May, 1906.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 139 
from the sun. As the syringe will be now in constant use, it will not be 
fair to neglect a whole house because a few of the plants are in flower. 
Plants that have been recently repotted will have to be watered very 
carefully, for even at this season it is not difficult to make all the roots go 
black. It is preferable to let the plants suffer a little from drought, which 
will encourage the roots to break, and the growths will quickly make pace, 
when it is safe to give good supplies of water. Syringe freely between 
freshly potted plants of Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, &c., and also over head 
once or twice a day according to the weather. 
The top ventilators will now be called into general use on all houses, 
although very sparingly on the East Indian one. If a house is devoted to 
Dendrobiums alone, no top ventilation should be given during this month, 
admitting air sparingly even by the bottom ones. Any Dendrobium in 
flower, such as thyrsiflorum, Falconeri, Draconis, and others which flower 
about this time, can be removed to the Cattleya house until the flowering is 
over. 
There will now be some difficulty in keeping the Odontoglossum house 
cool enough to one’s liking ; if, however, lath roller blinds have been fixed 
according to directions given in a recent Calendar, the advantage of their 
being well away from the roof will be felt. It may soon be found neces- 
sary to use a second blind on this house, to roll along the glass underneath 
the top ones, particularly if the house is of small dimensions. 
Potting operations will be kept going again this month. Cattleya 
Dowiana aurea, C. X Hardyana, C. superba, C. Eldorado, C. Schroederz, 
any belated C. Trianz, &c., will be calling for attention. 
Many Phalznopsis will now be starting to make new roots, and can be 
straightway furnished with new rooting material. Remove the old 
material wherever possible, and work in new material, without much root 
disturbance. Clean, green sphagnum moss, a small-quantity of half-decayed 
leaves, and good fibrous peat, with the addition of small pieces of charcoal 
and coarse silver sand, will make a suitable compost. Work the material 
in tightly, and finish with living sphagnum. Close shading and careful 
watering must follow. 
Most Cymbidiums which require re-potting can have the operation 
performed this month. As these plants are strong rooters, plenty of root- 
room must be allowed. A suitable compost is one containing equal parts 
of good fibrous yellow loam, fibrous peat, and leaf mould, kept open by the 
addition of sand or broken crocks. Give ample drainage. The Cool house 
does all the Cymbidiums that are worth growing very well, although 
perhaps during their active growing season a little more closeness and 
warmth during the afternoon than can be given to Odontoglossums suits 
them better. They are, for the most part, of the simplest possible culture, 
