March, 1916.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



141 



only ill the most experienced hands does it 

 yield beneficial results, and then in the case 

 of large specimen terrestrial plants, such as 

 pot-bound Cypripediums and Cymbidiums. 



In their native homes, the roots of Epiphytic 

 Orchids are more or less exposed to the 

 atmosphere, and any material they enter is 

 usually of a porous nature. These conditions 

 must be followed as closely as circumstances 

 permit, and amateurs cannot exercise too 

 much care in the selection of a suitable 

 compost. Clean fibre, either osmunda, Ai, 

 or first-class peat, kept moist by the addition 

 of a small quantity of living sphagnum moss, 

 forms the best material. A few clean oak 

 leaves, roughly chopped up or rubbed through 

 a riddle, may with advantage be added to the 

 compost intended for small pots, but with large 

 plants, requiring repotting less frequently, the 

 leaves are best omitted, as they are likely to 

 cause a sodden condition by holding too much 

 water. The smaller the pot and amount of 

 compost so much the quicker does it become 

 dry, hence it is advisable to include a larger 

 proportion of sphagnum moss, especially near 

 the surface ; medium sized pots answer well 

 when the moss is placed only in the upper 

 portion of the compost ; while many of the 

 plants in the largest pots thrive well in only 

 fibrous material. But in this matter nothing 

 decisive can oe stated, so much depends on 

 the amount of atmospheric moisture, the 

 structure of the house, and the actual means 

 adopted by the individual who has charge of 

 the collection. 



Lalia albida. 



FCYiAL HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY. 



February 8th, igi6. 

 Members of the Orchid Committee present : 

 J. Gurney Fowler, Esq. (in the chair). Sir 

 Jeremiah Colman, Bart., Sir Harry J. Veitch, 

 Messrs. Jas. O'Brien (hon. sec), F. J. Hanbury, 

 R. G. Thwaites, Pantia Ralli, E. R. Ashton, 

 A. McBean, W. Cobb, J. Charlesworth, J. 

 Cypher, W. H. Hatcher, J. E. Shill, C. H. 

 Curtis, R. A. Rolfe, A. Dye, W. H. White, 

 Clive Cookson, W. Bolton, R. Brooman-White, 

 S. W. Flory and Gurney Wilson. 



Awards of Merit. 



Laelio-Cattleya Buenos Aires (L.-C. bletch- 

 leyensis x C. Enid), from Dr. Miguel Lacroze, 

 Bryndir, Roehampton Lane. — An elegant 

 hybrid with a spike of two large richly- 

 coloured flowers, the sepals and petals rosy- 

 mauve, the broad labellum purple and veined 

 with dark purple. 



Cymbidium Alexanderi aureum (msigne x 

 eburneo-Lowianum), from Messrs. J. and A. 

 McBean, Cooksbridge. — A very attractive 

 plant with an erect spike of 10 large flowers, 

 in colour canary-yellow, the front lobe of the 

 lip marked with crimson, the inner portion of 

 the side lobes flushed with light rose. 



Odontoglossum amabile McBean's variety. 

 One of the largest forms of this well-known 

 hybrid. The spike carried 4 flowers, with rose 

 tinted ground, and heavily blotched with 

 reddish-brown ; the lip white, with a crimson 

 blotch beneath the crest and a few smaller 

 ones at the base. 



Cultural Commendation. 



Mr. S. Fames (Orchid grower to Pantia 

 Ralli, Esq., Ashtead Park, Surrey) for a grand 

 specimen of Lycaste Ballis, with 26 flowers 

 and buds. 



Other Exhibits. 



Elizabeth Lady Lawrence, Burford, Dork- 

 ing, exhibited a fine spike of Eulophiella 

 Peetersiana, with 25 rosy-mauve flowers and 

 several buds. 



