POTTING AND WATERING ORCHIDS. 17 



and open, and that the drainage is perfect. The same remark 

 applies to the glorious terrestrial Cape Orchid, Disa grandi- 

 flora. This, in addition to a liberal supply of moisture at 

 the roots, should be syringed several times daily when in full 

 growth ; it should be kept in a very cool house or pit, 

 and in a shady position. When the pot has been drained place 

 a thin layer of sphagnum, the best you have, over the drainage, 

 and upon this put the compost. Carefully spread out the 

 roots and pack firmly with the compost, but use caution, and 

 do not crush or bruise them, or they will decay. See that the 

 bases of the bulbs are slightly elevated above the rim of the 

 pot, and water the plants but sparingly at first, until the 

 production of fresh roots demands a fuller supply. The best 

 method of watering well-established, healthy-growing plants is 

 to have a galvanised iron or wooden tank, say 4 feet long by 2 or 

 •21 feet broad and from 2 to 3 feet deep. Get this mounted on 

 a low carriage with four solid wooden wheels, and when filled 

 or nearly so with tepid soft water, it can be drawn the entire 

 length of the house, and the plants, or rather the i:)ots, plunged 

 into it and held there until thoroughly saturated. This is the 

 best way of supplying water to the roots of healthy growing 

 plants, but it should not be adopted unless the compost is per- 

 fectly porous and well drained. Again, it is the only way by 

 which Orchids on blocks can be thoroughly well supplied with 

 moisture at their roots. 



The best plan to pursue with regard to watering is to care- 

 fully observe the habits of the plants themselves ; when they 

 evince a tendency to stop growing, or to rest, water should 

 be gradually withheld, onlj^ giving just enough to prevent 

 shrivelling. When they commence to grow, and to produce 

 roots, they should be encouraged by the application of more 

 moisture, both at the roots and in the atmosphere, no matter 

 at what period of the year this may occur. If the moisture 



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