564 THE ORCHID REVIEW.  [Sevrewner, iy, 
-—o 
[ees MANURIAL AID TO ORCHIDS. 283 
N reference to the article at page 222 on Manurial Aid to Orchids, I 
| have no hesitation in recommending the “simple life” method of 
cultivation. I have seen articles wherein such things as a teaspoonful of 
guano. and other crude artificial fertilisers have been recommended to be 
added to the compost of Orchids, and one can only assume that the writers 
of such articles have a very hazy idea of the requirements of these 
fascinating plants. I. carried out a series of experiments extending over 
three years, adopting various methods of manuring Orchids, and find that, 
no matter how carefully one may work, and how weak the applications may 
be, the results are not at all satisfactory. 
In regard to your correspondent’s suggestion of damping with weak 
cow-manure water, this is equally unsatisfactory. The roots, though 
abundantly made, are inclined to be soft and very subject to 4 
bacteriological disease, and the growths produced have been large and 
very often flowerless and inclined to ‘‘spot.’”” Furthermore, a few days 
after the application of cow-manure water the osmunda fibre in almost every 
pot in the house is permeated, and afterwards choked up, by the mycelium 
of various fungi (some of which I have noticed are not altogether 
saprophytic in their mode of existence), causing a speedy disintegration of 
the compost. 
1 have found a good natural stimulant in the shape of freshly fallen rain- 
water applied to the roots of the plants, due, no doubt, to the nitrogen 
contained, which is lost in storage. I take care to use rain-water only to 
the roots of plants, and, in times of plenty, for wetting the floor and staging — 
-of the house. 
I am sure also that with subjects such as ‘Calanthes, Thunias, 
Zygopetalums, &c., better flowers are produced without the aid of manure. 
The latter I find grow very well indeed in a pure, strong adhesiv 
. 
‘Contrary to expectation, they will take any amount of water, producing = 
very fine bulbs and foliage and flowering very freely. 
. tO : 
As a last word, let me say that I. sincerely hope we are not going [0 
commence undermining the constitution of our beautiful Orchids 12 the 
same way that our hardy plants have been treated in the past. 
‘Sweet pea as an instance, can anyone claim that this has not 
to an extent almost to be practically impossible of cultivation, 
fads and fancies of the so-called sweet-pea “ experts! ” 
The es 
Hounslow. Henry R. STERRE ee 
artifice 
(We favour the rain-water theory, but at times 4 gon" poe 
Substitute would be useful. And the question is, Have we one 7" = 
Take the : 
degenerated : 
owing to the 
