THE AMERICAN ROTANIST 173 



C'l I.T|\ A'I'INC. VKUUOW I.ADV'S Sl,l I'l'llK. 1 .1111 a i!;\\",l{ ad- 



mirci' of our nati\e orchids hut haw ncxtr hccn succcsstiil in 

 jj^rowin.t^ thcni though I liaxc ,L,n\eii thc-ni Icaf-iiU'ld, al)un(hitit 

 moisture, and sup[ilicd their wants as well as 1 knew how. 

 A year aj^o 1 decided to make one more trial ;uul i)ou,<,dit three 

 plants of the small vellow lady's slipper. All li\ed throuj^di 

 the winter and appeared promptly in spring hut seemed very 

 frail and weak. They had ahout reached the point where I 

 felt they should not be left alone nights when I read that oak 

 leaves and twigs added to ordinary soil would produce the acid 

 condition of soil necessary for the health of hog-loving plants. 

 I immediately procured some oak leaves, and after chopping 

 them verv f:ne mixed them \ery thoroughly with the soil. In 

 a short time the plants began to stiffen up, whether from rheu- 

 matism or increasing vigor 1 cannot say, and while they did 

 not l)loom thev I)id fair to go through another winter and I 

 hope for blossoms next year. Needless to say I shall add all 

 available oak leaves to the compost for my boggy beds next 

 year — that is, unless somebody tells me it is all wrong! 

 — Adella Prescott, Nczv Hartford, X. V. 



