AXD THEIR MANAGEMENT. 5 



Procuring the Plants. 



In potting up imported Orchids, the pots, pans, or 

 baskets set apart for their reception should be just 

 sufficienth" large to contain the plants comfortably. 

 Ample drainage should al\va}-s be afforded, and only a 

 small portion of potting compost need be placed on the 

 surface. 



Watering. 



To be able at all seasons to afford the requisite 

 quantit}' of water at the roots is one of the chief 

 difficulties in the successful cultivation of Orchids. 

 During the growing season, when plenty of moisture is 

 necessar}', there is little difficulty in supplying their 

 requirements ; but immediately growth is complete, as 

 well as through the resting season, it is most difficult 

 to supply just sufficient to keep the pseudo-bulbs and 

 maintain the leaves in a plump state and }'et not enough 

 to excite premature growth. Water should always be 

 furnished at a sHghtlj- higher temperature than the mean 

 of the house. Rain water, if possible, should be emploj'ed. 

 If hard water is used, it causes the sphagnum to die, and 

 the decomposition thus set up spreads quickl}- to the 

 remaining portion of the potting compost, causing the 

 whole to become sour and unsuitable, and necessitating 

 repotting of the plants. 



Damping. 



" Damping-down," or the throwing of water about the 

 floors, staging, and walls, is indispensable in Orchid 

 culture. B)' such means is obtained the necessary 

 moist atmosphere. No hard-and-fast rule can be laid 

 down for this operation. It should alwa)'s be governed 

 by the temperature of the house. Excessive moisture 

 during the pre\-alence of cold, dull weather, with low 

 conditions of temperature, induces the condition known 

 as " Black Spot," that renders the plants so unsightly. 

 The higher the temperature, the greater are the necessities 

 for atmospheric moisture. It is never safe to damp-down 

 the houses until the temperature has reached the normal. 

 When done later in the day it should be sufficiently 



