THE ORCHID REVIEW. 213 
The Dendrobiums are also making good growth. If the house is well 
ventilated, it isa good plan to give them a good syringing two or three 
times daily on all bright hot days. It is well, however, to use some care 
when syringing amongst these plants, as there are generally some few that 
give more or less trouble by the new growths damping off. Especially is 
this the case if they have been recently re-potted, and received too much 
water before again well established with new roots. Dendrobium Bensone isa 
great offender in this respect, but I have also had others damp off in the same 
way, including D. aureum, D. nobile, D. crepidatum, D. cretaceum, and occa- 
sionally some few others, in fact all are liable in a more or less degree. Witha 
house of Dendrobiums some mishaps of this kind are almost sure to happen ; 
no matter how careful the operator is regarding the water lodging in the new 
growths, he never gets through the season without losing afew. I believe 
that the mere fact of water lodging in the new growth is not a sufficient 
cause for damping, as it is perfectly natural for it to do so. In their native 
habitats they are frequently, if not continually, drenched with water during 
their growing or summer season. In my opinion a close, stuffy, night 
temperature, which may likewise descend to a rather low figure before the 
morning, is the primary cause. I find it much the safer way at this time 
of the year, when Dendrobiums are growing and naturally somewhat tender, 
to have a slight warmth in the pipes, so that a little ventilation can always 
be left on all night as well as day. 
Chysis, Catasetums, Mormodes, Coryanthes, and Cycnoches require 
exactly similar treatment to the Dendrobiums. Care must be taken not to 
over-water these specimens at the root; they are better if allowed to get 
quite dry before being dipped, except the first-named genus which is fond of 
liberal supplies when growing. The new tender growths of the above 
species are apt to damp off exactly in the same manner as the Dendrobiums, 
and from exactly the same causes. It is much the better way to grow these 
Orchids in baskets or pans suspended from the roof. 
Other species requiring Dendrobium treatment are Bulbophyllums, 
Cirrhopetalums, Aganisias, Cyrtopodiums, and Spathoglottis. The first- 
named three are likewise best grown in baskets and pans, and suspended, 
whilst the last two may be grown in pots or pans on the stages. 
Calanthes (deciduous) are also warm growing Orchids, and much water 
either to the roots or on the foliage is distasteful to them. They are better 
provided for if placed together at one end of the house, or on a shelf by 
themselves; they can then be watered sparingly, and the syringe can be 
better kept off them. 
Then there are the evergreen Calanthes, and these don’t seem quite so 
popular as they used to be. They are nevertheless very pretty and when 
well-grown are very effective, their tall, many-flowered spikes of neat white 
