14 SOILS. 



SOILS. The soils necessary to grow Orchids with consist of 

 turfy peat, fibry loam, sphagnum moss, leaf mould, cowdung 

 pressed in cakes, charcoal, silver sand, and for drainage a large 

 supply of crocks that is, broken pots in at least three sizes. 



Turfy Peat. The best of all comes from the neighbourhood 

 of Exeter, but very good may be obtained in various parts of 

 the kingdom. It must be sought for where dwarf shrubs, grass 

 and Ferns grow on it the roots of these form the most useful 

 part of it. It should be carted home and laid on a heap. When 

 the potting season approaches a sufficient quantity for present 

 use should be brought into the potting-shed; and when nearly 

 dry should be chopped into pieces, and then the pieces pulled 

 asunder with the hand. After that, pass it through a fine sieve 

 to take out the finer particles ; and what remains in the sieve is 

 the part to be used for the Orchids. The finer parts may be 

 used for young Azaleas or Heaths, or to mix with loam and 

 sand for any young plants. 



Fibry Loam will be needed for terrestrial Orchids. It will only 

 require to be chopped into small pieces and used in that state. 

 The surface of an old pasture taken off an inch or two thick 

 forms the very best loam for this purpose. Like the peat, it 

 should be brought into the shed to become dry and aired some 

 time previous to being used. 



Sphagnum Moss. This is found in wet, boggy marshes, in some 

 places very abundantly. It is collected with a long -toothed rake 

 in dry weather, and laid up in a dry shed till wanted. In order 

 to make it work easily and mix readily with the peat, it should be 

 chopped pretty fine with a sharp, small hatchet, taking the dust 

 out of it through a fine sieve : it is then ready for use. 



Leaf Mould-*- This, as is well known, is formed with the leaves 

 that fall in the autumn. It forms a large part of the compost for 

 terrestrial species, such as Bletias, Ancectochiluses, Cypripediums, 

 &c., and should not be too much decayed. Oak and Beech yield 

 the best leaves for this purpose. 



Cowdung. I prefer this article best when it is collected par- 



