NOT RUT LON 
improper, but most amusing character, “Jurgen,” he placed in the mouth 
of his hero, the saying, “I will try anything once!” This phrase has since 
become incorporated in our popular idioms, for it expresses admirably the 
impulse of the human instinct ever to seek some new sensation. It is a motto 
which can well be adopted by Orchid growers, for only by constant experiment, 
the trying of anything once, can they ascertain the way to get the best out of 
their plants. It was with this phrase running through my mind that I commenced 
to experiment with the use of liquid manures for my Orchids. My first efforts 
were simply an extension of a practice I have always followed in the growing of 
flowers—the giving of manure in liquid form to accelerate the growth of the 
plant, and to improve the quality and quantity of blooms. Naturally, my early 
experiments with Orchids were tempered with diffidence and discretion. 
\ X J HEN James Branch Cabell created and gave to the world that very 
The first results were somewhat puzzling. Two plants of Cypripedium 
hirsutissimum. growing under similar conditions—that is, in the samie bushhouse 
and alongside one another—were selected for my first effort. They were about 
equal in size, and both were strong and healthy. After four or five weekly appli- 
cations of a rather weak manure (made by soaking matured cow-dung in water 
for a fortnight) I found that one plant, “A,” was increasing in vigour, while 
plant “B” was evidently going back, the leaves having become rather limp with a 
tendency to turn yellow. It was obvious that while ‘“A” was benefiting by the 
extra nutriment, “B” was adversely affected. Referring to my records, I found 
that “A” had been potted nearly two years before, while ‘“B” had been repotted 
only three months before the first application of the liquid manure was made. 
During the period which had elapsed I had altered my compost for C. hirsutissi- 
mum to some extent. When “A” was potted the compost was comprised of equal 
parts of silver sand, leaf-mould, finely chopped sphagnum moss, osmunda, and 
staghorn peat, with an admixture of powdered charcoal and crushed brick. Plant 
““B” was in almost pure staghorn peat fibre, with a little dried cow-dung, and a 
topping of sphagnum moss. I decided to make a study of composts and man- 
ures, before I took any more chances with my plants. In the meantime copious 
applications of tank water soon restored plant “B” to health. 
Now, although this first attempt at giving added nutrition to Orchid plants 
ended rather unsatisfactorily, it was really beneficial, for it caused me to investi- 
gate, as thoroughly as I could, the factors underlying the growth of plants. As a 
result of these studies, and my experiments over a period of five years, I am quite 
convinced that most Orchids will benefit by a carefully arranged plan of liquid 
manuring. 
