24 orchid-grower's manual. 



you have been successful that the plants will do by themselves and 

 require no further care or study to keep them up to the same standard 

 of health. Some persons seem to think that if they have grown their 

 plants well once they can do so again without further trouble, but this 

 is a great mistake ; the same forethought and attention must be given 

 as before ; and we find that there is always something to be learnt by 

 even the most successful of Orchid growers. 



One thing we have always endeavoured to avoid, and that is following 

 the advice of different cultivators : no doubt there is something to be 

 learnt from all by all, but the advice should be cautiously taken. We 

 have seen growers rush into new methods of treatment at once without 

 studying their own appliances, their locality, and their surroundings, 

 and the result has often proved to be failure. Even when one hears of 

 new ideas which are to result in the accomplishment of some extra- 

 ordinary success, it often happens that befora the task is finished the 

 failure is complete. The reason of this failure is hard to tell ; they 

 have overdone the matter, or have not kept up the treatment once 

 practised, or there has been some change in the temperature, or in 

 watering the plants, or perhaps insects have been working mischief. 

 There are so many reasons for failure that it is difficult to tell which 

 may apply in each individual case. 



TREATMENT OP NEWLY-IMPORTED PLANTS. 



WHEN unpacked these should have every leaf and bulb sponged over, 

 and all the decayed parts removed — not torn off, but cut clean ofi" 

 with a sharp knife. There are many insects that harbour about Orchids, 

 such as the cockroach, and different kinds of scale, all of which are great 

 pests. When cleaned they should be laid on dry moss and placed in 

 some part of the Orchid house, where they are shaded from the sun. 

 Water must be given very sparingly at first, as it is liable to rot them ; 

 too much of either light, heat, or moisture is at first very injurious. If 

 they are put in moss or peat it should be gradually moistened, and when 

 they begin to grow and make roots, they should be potted, or put on 

 blocks or in baskets, but care should be taken not to have the pots too 

 large, over-potting being dangerous. 



