1869. ] DENDKOBIUM MOBILE FOR WINTER BLOOMING. 7 



divide or repot them if required. Fibrous peat, witli all the fine earth shaken 

 out, with half its quantity of sphagnum moss, and small lumpy charcoal, form 

 the best potting material ; through this, when properly prepared, the water will 

 pass as through a riddle ; and this is essential to the healthy action of the roots. 

 In potting, good drainage must be secured by placing a crock over the drainage- 

 hole, hollow side downwards, then smaller ones over this in such a way as to 

 secure perfect permeability. In a G-in. pot 2in. deep of crocks will be sufficient. 



Where large specimens are not required, G-in. or 8-in. pots are large enough 

 to furnish nice useful plants. Before potting, cut the dead roots clean away, and 

 place a little sphagnum over the crocks as a protection to the drainage. In 

 potting, work the compost carefully among the roots without bruising them, the 

 base of the stems being an inch or two above the rim, and just clear of the 

 potting material ; tie them to stakes sufficiently firm to keep them steady until 

 they make fresh roots, and give a good watering with well-aired water. The 

 plants must be placed not too far from the glass, where heat, light, and 

 moisture can be secured to them, and where they may be shaded from strong sun- 

 shine only — for too much shading is injurious. They must not want for moisture 

 at their roots, although water must bo given with discretion, and in all cases as 

 warm as the atmosphere in which the plants are growing. This is essential, 

 and applies not only to the plants here treated of, but to all others grown in the 

 stove or greenhouse. The plants during their growth must be kept clear of 

 insects, by occasionally washing them with a sponge and warm water. A 

 minimum temperature of from 60° to G5°, and a maximum of from 70° to 75°, 

 will suit them, with a moist atmosphere during their season of growth. When 

 the growth is completed, a drier and more airy atmosphere must be supplied, in 

 order to ripen the stems. This ripening process, during which they must be 

 more exposed to sun and light, is the secret of securing with certainty a profusion 

 of bloom. Water must at this time be gradually withheld from them, until — 

 say by the end of September — it is withheld altogether, or nearly §p, only just 

 enough being given to keep the stems plump. From this time a still cooler 

 place, such as a dry greenhouse, will suit them. 



About the middle of November, when the flower buds will be forming, they 

 may be taken into a warmer house and have a gradually increasing supply of 

 water, which, together with the increased warmth, will bring out their flowers 

 by the end of December. If not required so soon, they can be retarded by 

 keeping them longer in the drier and cooler house. By introducing into heat, 

 say once a fortnight, a plant upon which the flower buds are formed, the flower- 

 ing season may be kept up for five or six months in the year, where there are, 

 say, a dozen plants to work upon. The proper flowering season is the spring 

 months, but by resting the plants both earlier and later, it may be prolonged 

 from November to June. 



As soon as the plants have done flowering they will begin to grow, and if 



