70 orchid-geower's manual. 



have seen in various places, and on other plants as well as on Orchids. 

 We have not experienced much of it ourselves, and have in most cases 

 found that the plants outgrew it. 



To prevent the disease making its appearence, no rotten or rotting 

 material should be permitted near the roots, either in the shape of sour 

 stagnant moss or soil, or decomposed wood. If the plants get sufficient 

 but not excessive heat, an abundance of fresh sweet air without draughts 

 or sudden chills, a liberal supply of moisture, and full exposure to the 

 light, with shade from the direct burning rays of the sun, we are fully 

 persuaded that the Spot will never be troublesome. On the other hand, 

 if any plants are attacked, the material about the roots should be taken 

 away, every particle of decayed or decaying root removed, and the sound 

 portions should be well washed with warm water ; after this they should 

 be re-potted in some good sweet soil, the instructions already given for 

 the treatment of healthy plants being otherwise followed out. 



In 1860 a gentleman bought of us some plants of PJialaenapsis, which 

 were the finest grown plants we had seen, and they did beautifully with 

 him for some time, growing very fast — in fact too fast, for they got sappy, 

 and their leaves became spotted, as did also those of some others he had. 

 8ome time after we went to see them, and our opinion respecting them 

 was asked. Upon inquiring how they had been treated, we were told 

 that a great deal of water had been given over the leaves, and the roots 

 kept wet ; this was during winter. We called to see them several times 

 during the following spring, and advised that they should be treated as 

 recommended for Phalaenopsis in these pages. These plants have quite 

 outgrown the Spot, and are now among the finest round London. 



When at Hoddesdon, we had two Phalaenopses which became affected 

 with Spot in the winter. We cut ofl one of the leaves, and sent it to 

 Dr. Lindley for his opinion as to the cause of the evil. His reply was, 

 that the plants had been kept too moist during the cold dark days of 

 winter — a reply which we have never since lost sight of. He was quite 

 right, for it was a sharp winter, and these two plants had been kept wet 

 by placing the bottom of the block on which they grew in a pan of water 

 to keep off the cockroaches. In that way, too, much moisture crept up 

 to the roots, and, being in the winter time, this doubtless caused the 

 leaves to become Spotted. However, by following the treatment here 

 recommended in the remarks on Phalaenopsis, the plants soon recovered ; 



