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cuspidatum, with others that have been considered as varieties of one 

 species, are a^o abundant in some districts. These are termed bog 

 mosses, and are found in low moist places frequently partly ?ub- 

 merged, and are abundant in most parts of Britain. The sphagnum 

 serves as a retainer of moisture, and by its decay furnishes something 

 for the support of the plan's grown in it. When received it should 

 be spread cut on a bench or flocr and carefully pi< ked and selected, 

 removing all the weeds, leaves, grasses, or fortign substances, and 

 divide it into three qualities. r l he first should consist of the fresh- 

 growing points of the shoots, v hich must be preserved for surfacing ; 

 the neit in freshness will be set aside for chopping up and mixing 

 with peat for potting ; and tha third, comprising all the rough* st and 

 most decayed portions, being employed for covering the drainage in 

 the pots before the principal soil is placed in. It should all be kept 

 in a damp warm position, especially the first named, to induce growth, 

 which soon takes place under favourable circumstances, assuming a 

 bright green colour. The chopped sphagnum is sometimes scalded 

 with hot water to destroy insects, and in any case these must be 

 looked after very clcse^ or they will do much mischief afterwards, 

 when they cannot be so readily found. A substance termed Trepho, 

 consisting of compressed sphagnum, is sold by Mr. B. Field, 

 Swan Place, Old Kent Road, and has been recommended by several 

 Orchid growers for blocks or for potting purposes. The sphag- 

 num is placed under hydraulic pressure, and thus formed into 

 compact firm blocks that can be cut to any size required, which, 

 as might be imagined from the nature of the substance, are very 

 retentive of moisture. It is employed in this way as blocks to grow 

 Orchids upon and for breaking up as a substitute for or an addition to 

 peat. It is well worth a trial, and the fact that it is being employed 

 by some nurserymen is a sufficient proof of i?s merit. 



LOAM, CHARCOAL, AND POTSHERDS. For exotic Orchids loam is 

 not much used except for Calanthes, a few Cypripediump, or olher 

 strong- growing species ; but whenever employed it should ?e of a 

 light fibrous character, heavy and clayey loam being especially 

 avoided, and that of a very sandy nature is also unsuitable. It must 

 be stacked as for ot\ er plants and used in an intermediate state of 

 moisture. Charcoal is an important material fc.r mixing with com- 

 post for many Orchids, and some, like the Phalsenopses and others of 

 that character, can be grown in that and potsherds alone. The latter 

 must be thoroughly cleansed and sorted in different sizes, using the 

 largest for the lower drainage in pots and for baskets. 



MANURES. Though ordinary manures have been long used for 

 strong- growing Orchids of the Calanthe, Cypripedium insigne, and 

 Dendrobium nobile types, they have not come into general use for 

 other Orchids, and it is quite evident that although some of the 

 character named may be benefited by stimulants, these must be 



