26 



ORCHIDS 



Methods of Sowing Seed. 



remaining portion consisting of coarse Fern roots left when 

 picking the peat for potting, broken small and mixed 

 with a little charcoal. This should be throughly wetted 



Fig. 6. Orchid Seedlings at Two Months. 



before the seeds are sown. Fig. 6 represents a pan 

 of this description with Cattlej-a seedlings two months 

 from the sowing of seed. Cocoa-nut fibre is favoured b)' 

 man)' as a suitable surface on which to sow the seeds, 

 but we find that it commences to decay too earl}', and 

 the surface has a tendency to become sour, although we 

 have found that shut up in a propagating-case it 

 answers the purpose admirably. Wet brickbats standing 

 in a pan of water fsimilar to what is practised by some 

 in the raising of Fern seedlings) may also be success- 

 fully emplo\'ed for inducing the seed to germinate. 

 Whichever S)'stem is adopted, it is absolutely necessary 

 that the surface should be thoroughly ^\'et before com- 

 mencing to sow the seeds ; for if sown on a dry surface, 

 they are so light that the\' quickly float off, and are thus 

 destro}'ed. 



