haw, 1506.) THE ORCHID REVIEW. vee 
afterwards more than recuperates its strength by turning round and 
devouring this. : 
Much research work has been done in the U.S.A. Department of Agricul- 
ture, and cultures of Nitrosomona radicola have been sent out possessing 
larger powers of attracting the atmospheric nitrogen than former ones. 
There seems, however, to be as many kinds of this bacteria as there are 
species of leguminosz, and that each one only has the power of symbiosis 
when in contact with the proper host; thus cultures made from roots of 
clover tubercles do not have any effect at first on sweet peas, but that after 
a certain number of generations have been bred when in contact with them, 
they gradually assume their former power of nitrification. 
Orchid raising was, I believe, extremely difficult many years ago, but 
now the majority of growers find no difficulty in raising Cattleyas, Den- 
drobes, &c. Can the same be said with Odontoglossums? We may yet 
have to tame the fungus to work with this species. Some have already 
advanced a long way in the right direction, and these successful men say, 
‘Fungus or no fungus, we do not mind, for here are the seedlings growing 
like the proverbial mustard and cress.” 
It would be interesting to hear the opinions and experiences of others 
with regard to this subject. 
GURNEY WILSON. 
‘**Glenthorne,” Hayward’s Heath. 
PROPAGATION OF PHALAENOPSIS FROM ROOTS. 
SoME time ago I wrote to you about some Phalenopsis Stuartiana which I 
have raised from roots. It may interest you to know that one of those 
plants is now in bloom, bearing three flowers; a fourth bud turned yellow 
before expanding. This beats raising Orchids from seed, as the plant in 
question is only one year old, has four leaves, the longest measuring over 
three inches, and the flowers just as large as those on the mother plant (this 
latter had a spike of forty flowers). I have also succeeded in raising two 
plants of P. Schilleriana from roots, but they do not reproduce themselves 
quite as freely as P. Stuartiana. However, I got three nice plants of 
P. Schilleriana, which formed last summer on a “ would-be” flower-spike. 
Two of these are now in 4-inch pans, and have two leaves and two roots 
each; and, strange to say, both plants threw out two flower-spikes, and 
after these had been rubbed off, a third spike started on each, which was 
also rubbed off. Since then the plants have rested, but the two roots keep 
on growing and supporting the plants, and up to now they have not made 
‘any more roots. Both came off the same plant, which has three strong 
leads and four flower-spikes at present. 
