THE GREENHOUSE GAY 91 



loam can be obtained a little may be used for C. insigne. All fine 

 material should be sifted out and the rough pieces only used. Work 

 the compost lightly about the roots, and be careful with watering 

 until roots are active. Keep the water out of the growths at all 

 times and fumigate frequently as a preventive of insects. Odonto- 

 glossum crispum and varieties must be grown in quite a cool house 

 shaded from bright sun. By fire heat the house should never be 

 allowed to rise above 40. A compost similar to that recommended 

 for the Cypripediums will do. The Dendrobiums require a high 

 temperature, full sun, and an atmosphere heavily charged with mois- 

 ture during the growing season. The temperature may rise above 

 100 with sun heat and ought not to drop below 70. When growth 

 is finished the water supply should be reduced and the plants placed 

 in a cooler house with a drier atmosphere. A shelf exposed to full 

 sun forms an ideal position. As the leaves die reduce the water 

 supply until none at all is given. When the flower buds appear in 

 spring place the plants in a warmer house again and give water 

 sparingly until growth begins. They may be placed in hanging pots 

 or baskets in a compost of fibrous peat, sphagnum, and charcoal. 

 The Cattleya may be grown with the Cypripediums and a similar 

 compost used. In all cases keep the floors and stages of the houses 

 damp and the houses well ventilated. 



Forcing Lily of the Valley 



Q. I am anxious to have Lilies of the Valley in bloom in the 

 greenhouse early in the year. Please advise. E, 0. K., Leeds. 



A. September is the month in which to pot the roots intended 

 for forcing. It is necessary to obtain plump, well matured crowns 

 to commence with or failure will result ; thus, if they have to be 

 purchased it will be better to pay a little extra to a reliable nursery- 

 man than to buy rubbish which cannot flower. In potting, use a 

 somewhat light compost, consisting of turfy soil, leaf mould, and 

 sand, placing six or eight crowns or single roots in a 5-inch pot. No 

 good will result from cutting the roots about, unless, of course, they 

 are too large for the pots, when they may be slightly trimmed. Let 

 the tops of the crowns show just above the soil, and water them well 

 in. Different growers have different ideas regarding the later treat- 

 ment of the Lilies, but a very simple method is to plunge them in a 

 box of cocoanut fibre over the hot water pipes in the greenhouse, 

 well covering the crowns. It is important to keep the fibre in a 

 moist condition, when growth will soon commence. They can be 



