The best material in which to grow the Odontoglots is fibrous peat; they must have good drainage because they want plenty of water during the growing season, in fact the material should always be kept moist. The plants must never be over-potted, but just sufficient root room must be permitted them to secure healthy progression; over-potting, indeed, often becomes dangerous. We find that live sphagnum moss placed on the top of the peat is a great help in their cultivation, as it holds water, and there is always some degree of moisture arising from it; moreover, when it is kept in a healthy growing state it has a very neat and pleasing appearance.
Odontoglossums at Trentham.—The _régime_ adopted at Trentham for growing Cool Orchids, such as Odontoglots, is to give them water most profusely, the cold rain-water which falls from the roof being used summer and winter, and to allow fresh air to circulate freely amongst them at all times, night and day, except in very severe weather. The natural water at Trentham, as does any other water containing lime, will, after a time, kill the Sphagnum used for potting purposes, and this is most inimical to the plants, which never thrive so well as when the Sphagnum keeps fresh and in a growing state. In respect to the Sphagnum Moss used for Orchid growing, it does not appear to be generally known that amongst the different species the best for potting Odontoglots and similar plants is a dense-growing compact kind, whose very compactness gives it a sponge-like consistency, and enables it to suck up and retain water freely. This is what the Odontoglots like.—T. M.
Odontoglossum Roezlii.—A fine example of this showy Orchid has reached us from D. Todd, Esq., Eastwood Park, near Glasgow. The spike was a particularly fine one, bearing well-developed flowers, of which the sepals and petals were white, the lower part of the latter being of a dark magenta, and the lip white, coloured with lines of crimson on the disk. Mr. Todd grows these plants remarkably well, and deserves great credit for his felicitous treatment of them, as few persons are so successful in their cultivation. There is a very good collection of Orchids forming at this place, Mr. Todd being an admirer of good kinds. At the Glasgow exhibitions his fine collection forms one of the greatest attractions of the show.—B. S. W.