THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 291 



"When the potting is completed, a layer of aphagaum must be placed 

 over the surface, to give a neat tiuisli to the work, and to bring out 

 the leaf colouring to the best advantage. The leaves decay more 

 rapidly than the sphagnum, and the plants will require to be potted 

 more frequently than those growing in the latter. 



It is important to guard against bruising the roots, and also to 

 carefully spread them out, so as to have them nicely distributed, 

 with the material packed somewhat firmly between them. After 

 the repotting is completed, water them liberally, and as soon as 

 the superfluous moisture has partly dried up, which will be iu au 

 hour or so, place them in the case, or put bell-glasses over them 

 and keep rather close for a few days. I would add that whenever 

 there is any difficulty in obtaining leaves partly decayed, for potting 

 purposes, sphagnum moss should be used instead. Just as they are 

 commencing to make new growth in the spring is the best time for 

 the annual repotting. 



Cultivators differ somewhat in opinion as to whether it is best to 

 place the Anaectochili under bell-glasses or in a case, and as a rule they 

 are grown under the former. For my own part I greativ prefer a 

 case ; for the plants enjoy the advantage of having a greater body 

 of air about them, appear to greater advantage, and as the air can 

 be admitted at the top, the plants are in no way exposed to draughts, 

 and the moisture contained in the atmosphere of the case can escape 

 into the house, instead of condensing on the glass, and trickling down 

 to the roots, to their injury. The case should be twelve or fifteen 

 inches in depth, and have glass sides and top, with a very light 

 frame-work; the length and width must of course be determined 

 by the space required. The case should be placed in a light position 

 in the house, and at all times excepting when the stock has been 

 newly repotted, the top, which must be moveable, shouM be tilted on 

 one or both of the t»ides, from three to five inches. The plants must 

 be freely exposed to the light and a little sunshine will do them no 

 harm. Throughout the winter season no shading material must be 

 placed over the case or bell-glasses, and in the summer no more than 

 is sufficient to prevent scorching of the foliage. If the sun is not 

 very brilliant it may shine on the case for several hours without 

 doing any injury, provided the air is admitted as above advised. 

 The common practice is to cover the case with paper or canvas, as 

 80on as the first glimpse of sunshine reaches it, and when the sun 

 shines fully upon the house to roll down the blinds and still leave 

 the paper covering on ; but it is most hurtful to them, to be de- 

 prived of light in tliis manner, and it may be safely said that they 

 do not require shading before the other inmates of the house, and that 

 the roof blinds are sufficient for their protection. 



With reference to watering them, it must be said tliat they 

 require liberal supplies at their roots during the growing season, and 

 none over tlie leaves. It will not matter if a little water falls upon 

 the foliage, provided the top of the case is removed for a short time, 

 but they must not be systematically watered overhead, for it cannot 

 be done without their receiving more or less injury. In the winter 

 very moderate supplies will suffice at the roots, and care should ba 

 taken not to wet the leaves. 

 October. 



