IO6 ORCHIDS. 



or in pots ; the Odontoglossums always preferring the 

 latter, and Epidendrums the former. The general di- 

 rections for potting given in a former chapter, apply 

 perfectly to these plants. As a general rule they all de- 

 light to grow in good, rich, fibry matter,- such as is to be 

 had in swamps and peat meadows, where vegetable fibre 

 largely predominates. As many of the particles of 

 earthy matter as can be easily got rid of, should be sep- 

 arated from the turfs by beating. 



If there is any inclination to soddenness, or a disposi- 

 tion of any kind to obstruct thorough aeration, a good 

 quantity of sphagnum moss should be introduced, which 

 counteracts any bad effects. There is nothing to be 

 gained by impoverishing the semi-terrestrial species, and 

 often cow or horse droppings, well dried, may be added 

 to the potting material with beneficial results. 



No Odontoglot, Lycaste, Lcelia, or Trichopelia, as a gen- 

 eral rule should be allowed to get dry at the roots. 

 Nothing cripples their powers of action so much as 

 drought, and it sometimes requires months or even years, 

 for a plant to recover from a single " drying off" It 

 must be borne in mind that many of these plants have 

 watery bulbs, and make several growths in a year (such 

 are O. Pescatorei, crispum, odoratum, and gloriosum), and 

 if the bulbs are once allowed to dry up and shrivel, they 

 seldom recover their former vigor. 



Occasionally it is necessary, to induce floral develop- 

 ment, to check the luxuriance of particular species which 

 show little disposition to flower annually, unless thus 

 wrought upon by the hands of the cultivator ; but there 

 is a particular time when such treatment is requisite (and 

 each plant must make its own rule), and its duration 



