38 ' THE ORCHID REVIEW. [FEBRUARY, 1908. 
PALM FIBRE FOR ORCHID CULTURE. 
Tue following may interest readers of the Orchid Review. A couple of years 
ago, when casting about for a good material to tie some recently received 
Orchids on blocks and rafts, I was led to try—purely by accident—the fibre 
occurring in quantity on the trunks of some palms (Arenga saccharifera) in 
my garden, and was greatly surprised at the expiration of a year to find this 
fibre in as good condition as when first put in. It is noticeable that the 
growing tips of the roots of Phalaenopsis, Vandas, Aérides, and such like, are 
often checked and frequently decay on coming into contact with copper or 
other wire, while string or most other fibres soon rot. 
Last Spring I received some Phalenopsis from the Philippines, and 
noting that the material used in securing them to the pieces of branches to 
which they clung Jooked very much like my Arenga fibre, I wrote my 
correspondent inquiring what it was, and received the reply ‘‘ Arenga fibre.” - 
From this I have taken the cue, and use this fibre chopped up in lengths of 
a couple of inches, and find it prevents sphagnum from becoming too sodden 
when used in baskets, especially here, where plants hanging in such 
receptacles under trees, and subjected to continuous heavy downpours, 
suffer much from over-moisture if not kept well open in the compost. 
Another small item, not unimportant, is that instead of using metal tacks 
or nails on the sides of rafts or the top rung or bar of teak—or, as we use 
here, Spanish cedar—baskets, I make holes with an awl or gimlet, inserting 
small wooden pegs, over the heads.of which the twisted fibre is drawn to 
keep the plants and compost firmly in position, and any root points coming 
into contact with them curl around or pass by without decaying, and | 
think the careful grower will always like to see every root in healthy 
condition, either when moving or at rest. J. C. Harvey. 
La Buena Ventura, Vera Cruz, Mexico. 
ORCHIDS FROM WESTONBIRT. 
Two very handsome Orchids are sent from the collection of Major Holford, 
Westonbirt, Tetbury, by Mr. Alexander, each of which has received a First-class 
Certificate from the R.H.S. at recent meetings. Cypripedium X Moonbeam 
(Lathamianum Thompsoni xX Sallieri Hyeanutn) is a magnificent flower of 
excellent shape, having a broad flat dorsal sepal, over 2% inches broad, the 
colour white, becoming greenish yellow at the base, with a broad purple 
median band to beyond the middle, and a few parallel streaks on either side- 
The lip and petals are greenish yellow, the latter being very broad at the 
apex, with a narrow median line. C. x Sultan (Mons. de Curte x Milo, 
Westonbirt var.) has a broad round, green, heavily-blotched dorsal sepal, 
with a white margin, and the lip and horizontal petals rich chestnut brown. 
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