THE ORCHID WORLD. 



want of water at any season, neither must they 

 be overwatered. Should any of the plants 

 require attention in the way of re-potting it 

 should be proceeded with as soon as it is seen 

 that new roots are ready to push from the base 

 of the bulbs. The compost I recommend for 

 them is equal parts of peat, polypodmm, 

 osmunda, A. i. Fibre, and clean sphagnum 

 moss, with a fair sprmkling of half decayed 

 oak leaves which have been rubbed through 

 a half-inch sieve. All the earthy particles 

 should be removed from the different fibres. 

 The newly potted plants should be carefully 

 watered until the new roots are seen to be 

 pushing through the compost. They may be 

 sprayed over head once or twice a day 

 according to the weather, until they get re- 

 established. They delight in the brightest 

 position of the Mexican house. 



Dendrobiums of the deciduous section are 

 now showing flower buds in various stages of 

 development. The species and hybrids of 

 this section when grown in quantity, as they 

 deserve to be, will make a beautiful show for 

 some weeks. A house in full flower is a thing 

 to be remembered, and amply repays the 

 cultivator for any trouble bestowed upon them. 

 They should not be hurried, as the flowers are 

 much finer and larger if allowed to come 

 naturally, and as the buds expand more mois- 

 ture may be given at the roots. The tempera- 

 ture of the Cattleya house will answer their 

 requirements admirably. Dendrobium Ward- 

 ianum will make a brilliant show from this time 

 onwards. This plant usually thrives and 

 flowers abundantly for the first few years after 

 being imported, and then generally dwindles 

 and dies. This is not as it should be if 

 we properly understood their requirements. 

 Therefore it is a necessity to replenish the 

 stock from time to time as opportunities afford. 

 For this season some plants have already 

 reached this country. I would advise that 

 some be procured at once so that they may 

 have ample time for growing during the 

 coming .summer. The imported plants should 

 be placed in pans just large enough to hold 

 them comfortably, using crocks for drainage, 

 which should not reach far up the pan. The 

 best rooting medium I find for them is equal 



parts osmunda, polypodmm, A.i Fibre, and 

 sphagnum moss. They .should not be potted 

 too firmly, and the pseudobulbs should be 

 neatly tied up to a stake placed in the centre 

 of the pan for that purpose. Very little water 

 will be required until the new growths, pushing 

 from the base, are seen to be rooting nicely in 

 the new compost. This species is best accom- 

 modated in a cool, airy position in the inter- 

 mediate house, suspended well up to the light. 

 When in full growth they delight in an abund- 

 ance of moisture. 



Cypripediums, as they pass out of flower, 

 should be re-potted, so that the majority are 

 done before the busy month of March is upon 

 us. I do not believe in top-dressing this class 

 of Orchid, and I generally find the smaller 

 plants pay for re-potting each season. If these 

 plants are to succeed, they must have a nice 

 sweet rooting medium. 



Masdevallias. Any plants that were left 

 over from the autumn, or that now appear to 

 require new compost, may be done at this 

 season, using the compost as advised for 

 Miltonias, with the addition of a little fibrous 

 loam. The smaller varieties are best grown 

 in shallow pans suspended from the roof, using 

 the compost with the loam. They all succeed 

 at the warm end of the cool house. 



Oncidiums of the winter flowering varieties 

 will be commencing to grow, and when about 

 to push roots from the new growths may be 

 re-potted. They succeed in the mixture used 

 for Miltonias, with the only exception that a 

 larger proportion of leaws may be used. They 

 thrive in a cool, shady position of the cool 

 house. Oncidium macranthum, and others of 

 this section, pushing up their flower spikes, 

 should have these carefully trained roimd 

 stakes, and be guarded against slugs and other 

 pests. This class of plant delights in the 

 shadiest position possible in the cool house, 

 and a free circulation of air amongst them at 

 all times. 



Cattleya Percivaliana and C. Trianas will 

 now be at their best, and where they are grown 

 in quantity will make a display in the Cattleya 

 house. It should be the aim of every culti- 

 vator to make, as far as possible, a display in 

 each house all the yenr round. These two 



