32 orchid-grower's manual. 



peat or sphagnum moss mixed with charcoal may be placed 

 upon the crocks. By the addition of charcoal the soil is kept 

 sweet and open, in addition to which the roots will cling to it. 

 If baskets are preferred the plants can be treated in the 

 same way in them. If placed on blocks they require to 

 be put in a moister atmosphere and to be often syringed, 

 as they will of course dry up sooner than if in pots or 

 baskets. 



We have also found hanging up the plants in a moist 

 house, without anything about their roots, a good plan where 

 room is scarce ; they will break freely in this way, but they 

 are inconvenient to move about as the roots get broken. 



As soon as symptoms of growth are observable, those 

 which come from the hotter parts of India should be put 

 at the warmest end of the house, but they should not have 

 too much moisture when first starting into growth. Those 

 which come from the more temperate regions should be kept 

 in the coolest part of the house. They should not be per- 

 mitted to stand in the way of drip, as this frequently rots 

 the young shoots as soon as they appear. Such plants as the 

 species of Vanda, Saccolabiicm, A'erides, Anyracum, Phala- 

 nopsis, &c., we place so that the heart or crown hangs down- 

 wards, in which position no water can lodge about them. 

 They should hang for about a fortnight, and may afterwards 

 be put in pots, on blocks, or in baskets, with crocks until 

 they begin to grow, when some moss should be placed about 

 their roots ; but they must have but little water until they 

 begin to grow, and make new roots, after which they may be 

 treated in the same manner as established plants. This is 

 much the safest mode of treating these valuable Orchids 

 on their first arrival in this country. Always be careful to 

 keep the sun from them until they show signs of growth. 



