A XI) THEIR MANAGEMENT. 201 



Dendrobium. 

 which the}' ha\-e been grown. They will not stand too 

 great a drought. 



The plants should be re-potted as soon as the new- 

 growth begins to push after the flo\vering season is 

 passed. Pots, pans, baskets, rafts, and blocks are used, 

 the first two for such strong sorts as E. cJirysaiitluiiii, 

 D. chrysotoxiiui, D. finibriatuuh E. spcciosniii, &c. ; 

 baskets are preferred for the smaller and more 

 delicate kinds, and rafts and blocks for those which do 

 not like to have their roots confined. Grand specimens 

 have been grown on blocks with a little sphagnum about 

 the roots ; but to do this the plants must be kept in a 

 constantly-saturated atmosphere and a high growing 

 temperature. Those that thrive in pots or pans should 

 be planted in a compost of good fibrous peat and sphagnum, 

 with a little sand or crock-dust, to keep the mixture 

 porous. Dendrobiums resent too much material about them, 

 and the receptacles should therefore be kept well drained, 

 and as small as possible. Two-thirds of the pot should 

 be occupied with clean drainage, and the mixture should 

 be pressed in firmly about the roots. In every case, when 

 re-potting is done, the plants should be made to stand 

 firmh- in the pots by means of stakes, as those which are 

 loose' in the soil do not get established nearly so quickly 

 as those which are firm. 



\A'hen the plants are grown in baskets the)- should be 

 supplied with ample drainage, and the compost consist 

 almost entirely of chopped sphagnum and sand. 



Aphides sometimes attack the young growths of 

 Dendrobiums, and thrips are frequentl)' found on both 

 young and old foliage. There is also the Dendrobium 

 Beetle to be reckoned with. For the method of dealing 

 with these pests the reader is referred to the Introductorj' 

 remarks. 



PivpagatioH. — Almost the whole of the deciduous 

 section '""of Dendrobiums are eas>- to propagate, either 

 by division of the pseudo-bulbs or b)' cutting off the 

 back bulbs, selecting those that have not flowered over- 

 freely. They should be laid on a damp bed of moss m 

 a stove or 'in a close propagating-case, when they will 

 quickly form new growths ; these, as soon as the^ new- 

 roots make their appearance, should be cut off with a 



