SOILS CULTUBE POTTING. 15 



tially dried out of the cow-pasture. It should be laid on a floor 

 rather thin, and patted down with the back of a spade, and lie 

 long enough to become dry, and then be gathered up and put 

 in a dry place till wanted. 



Charcoal is a very useful ingredient to mix with the peat, 

 loam, and moss, and also to lie upon the crocks used for drainage. 

 It should be broken into pieces the size of a hen's egg or walnut, 

 and be kept dry till required for use. A small quantity of silver 

 sand should also be procured, it is used for some species. 



Drainage. For this purpose there is nothing better than 

 broken garden pots. On breaking, separate them into three 

 sizes, the largest to cover the hole at the bottom of the pot, and 

 a thin layer upon them ; then a second size, rather less, to lay 

 upon the larger size ; the third size should be not much larger 

 than horse Beans. The greater part of a collection of Orchids 

 grown in pots requires to be well drained so much so, that the 

 pot should be half filled with ifc. Stagnant water will certainly 

 destroy the roots : therefore the cultivator must pay particular 

 attention to this important point. 



CULTUEE. The grower of these interesting and singularly 

 beautiful plants having put up the house for them properly 

 heated, the shading and arranging parts of the interior com- 

 pleted, utensils and soils in order, and a fair collection of plants 

 procured, will then commence cultural operations, the most 

 important of which is 



POTTING. The best season for potting will generally be in the 

 early months of the year. The rule to know when a plant should 

 be potted is whenever the buds at the base of the pseudo-bulbs 

 begin to grow ; then the plant should be potted. Now, if too 

 much heat has been given during the autumn, these buds may 

 be prematurely started ; but if the resting season has been pro- 

 perly managed, and moderate heat given during that season, no 

 growth will take place till the turn of the year. Such being the 

 case, then at the proper time remove such plants as have begun 

 to grow into the potting-shed. Take a plant in hand, turn it 



