346 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
The Pleiones, or Indian Crocuses as they are sometimes called, 
commence to produce their lovely little flowers about this period, and 
if care be taken that no water is allowed to settle on them, they will 
last long in perfection ; but if not kept free from moisture the blooms quickly 
damp off. Within’ a fortnight after they have done flowering, numerous 
young roots will be found to have started away from the base of the new 
growths, and it is at this particular time that the plants should be turned out 
of their pots, the greater part of the old soil removed from the roots, and 
be repotted in a compost consisting of equal proportions of peat, loam, and 
sphagnum moss, with a sprinkling of coarse silver sand, mixing the whole 
well together. It is quite immaterial whether shallow pans or pots be used, 
but to those who prefer to grow their plants hanging up close to the roof, 
pans are the most convenient. In either case, whether pans or pots be 
selected, they should be well drained, for being fond of large quantities of 
water when the plants are in full growth, it is necessary that the water 
should pass freely away. 
"Instead of dividing the pseudobulbs and bedding them out as generally 
recommended, the best plan I have found is to keep them in clumps, about 
a dozen bulbs in a six-inch pot, the bulbs almost touching each other. By 
thus keeping them in clumps, the check seems to be much less, as often 
when the plants are in bloom they commence to emit young roots, and when 
the bulbs are separated these tender roots get so bruised and injured that 
they do not start away so readily again. After repotting they should be 
placed on a shelf or on inverted flower-pots, so as to expose them to the full 
sunshine, at ‘the coolest and most airy part of the Cattleya or intermediate 
house. Water sparingly until the young growths are well advanced ; but 
when the plants are thoroughly established they will take an almost 
unlimited supply, and an occasional dose of weak liquid manure water 
will be beneficial to them. On warm sunny days in spring and through the 
summer months these plants will be greatly benefited by well syringing UP 
under the leaves two or three times a day, as by this means red-spider may 
easily be kept down, to the attacks of which Pleiones are liable. When the 
bulbs are made up, and the foliage commences to turn yellow, remove the 
plants from their growing quarters and hang them up in a vinery from 
which the grapes have been gathered, selecting a position where they will 
receive plenty of sunshine and an abundance of fresh air. The plants now 
being in a much drier atmosphere will require plenty of water at the root, 
to prevent the bulbs from shrivelling. Dryness at the root for any ail 
length of time is a serious evil. Immediately the flower-buds are distinctly 
visible the plants may be taken to a warmer house, where the increased 
temperature will aid the proper development of the flowers. Pleiones, when 
treated in accordance with their requirements, are very easy tO cultivate, 42 
producing, as they do, such beautiful little flowers at this time of the yeaty 
