66 REPORT ON THE 



to which I have alluded is very easily obtained and applied. I 

 would not recommend anyone to make trials, except on plants of 

 little value, and then no harm can be done. If it is found 

 serviceable in the way indicated, there will then be timej^to 

 consider a wider application. (Applause). 



The CHAIRMAN : I do not know whether any cultivators of 

 Orchids here have ever ventured to try any manure on their 

 plants. I have never heard of its being done, but if any gentle- 

 man here has made the experiment we shall be very glad to hear 

 what he has to say. 



Mr. HARVEY : I did once try an experiment with manure on 

 a Cymbidium Lowii, but I very nearly killed it. 



Mr. JAMES : For some years past we have been in the habit 

 of using pure horse urine, after it had been diluted, on many 

 Orchids, and we have always found that, when used, it has proved 

 very beneficial, especially in the growing season. We are using 

 it largely for damping the stages and paths at night, when a 

 heavy dew quickly arises. I think, if we take into consideration 

 what Mr. Borwick has already hinted at, the fact that plants 

 invariably suffer extremely after carrying their heavy spikes, it 

 seems to impress one with the thought that there is some 

 necessity for sustaining the strength. The question has been 

 raised of late years as to whether Orchids benefit by having 

 their spikes removed after they are formed. I have no doubt 

 in my own mind that it is a marvellous advantage if you want 

 to gain strength in the plants. I have an instance of the 

 Odontoyhssum Alexandra. Two years ago we took very special 

 care of it as being an extra good one. Somehow a small slug 

 got into it and eat the spike out and it at once began to 

 make two bulbs, but most unfortunately the spikes got eaten 

 out of the two bulbs. The result has been that this year it has 

 made a double growth from each bulb, and now it has four heads 

 to the plant, and, marvellous to say, it has sent up nine spikes 

 to the flower, an instance which I have not seen before in an 

 Alexandra. One bulb has three spikes on the side of the double 

 leaf. I take it for granted that this must be merely a question 

 of strength from raising the plant, which was a moderately 

 strong one. Further, I think, that as regards the question of 

 some kind of nutriment, it is not so much a question of what 

 kind is applied, but rather of how it is applied. If you drench 

 the flowers with pure horse urine diluted and use it in watering, 



