378 JOUENAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Orchids from Seed, Tropical. By L. Linsbauer {Oeslr. Gart. 

 Zeit. vol. vii., pt. iv., pp. 117-123, and pt. v., pp. 157-166; 6 figs.).— 

 It has been pointed out by Bernard that the seed of tropical orchids 

 rarely germinates unless it has come in contact with the micro-organisms 

 on the roots of the orchid. Pure cultures of these organisms can be 

 obtained by biological methods. Six groups of mycelia are known 

 which are capable of entering into symbiosis with the following five 

 classes of orchids — viz., (1) Bletilla, Sohralia, Laelia, Cattleya, Brassa- 

 vola, Epidendruvi, ■ Dendrohium, Catasetum, Stanhopea, Gongora, 

 Chysis, Coelogyne, Cymhidium, Angraecuni, and Aerides; (2) Cypri- 

 pedium; (3) Odontoglossum, Miltonia, and Cochlioda; (4:) Vand-a; 

 (5) Lycaste and Anguha. 



For horticultural purposes a mixture of sphagnum, polypodium, 

 and osmunda is moistened with a preparation of the mycelia in 

 sterilized pans. The orchid seed is sown on this material. Eain-water 

 sterilized by boiling is used for watering. — S. E. W. 



Orchids, Garden. By E. Schlechter {Orchis, vol. vi., pt. i., 

 pp. 6-10). — Laelia Johniana is an upright epiphyte from Columbia. It 

 is about eight inches high, and bears a greenish-white flower which is 

 small for the species. 



Bria chrysohracta from Siam is an upright epiphyte, eight inches 

 tall, with large oval golden bracts. The flowers are snow white; the 

 labellum has a purple margin. 



Bifrenaria Pichiana is a small epiphyte from Columbia; it bears 

 pink flowers and the labellum has a yellow margin. — S. E. W. 



Orchids, Replanting of. By A. Heydt (Orchis, vol. vi., pt. ii., 

 pp. 28, 29). — Considers it a mistake to replant orchids too frequently; 

 once in five or six years is sufficient. — S. E. W. 



Orchids, Replanting*. By E. Eisner (Orchis, vol. vi., pt. iv., 

 pp. 69, 70). — A reply to Heydt. When Osmunda fibre is used, many 

 orchids will only need to be replanted once in three years. Terrestrial 

 orchids, such as Calanthe, Thunia, Pleione, Hahenaria, a.nd Visa, must 

 be replanted every year. Lycaste, Anguloa, Phaius, and Cypripedium 

 are replanted every second year. — S. E. W. 



Orchids, The Effect of Endophytic Fungi on Seed Germina- 

 tion of. By G. T. Grignan (Rev. Hort. pp. 130-2, March 16, 1912).~A 



reference to an interesting paper on this subject by Dr. Burgeff, of the 

 Jena University, on the results of investigation in this direction, which 

 demonstrate that various orchid genera have their special fungi asso- 

 ciated with them, and that on the presence of these fungi depends 

 successful germination. The determination of the proper species 

 demands, however, such special knowledge and apparatus that the 

 practical orchid-grower is debarred from personally effecting it ; but tins 

 may be obviated by the fact that several botanical gardens (Jena, 

 Eeipsic, Dresden) and several specialists in Germany can supply moss 



