THE ORCHID REVIEW, 57 
Oncidiums and Odontoglossoms is directly the new growths commence to 
push from the base of the pseudobulbs, plants newly potted should be 
watered carefully for a few weeks, as the roots, having been disturbed, are 
liable to rot if kept too wet. Dendrobiums should be examined as they pass 
out of bloom, and all necessary work done to ensure healthy root action, 
afterwards placing them in a nice genial temperature, not too hot at first, 
so that the plants are able to recover from the weakening effect of flowering 
before being hurried into growth. D. Wardianum is a plant that suffers greatly 
from repotting. It should be grown in the best possible compost and in 
very small pots or baskets, so that frequent disturbances at the root is 
unnecessary, owing to the absence of a mass of decayed matter around them. 
In repotting Orchids of any kind the pots should be well crocked, filling 
them half or three parts full, according to their size, with clean crocks and 
charcoal, so that the water can pass away quickly. 
Another point to keep in view is cleanliness. No Orchid can thrive if 
infested with any of the many parasites to which Orchids are subject, and 
which live upon the life sap of the plants. Our Phalanopses were once 
attacked by minute little insects, only just discernible to the naked eye, 
but having great powers for causing disfiguration of the new leaves. All 
kinds of insecticides were tried in their turn, but none seemed to have the 
desired effect until tobacco powder was resorted to, and this as the new 
leaf grew was kept well down in the axil, the result being that the plants 
were soon rid of the pest. What is worse in the Cattleya house than the 
fly which deposits its eggs most extraordinarily into the very centre of the 
young breaks, and the presence of which it is impossible to detect until the 
growth is about two inches high, when it becomes abnormally thick at the 
base, tapering rather sharply to a point, and does not grow kindly? On the 
removal of such growths a cavity is found in the centre, containing maggots 
in a more or less advanced stage of development. Not one of such growths 
should escape the vigilant eye of the cultivator, for it is difficult to say what 
mischief a nest is capable of doing the following season if allowed to come 
to maturity. Fortunately, by resorting to this one and only means, the 
removal of the infected growth, these pests are quickly exterminated, but 
when new additions are made to the collection it is well to be on the 
alert. 
Dendrobiums have an equally dangerous foe in the form of a beetle, or 
shot-borer (Xyleborus perforans), nearly as large as an ant, which attacks 
the pseudobulbs both new and old. These should be cut away and burnt 
as soon as observed, or the damage may become serious. The presence of 
this depredator may be detected by neatly-bored holes, wherein the larva 
is deposited, causing the surrounding tissues to quickly decay. It has a 
decided preference for the D. Phalznopsis section, D. Dalhousianum, and 
D. formosum giganteum, but does not confine itself to these species. 
