February, 1914.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



a compost of leaf mould and a little charcoal, 

 i here are 78 pendulous flower-spikes, and as 

 each one carries about 50 blooms the total 

 number of flowers approaches 4,000, truly a 

 magnificent specimen. 



The writer once visited an amateur's 

 collection in which a small starved plant uf 

 Coelogyne Dayana was suspended from the 

 roof of a poorly kept greenhouse. " That," 

 proudly remarked the owner when pointing 

 to the plant, " is Coelogyne Dayana." In 

 applying this name to the miserable plant he 

 was correct; but if he wished to imply that his 

 specimen showed the potentialities of the 

 species he was indeed in error, as a reference 

 to our illustration will prove to one and all. 

 It IS only when the plant is seen in such 

 nobleness and grandeur have we the right to 

 say, " T hat is Coelogyne Dayana." 



CULTURAL NOTES. 



MO.ST of the various varieties of Leelia 

 anceps have finished flowering for 

 this season, and may now receive 

 attention regarding their need of additional 

 compost. About this time of the year the 

 plants produce a cluster of new roots from 

 the base of the last made bulb, and every 

 endeavour should be made to encourage 

 these roots and to make sure that they enter 

 the compost. Many of the L. anceps have a 

 tendency to extend the rhizome in a slightly 

 ascending position, consequently every 

 additional bulb is further away from the 

 surface of the compost, and the roots 

 frequently get broken off or are eaten by 

 slugs before they can gain protection by 

 entering the compost. There is also the 

 chance, which very often happens, of the 

 plant extending itself over the edge of 

 the pot, and this is another instance of 

 how the new roots fail to find their way into 

 the food giving compost. 



The general routine of the plant is to 

 gather up as much nutritive material as 

 possible during the growing season and to 

 expend this in the formation of the flower 

 spike. It will not require much forethought 



to determine that the plant is in a weak state 

 at the conclusion of its flowering period. For 

 this reason we see the great necessity of 

 assisting Nature in the way she provides for 

 the immediate recuperation of the plant by 

 the formation of new roots by which to 

 gather in fresh nutritive material. 



The amateur is often placed in a position 

 of having to decide whether the whole 

 compost requires renewing or if a little 

 additional material round the most recently 

 formed portion of the plant will suffice. 

 Mexican Laslias do not require such an 

 abundant supply of water as many other 

 Orchids, consequently the compost remains 

 fresh and sound for a considerable period, 

 usually through two growing seasons. When- 

 ever this is the case repotting should only be 

 carried out when really necessary, for nothing 

 IS gained by unduly disturbing the roots, 

 especially the older ones that have a much 

 branched system and are firmly attached to 

 the pot. A careful hand, with the use of a 

 small pointed stick, will be able to pick out 

 some of the old compost from beneath the 

 newly rooting portion of the plant, and in 

 this cavity may be placed fresh material that 

 will form an attraction to the new roots and 

 give them a good start in their necessary 

 work of collecting nutritive material. 



In those cases where total repotting is 

 required it will be found necessary to remove 

 almost every particle of the old compost, and 

 to cut off many of the older and disused 

 portions of root. This method allows the 

 plant to be divided, if thought necessary, and 

 gives the owner a good chance of bringing 

 the overhanging portions of the plant back 

 into a reasonable position in the pot, or 

 basket, as the case may be. Care is always 

 necessary in repotting plants that have made 

 much progress with their new roots, or the 

 tender tips will be broken. 



Mexican Laslias require considerable 

 sunlight to ensure a strong healthy growth 

 that will flower well during the winter 

 months. In the hottest part of summer a 

 little artificial shading may be necessary, but 

 even this should only be used during the 

 middle part of the day. Many of the finest 



