.\u,!,'-USt, 1913.] 
THK ORCHID WORLD. 
249 
use. Upon receipt of the plants, e.xamine 
them carefully and cut away all dead roots 
and decayed leaves. Then rinse each one in 
a weak solution of soft soap and water, 
cleansing them mimediately with tepid rain 
water. This will ensure them being free from 
insect pests. Lay each plant carefully on the 
staging in a house in which the temperature 
does not exceed (15 degrees Fahr., shadmg 
them from strong direct sun-light, and in a 
well-ventilated atmosphere. A slight sprink- 
ling of rain water may be given every three 
or four days, and if this method of culture 
IS observed, the leaves will plump up, and the 
stems emit new roots. When showing these 
signs of renewed vitality the plants may be 
potted, filling each pot to within a few inches 
of the rim with clean broken crocks, and 
making the plant quite firm. A layer of 
living green sphagnum moss should then be 
added. After the lapse of several months 
some of the top-most crocks can be removed, 
and osmunda fibre and sphagnum moss be 
added. Under care and intelligent cultiva- 
tion these plants become quickly re- 
established and their subsequent culture 
presents little difficulty. — C. Alivyn Harrison, 
Oncglia, Italy. 
^ II ^ 
Ancectochilus, Jewel Orchids. — This 
exceptional group of Nature's most artistic 
work would excite the admiration of all who 
can appreciate beauty of form and colouring. 
The velvet-like appearance of the leaves, 
having a ground tint of light or dark green 
ranging to a deep bronze, upon which is 
traced an elegant network of silver or gold 
veins, contrasts finely with the rich ground 
colour. As several amateurs have asked me 
the method I adopt in cultivation, the 
following particulars, which to me have been 
satisfactory in every way, may be of 
interest : — The plants I have recently shown at 
Chelsea and Holland House were grown from 
very small pieces. These were placed, as an 
experiment, in a frame over a tank at the 
end of a small house m which Phalaenopsis, 
etc., are growing under intermediate heat, 
and where a low night temperature is 
maintained. The frame is httcd with a glazed 
light which is removed during the summer 
months ; it is never closed up, but opened as 
required for ventilation during the colder 
part of the year. The bottom' of this frame 
is perforated zinc, over which is a layer of 
small coke, then a wooden stage is placed 
on some inverted pots, which stand in 
saucers of water to prevent slug.s, etc., from 
attacking the plants. The compost used for 
potting is sphagnum moss, leaves and peat, 
one third of each, with good drainage. This 
material is always kept moist, but no water 
is given overhead. The plants under these 
conditions become short and sturdy, and are 
then able to stand the cold, dull weather 
better, which seems to point out the fact that 
failures in many gardens have been brought 
about by too much heat and coddling-up 
under bell-glasses. — Sidney W. Flory, Orchid 
yjn rscry, T iv ick cn Ji am. 
A RARE EVENT. 
THE very unusual, probably unique, 
event of an adventitious growth 
appearing on the outside of a 
Cypripedium seed-pod is worthy of being 
recorded. 
We crossed a Cypripedium Elatior, which 
we call No. 2, not the F.C.C. van, with the 
pollen of Cyp. bingleyense, in December, 
igii. Elatior No. 2 is remarkable for the 
very long flower stem as compared with the 
First-class Certificate form. It has been 
podded again this year, and the parent fiower 
stem is fully 12 inches, exclusive of the pod, 
which is another 3 inches. 
The igii pod formed in the ordinary way, 
and there was nothing remarkable about it so 
far as we know until some four or five months 
had passed ; but, of course, we were not 
watching the plant with any care. The 
wmter-flowering Cypripediums were over, 
and our attention was directed to the 
sprmg-flowering Orchids : Cattleyas, Odonto- 
glossums, etc., which we were preparing for 
the International Show. For these reasons 
VOL. III. 
32 
