



essential point Orchid-growers should always know the state uf the root-drainage of the plants under 

 their care. If the pots arc badly drained, and too Urge a supply of water is given, the roots will in most 

 cases decay, and the plant will then assuredly get into an unhealthy condition- Wc have often heard it 

 asked, in wises like thU— Why should not one plant look as well as another in the some house, with the 

 same treatment, the same heat, and, in fact, everything the same? All the while, the overlooked exception 

 has been the principal thing— bad drainage, Many growers, no doubt, have seen, and learned by experience, 

 the evil results of bad drainage ; but we would urge it upon beginners in the culture of this interesting 

 class of plants to make it one of the first points to sec that the |*>U arc well drained; they will assuredly 

 he more successful than if this is neglected. If a plant is seen to go wrong, let the cause be at onec 

 ascertained, and let it not he suffered to get into an irreclaimable state before any effort is made to 



restore it, 



There are other causes besides bad drainage which affect the health of Orchids* Sometimes a plant gets 

 more heat than is requisite, although it may have come from the tfime country as others which thrive under 

 the wanner treatment; for the one may have come from n higher elevation than the other where the 

 heat is less, and will consequently grow better with less warmth and less water, These are matters which 

 require practical experience and individual attention. Orchid**, like other plants, require a certain course 

 of treatment, and unless they get it they will not long thrive. There are few plants of more ready growth 

 than Orchids if ever)* necessary is provided for them, nor are there any so accommodating provided these 

 necessaries arc secured. They may be hung up or laid down; they may be grown in pots or on blocks, 

 and in a variety of ways: only give them the proper quota of heat, moisture, and rest at the proper time, 

 with good drainage, and they will not fail. 



KpiJtmdrmn prismatoasrpnm requires this drainage- In potting this, and other Orchids, care should 

 always be taken to have the ]>ote and the crocks clean. It is also desirable to have the outer pot large 

 enough to admit of an inverted pot being placed in the bottom, this inverted pot being surrounded by and 

 covered with crocks, so as to fill the outer pot three parts full. A layer of sphagnum moss follows, and 

 then the whole is filled up with good fibrous peat, which is the best material for the plant to grow in. The 

 plants should he placed on the peat, so that the psondobulbs may he two inches above the pot-rim; if they 

 are buried too low they are liable to rot The present is a free-growing species, and when vigorous often 

 make* two shoots from one bulb- The Callleya-lmusc is the most suitable place for it, imd it should have 

 a liberal supplv of water during its growing season, which is from September to Hay. Then it comes 

 into Dower, The resting season is in summer. From its growing in the winter month*, it requires to be 

 kept at that season at the warmest end of the house. The roots should not be allowed to get dry while 



at rest 



Propagation is to he effected by dividing the bulbs just as they commence growing. One old bulb is to 

 be retained at the back of the year-old one. When divided, they are to l>c potted in ]>ots according to their 

 size, and they arc to be kept growing by giving them moisture at the roots, and by placing them at the 

 warmest end of the house in the shade. It is best to start them into growth as soon as they are cut, and 

 not to IcL litem lie about as they will gel dry, and will take a long time to recover. The plant is generally 

 free from insects, but if not in a healthy state the white scale will attack it; this |>cst may, however, be 

 desired and kept away by washing the plant with clean water, which should be of the same temperature as 

 the hou*c, 







