84 POTTING AND PLANTING PROPAGATION. 



answer. Fill the fresh compost in round the ball, cover the 

 top of it about half an inch, or in proportion to the size of 

 the plant ; but beware of deep potting, for that is injurious tt 

 the plant. When the pot is full press the new soil down gently 

 and give the pot a smart rap or two on the bench. Level tha 

 soil, and then that plant is finished potting ; place it on one side, 

 and take the next in hand ; and so proceed till all are finished. 

 Then replace them in the frame, or plunge them in the raised 

 border ; but give no water for several days till the buds begin to 

 push through the soil. Then water in such proportion as the 

 plants require. 



The management of such as are grown in borders in respect to 

 removing the soil is rather difficult, for the tubers are so tender 

 that if once bruised the plant is irrecoverably injured. The only 

 way is to open a trench at one end, and with a small fork 

 gradually pick away the soil till a plant is undermined, then 

 carefully lift it up and place it in a box as gently as possible, 

 keeping it covered till replanted, and so proceed till there is a suffi- 

 cient space emptied of plants. Let then the old soil, or at least 

 a part of it, be taken away, and a sufficient quantity of fresh 

 compost put in to fill up the space. Then take up more plants, 

 and fill up the new portion of the bed and replant immediately. 

 jBy so doing the roots will be but a short time exposed to the air ; 

 the least shrivelling by being exposed injures the succeeding 

 year's growth. Proceed in this manner till the whole collection 

 is replanted, filling up the end of the bed with the plants reserved 

 in the box for that purpose. Then give a gentle watering to 

 settle the soil about the plants. They will require no further 

 care, excepting keeping clearfof weeds and a constant look-out for 

 insects to destroy them. 



PROPAGATION. Sy Seeds. Many species of these hardy 

 Orchids seed freely, and ripen it perfectly. Save the seed as 

 soon as it is ripe, and fill some wide shallow pans with the proper 

 compost. Scatter the seed upon the surface, and cover it with a 

 very thin layer of moss. Keep this just moist constantly by 



