know other growers have used various patent mixtures with suc- 
cess. Of course, this extra tonic should only be applied when seasonal 
growth has well commenced, and not in any circumstances to a 
sickly plant. 
I purpose commencing with Aerides and, working right through 
to Zygopetalum, dealing only with those species of each genus that 
are cultivated by us or which J think are worth trying. 
I believe the information I give will assist considerably, but I would 
emphasise that no one can set out an arbitrary code of rules for the 
culture of any Orchid. The best that can be done is to give a gen- 
eral outline based on the plants’ natural requirements, and each 
grower must then modify this to meet the peculiarities of his own 
conditions. 
It is inevitable that some growers with greater experience than my 
own will disagree with some of my suggestions—but it is one of 
the charms of Orchid culture that one may disagree with one’s 
colleague’s opinions without enmity on either side. 
At least, I hope the contents of these pages will prove interesting 
and useful to those who may read them. 
J. M. COX. 
