Potting Orchids 



was placed in a larger pot full of moss, and hourly, 

 or almost, its condition was inspected. For twelve 

 months the little treasure gave no sign of gratitude, 

 but it lived ; then on a sudden its dormant energies 

 burst forth, and with such vigour that in four years 

 it became a noble plant. If all our orchids could 

 be treated in the same way, they would astonish us. 

 But we cannot give the ceaseless attention required. 

 I tell the little story only as an illustration of the 

 abstract rule. It teaches that if we must use peat 

 and moss, at least we should use no more than is 

 necessary. 



Whether pot or pan be used, three-fourths of the 

 depth should be filled in with crocks or charcoal, 

 which are readily soaked and capable of holding 

 damp, though the water itself passes off instantly ; 

 so we get the best approximation to bare living 

 wood in this respect. Those nodules of burnt earth 

 which builders use are most effective, but the 

 advantage over potsherds is not great enough to 

 compensate any extra trouble in procuring them. 



Lately, however, some of our leading growers 

 have discarded crocks of every sort, using instead 

 the dry roots and stems of bracken, or rather the 

 shells of them, which abound in good peat. With 

 these, broken and pressed together, they half fill 

 the pot, and then proceed as usual. In the hands 



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