APRIL, 1922 | TUE UONCIND: RET IE 119 
THE AMATEUR’S PAGE. 
NOTE from an amateur concerning the staging in his Cypripedium 
house brings out the fact that insufficient consideration is given to 
this important matter. A solid structure of thick boards or immense slabs. 
of slate may do very well so far as a potting bench is concerned, but too 
often the cultivation of Cypripediums is attempted on somewhat similar 
contrivances. The results, although perhaps pleasing to the young amateur, 
are by no means as satisfactory as they might’ be. Cypripediums are 
terrestrial in habit, it is true, but this term does not imply that they always 
grow in soil on the ground level like the majority of garden plants. In 
their native home they are frequently found growing on elevated rocks, and 
in the forks of large trees where a quantity of soil in the way of decayed 
vegetable matter has accumulated. 
Many Cypripediums have shown much improvement when removed from 
a solid staging to one composed of laths and admitting a free circulation 
of air. The narrower the laths the better, and the pots should be so placed 
that the drainage hole in the bottom is left quite free, so that the air may 
obtain access to the interior, with a consequent beneficial effect to the roots. 
A moist atmosphere is at all times necessary, and is best maintained by 
placing sheets of corrugated iron, or tiles, a few inches above the hot-water 
pipes, and covering them with broken coke or other moisture holding 
material. Many of the best constructed Orchid houses are fitted with 
double staging, the lower one solid and covered with sand or broken coke, 
the upper one made of narrow laths and placed about a foot above it. 
Another method, and one that generally gives excellent results, is to 
Stand each plant upon an inverted pot, or even two, so that it is well elevated 
above the solid staging. When the pots are arranged methodically in lines 
itis an easy matter to syringe in between them. A considerable quantity 
of water is absorbed by these additional pots, and is subsequently given off 
into the atmosphere, thus maintaining it in a moist condition. It is not 
always necessary to stand a pot upon another one of similar shape or size, 
for it may then be elevated above the height of the surrounding plants and 
look unsightly ; three small pots placed in triangular formation will allow 
the drainage hole of the pot containing the plant to remain uncovered, 
which is an item worthy of consideration. A word of caution may be given 
regarding the space above the plants, and beneath the glass roof. This 
should always be sufficient to prevent the foliage of the plants being 
scorched, for even when adequate shading is provided the space just beneath 
the glass is frequently too hot and dry for the satisfactory cultivation of 
Cypripediums. More than one cultivator lowers the staging at the 
commencement of summer, and raises it again when the autumn arrives. 
