158 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



until half the root stock is covered. Give plenty of water when the 

 orchid is rooted. On repotting the fibre adhering to the root need 

 not be disturbed. Odontoglossum and Phalae^iopsis require a mixture 

 of Sphagnum and young Osmunda fibre. — S. E. W. 



Opchids, Exotic Cultivation of. By 0. N. Witt (Orchis, vol. v. 

 pt. V. pp. 66-70 and pt. vi. pp. 85-9). — Many orchids, which in their 

 native state flourish when fully exposed to the sun, require partial shade 

 in the orchid house. Most require for their roots an atmosphere 

 saturated with moisture, and that is why they succeed in the long run 

 better in a porous compost than they do when grown on blocks of tree- 

 fern stems or wood. A pot with one hole at the bottom and a good 

 layer of crocks below the compost gives a moister atmosphere to the 

 roots than pots supplied with several apertures, which cause undue 

 evaporation, — S. E. W. 



Orchids from Madagascar. By F. Ledien (Orchis, vol. v. 

 pt. viii. pp. 114-6; 1 plate). — The growth of the two giant orchids 

 Cymhidium Humhlotii and Eulophiella Peetersiana is shown in two 

 photographs. The flower stalk of the former is more than three 

 feet in height, and bears from fifteen to thirty flowers. — S. E. W. 



Orchids in Dwelling Rooms. By A. Bracklein (Orchis, vol. V. 

 pt, V. pp. 71-3 ; 2 plates). — The successful results of two attempts at 

 growing Odontoglossum grande in a dwelling room are shown in the 

 illustrations. One plant bears 13 and the other 18 blooms. — S. E. W , 



Oyster-shell Scale and the Scurfy-scale. By A. L. Quaintance 



and E. E. Sasscer (U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. Entom., Circ. 

 121; April 1910). — These two scales, next to the San Jos^ scale, 

 are most injurious to orchards. The oyster-shell scale ( = mussel-scale) 

 (Lepidosaphes ulvii = Mytilaspis pomorum) is described, and its life- 

 history and food-plants (about 110) are mentioned ; its distributipn is 

 world-wide. The scurfy-scale (Chionaspis furfura) attacks mostly 

 shrubby rosaceous plants. It winters like the former under the scales. 

 It is a native North American insect. Pruning out dead wood is recom- 

 mended. Spraying with lime-sulphur or with paraffin emulsion just 

 after the young hatch out, and within about three weeks of the fall of 

 the petals, is said to be the best means of dealing with the pest. 



F. J. C. 



Palm, Coquito Nut, Jubaea spectabilis. By Chas. Cochet \ 

 (Bev. Hort. pp. 450-2; Oct. 1,, 1911; 2 illustrations).— The data given 

 appear to establish the thorough hardiness of this handsome palm, 

 numerous specimens having survived a temperature of 16*^ below zero 

 C.= 28° of frost F. The illustrations show a group planted in 1864 

 in Lattes, near Montpellier, and a bunch of fruit. Some of the trunks ■ 

 measure at the ground level over twenty feet in circumference. 



C. T. D. 



