and ’ 
one-third chopped sphagnum, mixed together with a liberal sprinkling of 
small crocks and coarse sand. Place a few clean crocks over the bottom — 
of the pot or pan, then fill them nearly half full with bracken rhizomes; — 
and pot moderately firm, surfacing with chopped sphagnum. We use for 
these, as far as possible, ordinary pots, in all sizes up to six inches. They 
are provided with three holes for suspending them, and the grower cal — 
either suspend or place them on the stage at his discretion. I am firmly 
of opinion that non-perforated receptacles are preferable to Orchid pans 
