CHAP. V. ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 363 



November to the end of February. The close of this period is 

 considered the fittest time for repotting such as are grown in 

 pots, just as they begin to start into growth. Some, however, 

 consider the month of June or July preferable for the purpose- 

 Previous to potting it is laid down as indispensable that they 

 receive no water for a few days. They should be elevated some- 

 what above the level of the pot. The principal point to be 

 attended to is that they be provided with thorough drainage ; 

 for although the plants are fond of moisture they never thrive 

 except the water has a free passage through the pot. In fact I 

 might say that drainage is the one thing only to be kept in view. 

 As a potting material Peat has been much employed in England, 

 and I am told by Mr, S. Jennings that he went to the expense of 

 having a cask or two of it sent out to him for the purpose ; but 

 it proved quite unfit for this country. Charcoal and broken 

 brick alone are the materials it has been found best to employ 

 in India. The form of the pot used seems a mere matter of 

 fancy ; though it is desirable to use one whose dimensions bear 

 a suitable relation to the Orchid to be grown in it. The mode 

 of potting is very simple. Within the pot to be used place a 

 smaller one turned upside down. Between the two pots put 

 large lumps of broken brick, or kunkur, and charcoal, and fill 

 up to the rim with pieces smaller and smaller. Upon these 

 spread out the roots of the plants, and cover them with small 

 pieces of the same material. To keep it steady, insert a couple 

 of stout sticks to tie it to. 



When grown in suspended baskets, the baskets may be so 

 designed as to be very pleasing ornaments in themselves, 

 according to the taste manifested in their construction. The 

 materials with which the baskets are filled will be much the same 

 as those employed in the mode of potting above given. 



To grow them on lo<rs, they must be bound on with copper 

 wire, protected first with Moss or Cocoa-nut fibre. 



When Orchids are in the condition of most vigorous growth, 

 it is the driest period of the whole year. At this season, there- 

 fore, when they are most craving of moisture, frequent waterings 

 must be given them, to counteract the perfect state of dryness 

 to which such thorough drainage would soon reduce them. And 

 herein indeed seems to consist the main difficulty in their culti- 

 vation the making the drainage effectual, and the compensating, 



