TREATMENT OF NEWLY-IMPORTED PLANTS. 25 



We find it a still better plan to fill the pots nearly full of broken 

 potsherds and charcoal, and to place the plants on the top of this until 

 they begin to grow and make fresh roots. We have treated them in 

 this way now for some years, and find the plants start much better, and 

 they can be supplied with more moisture without fear of rotting them. 

 By having recourse to this method they plump up much sooner, and 

 break more freely, and the water passes away without becoming 

 stagnant. After the plants have well started a little rough peat or 

 sphagnum moss mixed with charcoal may be placed upon the crocks. 

 By the addition of charcoal the soil is kept sweet and open, in addition 

 to which the roots will cling to it. 



If baskets are preferred the plants can be treated in the same way 

 in them. If placed on blocks they require to be put in a molster 

 atmosphere and to be often syringed, as they will of course dry up 

 sooner than if in pots or baskets. 



We have also found hanging up the plants in a moist house, without 

 anything about their roots, a good plan where room is scarce ; they will 

 break freely in this way, but thej^ are inconvenient to move about, as the 

 roots get broken. 



As soon as symptoms of growth are observable, those which come 

 from the hotter parts of India should be put at the warmest end of the 

 house, but they should not have too much moisture when first starting 

 into growth. Those which come frona the more temperate regions 

 should be kept in the coolest part of the house. They should not be 

 permitted to stand in the way of drip, as this frequently rots the young 

 shoots as soon as they appear. Such plants as the species of Vanda, 

 Saccolabnim, Aerides, Angraecum, Phalaenopsis, &c., we place so that the 

 heart or crown hangs downwards, in which position no water can lodge 

 about them. They should hang for about a fortnight, and may after- 

 wards be put in pots, on blocks, or in baskets, with crocks until they 

 begin to grow, when some moss should be placed about their roots; but 

 they must have but little water until they begin to grow, and make new 

 roots, after which they may be treated in the same manner as established 

 plants. This is much the safest mode of treating these valuable Orchids 

 on their first arrival in this country. Always be careful to keep the sun 

 from them until they show signs of growth. 



