THE ORCHID REFIEW. 347 
’ we very effective, and room should be found for them, even in the smallest 
Orchid collection. 
Pleione flowers may easily be gathered, as by giving them a gentle pull 
they readily part from the young growths, the stem being much longer than 
when cut. The above treatment will be found suitable for such varieties as 
P. precox, and its variety Wallichiana, P. Reichenbachiana, P. lagenaria, 
and P. maculata, the last named being, without doubt, the prettiest of the 
genus, its pure white sepals and petals contrasting beautifully with its 
yellow and magenta-coloured lip. Other varieties, such as P. humilis, P. 
Hookeriana, and its variety brachyglossa, which come from higher eleva- 
| tions, do best when suspénded close to an open ventilator in the Odonto- 
glossum house. 
Odontoglossum Reichenheimii and citrosmum will by this time have 
/ completed their growth. The first-named plant should receive a sufficient 
quantity of water only to keep the roots and bulbs plump, but the latter 
requires a long and decided rest. Their satisfactory flowering depends very 
largely upon the treatment they receive during the resting season. Now 
that the growth of O. citrosmum is completed, gradually diminish the water 
) Supply, so that by the middle of December it may be discontinued altogether. 
Owing to the absence of moisture at the root, the bulbs will shrivel sel 
‘iderably, but this does not affect the welfare of the plants in the least; in 
” fact, ours seem to benefit by it, as when the flowering period arrives, the 
Plants are deluged with water, and the bulbs readily plump again to their 
_ tommal condition, and scarcely a young growth, even from the smallest 
plants, ever fails to send forth its welcome flower spike. ee 
There is not a more charming little plant under cultivation than 
Sophronites grandiflora, and it will soon be unfolding its glowing scarlet 
wers. This plant being now so easy to obtain should be represented in 
ny collection by several specimens, which, when the flowers ee 
hrighten up the house in a way that few plants of its size can equal. es 
Plants should be cultivated in well-drained shallow pan’, *° maps they cae 
be easily suspended close to the roof glass, using very little sie . nee 
their Toots. During this their season of growth, they need to be sat 
Supplied with water, and placed in the temperature of the interme i 
house, as the little extra warmth will aid the blooms to expand with more 
edom than if allowed to remain in the cooler division. When the Sie 
“te ‘fully open, the plants may be returned to -the Odontoglossum ait 
Where the blooms will retain their freshness and beauty for a ie ke ss 
“hen growth is completed less water at the root will suffice, t 5 A ee 
| Plants Should never be allowed to become dust dry at any time, q oe 
fairly Moist, even when at rest. 5- grandiflora rosea and S. cernua ie 4 
* same treatment, but I find that S. violacea does better when kep 
Coolest part of the intermediate house throughout the year- 
