BASKETING. 21 



a case the water runs off the hillock, and, consequently, does not 

 feed the plant sufficiently to keep it strong continually. 



The way to put these peculiar plants in baskets, and to renew 

 the soil and basket as they require it, is as follows : Having the 

 baskets ready made of different sizes, then fix upon one of a suitable 

 size in proportion to the size of the plant, and line the bottom 

 and sides with a thin layer of long moss sphagnum unchopped 

 is the best. This moss is to prevent the compost from dropping 

 through the bars of the basket, and also to keep in moisture. 

 Upon the moss place a layer of the compost ; after that take 

 the plant out of the old basket or pot and examine the roots 

 and leaves, cutting off all the dead ones from the former, and 

 cleansing the latter from dirt and insects j also, removing as 

 much of the old compost as you can without injuring the roots. 

 Perhaps this old compost may be in lumps dry and hard, and 

 the living roots are so firmly attached to them that to remove 

 them from the lumps in that state would simply be impossible 

 without breaking, and, consequently, destroying them. In such 

 a case place the ball in warm water for a sufficient time to 

 thoroughly soak through and soften the clods, then set the plant 

 to dry, and when in the right state the old lumps may be 

 removed easily enough from amongst the roots without injuring 

 or breaking them. Having accomplished this point, then place 

 the plant in the centre of the basket and fill in the compost all 

 round it till the basket is full, keeping the pseudo-bulbs clear 

 above the soil. That being done, then place the basket with the 

 plant in it on a large pot, take the syringe with the coarsest 

 rose fixed on it, fill the syringe with tepid water, and, holding 

 the end pretty close to the soil, force the water strongly through 

 the rose on to the soil, going round the basket all the while. 

 This watering in this manner will settle the compost effectually, 

 and will leave the surface smooth and even. Then with a pair 

 of scissors trim off any loose pieces of moss that may have pro- 

 truded through the bottom or sides. This gives a neat finished 

 appearance, always desirable to any plants. 



