8o PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



composition of the potting material is of minor importance. 

 For Cattleya and Laelia hybrids and a large number of 

 epiphytes grown with them the compost is made by tearing 

 up the materials with the hand, or in some other way which 

 will not break the fibres very much. Osmunda fibre forms 

 one-half to two-thirds of the compost, the other third being 

 made up of good Sphagnum-moss and Oak leaves or other 

 decayed, dryish leaves. We do not recommend leaf-soil 

 or leaf-mould, which was formerly strongly advocated, 

 especially by Continental growers, who used it with disas- 

 trous results. The most that is done now is to mix a 

 proportion of it with other potting material for Lycastes, 

 Calanthes, Phaius, and similar strong-growing terrestrial 

 Orchids. 



For mixing with the compost for hybrid Orchids, some 

 use crushed crocks, sand, charcoal, and a small proportion 

 of each or either may be employed safely, although there 

 is no real need for such materials. 



Poly podium fibre may also be substituted for Osmunda 

 fibre, or a proportion of each may be used. Orchid 

 peat fibre, which used to be the chief potting material for 

 Orchids, is still perhaps as good as any of the other fibres, 

 provided a really good quality can be obtained, a matter 

 which has become increasingly difficult. 



For Cypripediums, and especially Selenipediums, a pro- 

 portion of good, fibrous loam should be added to the com- 

 post recommended for epiphytal Orchids, the proportion of 

 loam being increased as the plants get larger. Phaius, 

 Calanthes, Zygopetalums, Zygocolax, and other plants of a 

 similar character should also have a proportion of loam- 

 fibre in the compost, and in these cases Orchid peat may 



