xxxviii. HYBRIDISING AND RAISING ORCHID SEEDLINGS. 



Another method is to strain a piece of coarse canvas over a bunch of 

 sphagnum moss, and then squeeze it into a pot, below the rim, then sowing 

 the seeds and covering with glass as before. The germination can now be 

 watched, for there is no compost for the seeds to sink down into and get lost. 

 Once sown the seeds must never be allowed to get dry, but care should be 

 taken not to wash them off in spraying. Of course they must be placed in 

 a suitable temperature, and be shaded from direct sunshine. The pots are 

 often placed in a small frame, where they are less likely to get dry, which 

 would be quickl}^ fatal. The method is unsuitable for Cypripedes and other 

 terrestrial Orchids. Until experience has been gained it is best to sow a 

 few seeds under different conditions, noting the result, and in case of 

 failure, if any seed is left over, a second sowing may be made a few 

 weeks later. 



Germination usually commences at once, and under the conditions 

 last mentioned its progress can be followed. The first sign of germination 

 is that the seeds begin to swell and turn green, then they lose the seed 

 coat and gradually become globular. At length a growing point appears, 

 with some root-hairs, and then the first true root begins to push. 



Pricking off. — The pricking off of the young seedlings requires to be 

 done with care and discretion, especially if, as sometimes happens, they 

 come up too thickly. A small pan of compost should be prepared, and the 

 tiny globes may be removed with a pointed stick carefully pushed beneath 

 them, care being taken not to injure them. They should be placed in a 

 minute cavity in the new compost, giving a slight spraying to settle them. 

 A similar procedure may be followed when the seeds are sown direct on the 

 compost, but here, if not too crowded, they may be left until rather larger, 

 when they may be handled more easily. Care must always be taken not to 

 damage the roots. After pricking off, the young seedlings are best returned 

 to the case for a time. A sharp watch must be kept for the presence of 

 slugs, or other pests, which would make short work of the young seedlings. 



Potting on. — When the young seedlings get a little larger they should 

 be potted off into thimble pots, about an inch in diameter. The compost 

 will vary according to the class of Orchid, and should be similar to that 

 required by the parents, but will be required to be chopped fine, and the 

 dust should be removed with a fine sieve. A few finely broken crocks 

 should be placed at the bottom of the pots, and on these a little compost is 

 placed. The plant is then placed in position, and the compost made 

 moderately firm with the fingers, after which a light spraying may be given. 

 The compost should be just moist, not too wet or too dry, and it should be 

 of about the same temperature as the house, being placed there for a day 

 or two before use if necessary. The water used should be rain or soft water, 

 and of the same temperature as the house. After potting the tiny pots may 



