JuLy, 1922.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 215 
THE AMATEUR’S PAGE 
ae fact that manure in some form or other is beneficial to the majority 
of garden plants frequently causes amateurs to consider its use in the 
cultivation of Orchids. But all experiments have proved that Orchids do 
not prosper for long when so treated. The professional grower, whether he 
be a trade grower or a man in charge of an important private collection, has 
long since learnt that the finest desired results are obtainable without the 
use of manurial stimulants. Instances have more than once been known of 
the ground within the houses being soaked twice a week with manure water 
during the growing season, and this in the belief that the plants obtained 
much of their required food from the atmosphere. This practice of making 
the Orchid house anything but attractive to the owner and visitor has, we 
are glad to say, practically died out. 
But one still hears occasionally of an amateur who gives his plants weak 
doses of manure water, and to him a warning is necessary, for the apparent 
good effect is invariably followed by serious consequences. This so-called 
satisfactory culture is in effect similar to a few strokes of the whip to a tired 
horse, the immediate increase of energy being followed by a further degree 
of impoverished condition. Some of the Oncidiums are notoriously difficult 
to cultivate for any length of time, and experiments conducted with 
O. varicosum showed that when manure water was applied the growth 
became more vigorous, but only for a short period, after which the plants 
dwindled rapidly and were eventually destroyed. Of the rare cases in which 
a little stimulant gives good results mention may be made of large specimen 
Cymbidiums that have entirely filled the pots with roots, and of Calanthes 
in vigorous growth, although it should be stated that several gardeners, 
much to their credit, achieve excellent results with no more than the fibre 
and loam compost usually recommended for this class of easily-grown 
terrestrial Orchid. é 
It is the practice of some cultivators to follow as closely as possible the 
atmospheric conditions under which certain Orchids live in their natural 
home. Bearing in mind the fact that many of them are known to inhabit 
forests, a bed of oak or beech leaves is sometimes placed under the staging. 
Whatever the effect of these decomposing leaves may be, they certainly 
make a splendid hiding place for all manner of slugs and insect pests, and 
on that account it is questionable whether their use is on the whole 
beneficial. Some cultivators are strong believers in having freshly dug soil 
under the staging, and even if this is not renewed yearly it should certainly 
be turned over occasionally. Sour soil in a house is not conducive to a 
light and sweet smelling atmosphere. 
One of the principal difficulties experienced during the hot summer 
weather is to keep the Odontoglossum house sufficiently moist. A rather 
