POTTING AND WATERING ORCHIDS. 15 



POTTING AND WATERING- ORCHIDS. 



THESE are important operations, and, in conjunction with atmo- 

 spheric moisture, must be considered to be the foundation of 

 Orchid cultivation. Carbonic acid gas is always liberated in 

 more or less quantities by decomposing vegetable substances, 

 and this gas, together with ammonia in small quantities, is 

 very beneficial, indeed actually essential to the growth and 

 vigour of growing plants of all kinds. It is a notable fact 

 that most cool Orchids grow best in decaying vegetable matter 

 More especially does this remark apply to such Orchids as 



Layer of Sphagnum. 

 Small Crocks. 



Large Crocks. 



Orchid Pot, drained and ready for compost. 



Odontoglossums and Masdevallias. Most of the Cypripediums 

 will grow in turfy loam, but the more fibre it contains the 

 b etter they will grow, a fact which conclusively proves that 

 they derive their nutriment more from the decaying vegetable 

 matter contained in it than from the mineral or earthy con- 

 stituents of the compost. Again, every cultivator knows how 

 vigorously the old Cypripedium insigne and C. barbatum and 

 its varieties grow in peat, sand, and dried cow-dung, and this 



