8oo 



Gardening for Amateurs 



and when the dust has been sifted out it is 

 ready for use. Partly decayed oak-leaves 

 are occasionally wanted, and these are 

 collected in the autumn and stored in a dry 

 shed. They are first rubbed through a half- 

 inch sieve, then the fine particles are re- 



Flower raceme of Aerides. 



moved by a sieve of finer mesh, which leaves 

 a nice flaky material that some Orchids 

 greatly appreciate. 



Watering and Spraying. When giving 

 an Orchid water, regard must be paid to the 

 season, and the activity of the plant. Rain- 

 water should always be used. Newly potted 

 specimens are for the first few weeks watered 

 sparingly through a fine rose on the spout of 

 the can, but when root action becomes fairly 

 vigorous the supply can safely be increased. 



For watering Orchids generally an ordinary 

 spouted can is used. When Orchids are 

 rooting and growing freely they must never 

 be allowed to get dry, but when the season's 

 growth is completed water is given less 

 frequently. 



Newly Imported Orchids. Large im- 

 portations of Orchids are made from time 

 to time, and many amateurs enjoy buying 

 them first-hand, although in most instances 

 it is advisable to purchase them when fairly 

 well established. Much depends upon the 

 state of the plants when they arrive, but, 

 assuming that they are in a fairly good con- 

 dition, they will soon establish themselves if 

 the few following details are carried out. 

 Directly they are received, all dead leaves 

 and damaged parts must be cut off, and, when 

 the plants have been sponged, each piece 

 should be suspended in a downward position 

 for a few days in the warm, intermediate, or 

 cool house, according to the temperature 

 needed. At the expiration of this period they 

 may be placed in small pots with only crocks 

 around the base of the stems. No direct 

 watering is needed, but the surroundings 

 must be kept moist, by moistening the stages 

 occasionallv, and spraying the plants over- 

 head. When growth begins and root action 

 is evident a few of the crocks are taken out, 

 and replaced by a mixture of osmunda fibre 

 and sphagnum moss. Anyone who buys 

 freshly imported Orchids must not be dis- 

 appointed if a few of them fail to grow. 



Insect Pests and Diseases. These are 

 not very troublesome in a well-ordered col- 

 lection. Thrips, Aphides, and Red Spider 

 are seen occasionally, and the remedy for 

 the two former is vaporising, with XL ALL 

 or some other reliable compound. For red 

 spider carefully sponge the leaves, especially 

 the undersides, with a weak solution of some 

 insecticide, and always follow the instruc- 

 tions given with the preparation. Scale 

 insects are more difficult to eradicate, but 

 with persistence they can be got under. 

 An old tooth-brush or pointed stick answers 

 well for removing them. Cockroaches do a 

 lot of damage to flowers and roots ; directly 

 their presence is noticed some poison should 

 be placed around their haunts. Woodlice 

 may be trapped with sliced Potatoes, and 

 slugs will gather under Lettuce and Cabbage 



