﻿336 



THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



[November, 1904 



inch of the brim with the compost, on which the bulbs should be 

 placed, the space between the bulbs and the sides of the pots being filled 

 up with the soil ; and also, where possible, some of the roughest of the 

 material may be placed between the pseudobulbs, giving preference to the 

 sphagnum moss, as being retentive of moisture. It is very desirable that 

 moss should be grown on the surface of the compost, as it keeps a whole- 

 some moisture about them in which they seem to luxuriate. 



When repotting is finished the plants should receive a gentle watering, 

 just to settle the soil, and then be placed near to the roof glass in the 

 Cattleya or Intermediate house, and until the roots get fairly well hold of 

 the soil, the supply of water should be very limited. After they have got 

 established, and are growing freely, they may receive almost unlimited 

 quantities. Strong-growing plants, when about half way through their 

 growing period, will be greatly benefited if the usual watering is supple- 

 mented with weak liquid manure water about once a week. When the 

 leaves commence to change colour this should be discontinued. In the 

 spring and summer months the foliage should be well syringed underneath 

 at least once every day ; this will keep down red spider, to which Pleiones 

 are liable. 



Pleione maculata is the prettiest of the genus, its pure white sepals and 

 petals contrasting beautifully with the white, yellow, and purple lip. The 

 pure white variety P. maculata alba is also very pretty and delicate. 

 P. lagenaria is the commonest of the genus. Its rose-lilac sepals and petals 

 and beautifully marked lip are always attractive. P. praecox and its variety 

 Wallichiana are the largest of the genus, the flowers frequently measuring 

 four to five inches across, and their colour is a light rose-purple, the margin 

 of the lip being prettily serrated. P. concolor has a whitish lip, beautifully 

 fringed. P. Reichenbachiana has rose-coloured sepals and a white lip 

 streaked and spotted with purple and crimson. This variety is not so well 

 known as the others, and it is doubtful if there are any plants under cultiva- 



In addition to the varieties mentioned, there are P. humilis, 

 P. Hookeriana and its variety brachyglossa, all being exceedingly pretty 

 when in bloom. These, together with P. Reichenbachiana, grow at a 

 higher Alpine region than the others, and thrive best when suspended 

 close up to a ventilator in the cooler atmosphere of the Odontoglossum 

 house. These latter varieties generally flower about January, February, 

 and March ; therefore until that time the plants should on no account be 

 disturbed by repotting, but kept in the Cool house all through the winter, 

 and water should be afforded occasionally to keep the pseudo-bulbs in a 

 plump, healthy condition. 



Burford, Dorking. W. H. White. 



