DENDROBIUM. 197 
have been grown on blocks with a little sphagnum moss 
about the roots; but to do this the plants must be kept 
in a constantly-saturated atmosphere and a high growing 
temperature. Those which thrive in pots or pans should be 
planted in a compost of good fibrous peat and sphagnum, 
with a little sand or crock-dust, or some nodules of 
charcoal, added, to keep the mixture porous. Two-thirds 
of the pot should be filled with clean drainage, and the 
mixture should be pressed in firmly about the roots. In 
every case, when re-potting is done, the plants should 
be made to stand firmly in the pots by means of stakes, 
as those which are loose in the soil do not get 
established nearly so quickly as those which are firm. 
When the plants are to be grown in baskets, these 
should be of teak, and of the shape that is usually em- 
ployed for Orchids; the bottom of the basket should be 
covered with crocks and charcoal, and, after adding the 
soil, the plant must be tied into the basket if necessary. 
This is done by passing matting or string a few times 
over the soil and under the basket. Plants for blocks 
must be securely wired on to the face of the block, 
and a little sphagnum must be fastened about the roots. 
In every case, the growing end of the rhizome of the 
plants must be kept above the surface of the soil or 
moss. New roots should be encouraged to enter the 
soil by adding tufts of sphagnum wherever they show 
on the growths above the soil. 
There are other important points to be observed in 
the management of different species of Dendrobium, 
but these are mentioned under the description of each 
kind. 
Both yellow and green aphides sometimes attack the 
young growths of Dendrobiums, and thrips are frequently 
found on both young and old foliage. Fumigation, or 
