8 ORCHIDS. 
soil, there are many experienced cultivators who prefer to 
use for these almost the same compost as is used for the 
epiphytal kinds when grown in pots or baskets. Peat and 
sphagnum form a perfectly safe compost for nearly all 
Orchids; if they will not thrive in that, then they will bea 
failure in any mixture. In some cases, as for instance Phalez- 
nopsis and Vanda, sphagnum only is used; in others, as in 
Cattleya, nearly all peat fibre is preferable ; in Odontoglossum 
and Masdevallia the peat may be used in a natural state—z.e., 
the fine particles need not be carefully shaken out. Amongst 
terrestrial kinds we have Cypripedium, which is a perfect 
success when planted in a mixture of peat and sphagnum; 
Masdevallia also. Sobralia does equally well in loam and 
peat, or in pure peat; Calanthe is grown in loam and cow- 
dung by some, by others in peat and sphagnum. To the 
beginner our advice is, Use peat and sphagnum for almost 
all Orchids—more or less of each according as the plant 
is epiphytal or terrestrial. If good peat is secured—and 
a great deal depends upon this—then no fear need be enter- 
tained as to its suiting all Orchids for which something 
more than pure sphagnum is required. ‘Terrestrial Orchids 
do not require so much drainage as the epiphytes do; when 
growing, a weak solution of cow-manure may be given 
about once a week. 
British Orchids require special treatment, the details of 
which will be given in the chapter devoted to them. 
Watering. 
When an Orchid is growing freely, it should be watered 
at the root often enough to. keep the compost constantly 
moist, without its becoming stagnant or sour. A little 
practice soon enables one to understand how often this is. 
In houses where the atmospheric conditions are properly 
