POTTING ORCHIDS 



WITHIN the last few years Belgian orchidists have 

 introduced a new system of potting, so radically 

 different, not only from the practice elsewhere, but 

 also from the ideas or conceptions hitherto admitted, 

 that all the world laughed to hear of it. Most 

 English gardeners are laughing still ; at this time 

 of writing (January, 1901) not a hundred, perhaps, 

 have made experiments for themselves. Therefore 

 it seems best to expound the orthodox system 

 without further reference, at present, to the new 

 heresy. After all, the old fashion gives results as 

 good, if properly applied. But greater skill is 

 needed to produce them, and the expense is 

 greater. 



It was the custom formerly to hang up imported 

 orchids, or to lay them in a shady corner, until 

 they began to make roots, for fear that they should 

 rot. We understand now that when they arrive in 

 fair condition, this delay wastes their strength. 

 They have rested enough on the voyage. Better 



