60 — THE ORCHID REVIEW. [ FEBRUARY, 1903. 
anything which is likely to harbour them is best cleared away. Some 
localities seem specially favourable to them, but with perseverance they 
can generally be preyented from doing much mischief. There can be no 
doubt about the mischief these pests are capable of when numerous. 
-~ 
ORCHIDS IN LEAF MOULD. 
‘THE discussion respecting the use of leaf-mould is very interesting. I have 
been using this material for the last eighteen months, in various ways and 
mixtures, and ) think I have got about the right composition, but should 
like to try it a little longer before giving a decided opinion. I think that 
all Orchids are better for a certain amount of it, and Cypripedes I find, 
contrary to the experience of others, do very wellin it. ‘‘ Amateur” (page 
8) is about right as to the use of the sprayer, and careful attention to water- 
ing, but I do not agree with him that last season was a specially favourable 
one for Orchids. 
W. M. APPLETON. 
Weston-super- Mare. 
An “ Amateur” (page 8) wishes to discover whether the conditions of 
the past year have not been unusually favourable for Orchid growing. 
I think that most Orchid growers will agree that it was rather the 
reverse, and Mr. J. Mackay at page 29 speaks of the “‘sunless summer.” 
Some other cause probably produced the good results he speaks of 
in his interesting note. 
Liverpool. REGINALD YOUNG. 
Mr. R. Barker, of Sheffield, also writes that he has seen a collection of 
Odontoglossums which had got into a bad state, but after being potted in a 
compost of leaf-mould they recovered in a remarkable way, and have now 
produced strong healthy growths and good flower spikes. He adds:—‘“‘I 
intend potting my few Odontos in a compost of fern rhizomes, with small 
pieces of charcoal, oak leaves freed from all rubbish, and some sand 
intermixed.” He also thinks that in towns where the atmosphere is dull 
and murky an additional amount of care in watering is required. 
Several other growers have referred to the results of their experiments 
in favourable terms, and we believe that with proper care the new compost 
will prove a valuable adjunct to Orchid culture. We shall be glad to 
receive details of further experiments. 
