THE ORCHID REVIEW. 173 
I also like to repot these species in mostly all peat, pressed in firmly, 
mixing therewith a liberal quantity of sand. Thus potted, the roots being 
of a more fine and fibrous nature, last longer in a good healthy and sweet 
condition, which is very important with fine, or small rooting species, for 
they are invariably averse to root disturbances. 
A similar material I prefer for the Lycastes, the roots of which are of 
a wiry and half-terrestrial nature, requiring only to be left alone. For 
these I use but very little sphagnum moss indeed, preferring good lumpy 
peat, not necessarily of the best fibrous nature, and rather less drainage 
than is generally used for most other Orchids. In fact for such species as 
L. Skinneri, L. gigantea, and L. Deppei, a little fibrous loam may be mixed 
in with advantage. And then, if watered with judicious care, root 
disturbance for purposes of repotting is required only at long intervals. 
I have previously recommended February as the best month of the year 
for the necessary repotting of the genus Masdevallia. Those plants that 
were then done will now be nicely re-established with new roots, and will 
make great progress during the summer. Any that require repotting, which 
were not done then may be done now, but delayed no longer. They soon 
recover from the effects of root disturbance, and are better if not allowed 
to go too long before being potted in new compost; from two to three years 
should be the limit. Two parts of good lumpy peat to one of sphagnum moss 
is a good compost. They are not so particular as to the extra-fibrous quality 
of the peat as are some Orchids, such, for instance, as Cattleyas, Lzelias, 
and Dendrobiums. Give Masdevallias a position on the stage in the Cool 
house, and keep them pretty well supplied with water at the root from now 
henceforth, but avoid excessive watering, as this often results in the foliage 
turning black. The small dwarf growing kinds are best grown in pans and 
suspended. 
The great Orchid show of the season will now soon be over. The 
charm of Orchid growing is that there is always something in flower, no 
matter the time of the year, or whether the collection be small or large ; 
there is always something of interest to see. But at no time can we excel 
the gorgeous and beautiful show the months of May and June present us 
with. We prize and admire that show; and arrange the plants in a telling 
and artistic manner, and such is our desire to maintain it as large, and for 
as lengthy a period as possible, that we sometimes allow small weakly 
plants to bloom which should not do so, and to allow the flowers to remain 
on others after the plants are actually showing evident signs of distress. I 
need not-say that the above practices are the reverse of good. The grower 
must look forward for a show another year, and must therefore not over~ 
burden his plants. 
After the flowers are cut no time must be lost in again giving them their 
