6o6 



THE BOOK OB' GARDENING. 



rooting season. The young roots quickly get away into the 

 material, and few ill effects are observed. The most critical 

 season is immediately after the flower-spikes have been removed, 

 and just when the new growths are starting ; if great care is not 

 then taken in the matter of moisture at the roots the plants 

 spot or damp off, and become completely rotten in a few hours. 

 It is best to keep the plants at this season in a practically 

 friable condition at the roots, affording sufficient atmospheric 

 moisture to maintain them nice and plump. Sufficient ventila- 

 tion must be given to keep the temperature as even as possible. 



Fig. 387. — L^slio-Cattleya Thorntonii; 



Shading must also be attended to carefully during the summer 

 months. 



Many of the other sections of Miltonias are well worthy ot 

 attention. Those belonging to M. spectabilis are best grown 

 suspended from the roof. 



Nanodes (Epidendrum) Medusa, I find, does best suspended 

 from the roof of a cool intermediate house. 



Oncidium. — As previously stated, with the exception of a few 

 species, these lovely plants thrive best in the two sections of 

 intermediate temperature, the majority of them succeeding in the 

 cool section with the Odontoglossums. The lovely O. Marshal- 



