488 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



able periods, double their number of "leads," and, of course, their value. 

 So, while reaping a rich harvest of sumptuous flowers, abundant enougli 

 to pay for labour, coal, and house-room, the original sum will be still 

 there and acquiring interest. Of how many i)lants coald this be said ? 

 Labour, coal, interest in money invested, and all, generally find an 

 annual deposit in the dunghill in the case of nine-tenths of the plants 

 grown for furnishing cut-flowers. " The end thereof " is worth con- 

 sidering. 



Lycaste Skinnerii grows best in a cool Orchid-house — that is, a house 

 kept just a little warmer in cold weather than an ordinary greenhouse. 

 In summer, at least during hot clear weather, a greenhouse would be 

 too hot and the air too dry. The air for this and all cool Orchids 

 must be moist. In the absence of a regularly appointed Orchid-house, 

 a temperate fernery, such as exists about many places, large and small, 

 will do very well. The plant will even do in a stove, but it does not 

 flourish there as in a cooler house. 



Many writers recommend fibry peat for growing it in — we recom- 

 mend clean fresh sphagnum and charcoal only. Having fairly tried 

 both, we have made up our minds that so long as clean fresh sphagnum 

 is to be had, not a particle of peat will ever be used again by us for 

 Lycaste Skinnerii. 



It is generally over-potted — but most Orchids are. A six-inch pot is 

 big enough for a strong plant with three or even four seeds, although 

 many growers would put such a plant into at least an eight-inch one. 

 It is a great mistake. Orchids never thrive so well as when the pots 

 in which they grow are crowded with roots. This is especially true of 

 those that require to be kept constantly moist, and Lycaste Skinnerii 

 is decidedly thirst}^ 



In potting plants of the size we have named, six-inch pots should 

 have about an inch and a half of broken charcoal put into the bottom 

 for drainage. The rest of the pot is to be filled with charcoal and 

 fresh moss (half-and-half) and roots. Through this the water will rush, 

 and everything will be kept clean and sweet. Cleanness and sweetness 

 in the soil and in the air are the two main features necessary in Orchid 

 growing. Happy is the man whose circumstances allow him to secure 

 these points ! 



In turning plants out of the old pots — an operation which should 

 never be done when they are thriving and the potting material 

 sweet, even although it should be all roots — take care not to tear off' 

 the points of the growing roots, and leave them sticking to the sides 

 of the old pots. After it is out, carefully wash away all earthy and 

 decaying matter, and cut clean away any dead roots. In re-potting, 

 do not crush the remaining roots all into one corner, but arrange them 

 regularly among the new material ; nor crush the sphagnum into wet 

 lumps either, but press the whole together pretty firmly. If too loose, 

 it will hold too much water and turn sour. Have the whole a little 



