46> THE ORCHID REVIEW. (FEBRUARY, 1914. 
collections. ' In all probability there are some amateurs who are also 
anxious to take up this interesting branch of orchidology, so perhaps a few 
remarks on the subject may be opportune. 
SEED-SOWING.-- There are two methods of sowing the seed. Such 
subjects as Cattleyas, Leliocattleyas, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, and 
Brassavolas are sown upon prepared pots, but Cypripediums, Cymbidiums, 
Calanthes, Disas, Odontoglossums, and similar kinds are sown around the 
base of old plants. In dealing with the latter group success depends very © 
largely upon the selection of a suitable plant. The soil should be just 
below the rim, and in a sweet condition, while freedom from large heads of — 
sphagnum moss and lichenous growth is also important. Give a good — 
watering, and when the water has drained away the seed may be sown, 
evenly and thinly, on the surface. Afterwards water must be given with 
care or the seed will be washed away, and at no time ought the plants on — 
which the seed is sown to become really dry at the root. 
OponToGLossuMs.—Seed is sown in a similar way, but existing | 
seedlings are usually chosen in preference to older plants. This method is — 
no doubt the best, although of course they can be and have been raised 
around other examples, and where any difficulty arises a few partly-decayed : | 
oak leaves added to the compost generally brings about the desired result. 
To ensure a batch of seedlings two or three sowings from each cross should © 
be made, and the plants arranged in various parts of the Cool and 
Intermediate houses. 
EpipHyTES.—With Cattleyas and epiphytes generally a different method a 
is adopted. A small heated case is often fitted up at the warmest end of 
the East Indian house, where conditions more favourable to germination : 
can be maintained. The temperature should be 10° Fahr. or so higher 
than that prevailing in the house, and the atmosphere kept moist by a thin 
layer of cocoa-nut fibre at the bottom. A wood-work staging is placed 
upon inverted flower-pots, on which the seed-pans are arranged. 
PREPARATION OF SEED-PANS.—Either ordinary pots or pans without 4 
side holes may be selected, and these are filled to one-half their depth with — 
drainage. A pot 3} inches in diameter is a suitable size, and a piece of canvas, — 
cheese cloth, or coarse calico is stretched over a ball of sphagnum moss, 4 
the usual compost, and then pressed tightly in the chosen receptacle. The 
surface should be half an inch or so below the rim, and the sides may be 
filled with a thin layer of chopped sphagnum moss. This is occasionally 29 
advantage, as seedlings sometimes appear on the sphagnum and not on the 
canvas, while the reverse has at times to be recorded. The prepared pots @ 
are then thoroughly soaked, and after a few hours the seed may be sown. 
GERMINATION.—A small pocket lens or watch-maker’s glass will be 
found most useful to examine_the progress of germination, and if the seed ‘ | 
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