JUNE, 1907.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 165 
be in robust health, and that the compost is in good condition before 
allowing them to carry spikes. Poor spikes are not worth attention, and 
when a plant is not in first-rate condition the strain of flowering makes it a 
complete wreck, while the flowers are of very inferior quality. 
The practice I advise, when plants are exhausted, is to reduce them to 
as small pots as possible, removing any back bulbs, and bringing the base of 
the leading growth down to the level of the surface material. Then the 
plants can be potted on afterwards without much disturbance, and gain 
strength, and when that is attained they will be in the right state to carry 
a good spike, that will produce flowers of good quality. In the case of O. 
zebrinum I know it is not possible to bring the leading growth quite to the 
surface material, but get it as near as possible. I have proved that the 
others suffer much less from the strain of flowering when the pseudobulb 
carrying the spike is close to the surface material. 
A good compost for them consists of equal parts of fibrous peat and 
chopped sphagnum, with some small crocks and sand added. A drainage 
of rhizomes over a few crocks should be given, the amount being deter- 
mined by the condition of the plant. Weak plants should be potted 
lightly, to enable the roots to enter easily and ramify among the material. 
-Those that are being potted on when well rooted, and strong enough to 
carry a spike, should be potted rather firmer. Newly-potted plants will not 
require much water for some time, but as the growth and roots develop the 
amount may be considerably increased. 
They revel in abundance of fresh air, and the pseudobulbs made where 
they get fresh air freely are much harder in substance, a very important 
point in their culture. The position afforded at Gatton is the top of the 
centre stage in the Odontoglossum house, just under the ce..tre continuous 
ventilator, where they get the direct top air, and of course a great portion 
of that from the bottom ventilators. 
Frequent overhead syringing is very helpful during bright weather. O. 
monachicum and O. undulatum are now over with us, but the beautiful O. 
macranthum furnishes a great attraction to the Odontoglossum house after 
the bulk of the O. crispums are over. They are all worthy of the best 
attention, and if the plants are at all distressed with the strain of flowering 
it is advisable to remove the spike quickly. Soon after the spikes are 
removed the plants will be ready for repotting, and unless the plants are 
exceptionally vigorous it is not good policy to flower them two years in 
succession. If they are well potted now, and the back bulbs removed, they 
will be ready to push a spike next year, and flower in Igog. 
The spikes and flower during the spring and summer of 1908 will soon 
be in evidence, so it should be decided quickly which plants shall flower 
then, and remove the spikes from the others immediately they is he aan 
