Conservatories and Glasshouses. 69 



are raised on a mound of moss, and fresh supply 

 ought to be added as the surface roots appear. Plenty 

 of water should be given at all times, and weak cow- 

 manure water twice weekly during the summer months 

 will be of service. Artificial manures are also of great 

 benefit when judiciously used. 



Manure water poured on the paths late in the 

 afternoon, after the houses have been closed, and the 

 heat risen, will cause the ammonia to rise and promote 

 dark healthy foliage. 



Terrestrial Orchids. Plants of this tribe that are 

 cultivated in pots, pans, and hanging baskets, may be 

 potted in the same compost as the former. The 

 compost, however, if used, should be as coarse as 

 possible, and pieces of charcoal about the size of 

 pigeon-eggs and plenty of chopped Sphagnum moss 

 added. 



Celestial Orchids. These may be placed on pieces 

 of virgin cork, or charred wood with a little moss, and 

 firmly secured by copper wire. In this way the plants 

 will soon form roots which attach themselves to the 

 cork and wood, as long as the atmosphere is kept 

 moist, and they are not allowed to suffer from dryness. 

 Cool orchids, as Odontoglossum^ &c., are in most cases 

 a failure. 



Adiantums. These ferns thrive well in a compost 

 of leaf-soil, sand, and loam, with a little broken pottery 

 or brick added. They require copious supplies of 

 water during the summer, and should never be allowed 

 to get dry. In growing large specimens, particularly 

 A. Farley ense (the handsomest of all Maidenhairs), 

 I have found it a good practice when potting to 

 place a small inverted pot over the drainage-hole in- 

 side the larger one, and fill the space between the two 

 pots with small pieces of pottery and a thin layer of 

 dry cow-manure placed over this, using a little heavier 

 compost and leaving an inch or two below the rim 

 of the pot to hold the water, but keep the fronds 

 as dry as possible. All Maidenhairs in the autumn, 



