HYBRIDISATION, SEEDS, & SEEDLINGS 13 



is at all times maintained. Here, given the same kind of careful 

 attention that tropical and sub-tropical seeds receive, especially 

 those that are very small, there is no good reason why fertile Orchid 

 seeds should fail to germinate. In an ordinary stove house, with 

 slips of glass over the seed pots, there is no difficulty in raising 

 Orchids, but a propagating case in the same house gives greater 

 protection, secures a more equable temperature, and serves to 

 maintain a regularly moist atmosphere, and its use is therefore 

 strongly advised. Under these conditions germination is rapid 

 and the seedlings progress better than under the older method. A 

 proper seed bed is a matter of importance. A rough sawn slice 

 from the end of a scaffold pole does not at first sight seem to be a 

 promising bed for the germination of seeds that may presently 

 yield a plant worth hundreds of pounds sterling ; it is, neverthe- 

 less. A hole should be bored through the centre of the circular 

 block, and the wood be then trimmed at its circumference to fit 

 the pot to be used. This done, put the blocks in the rain-water 

 tank to thoroughly soak. Clean pots must be well crocked and 

 have the drainage covered with sphagnum. On to this foundation 

 the block of soaked wood is placed, and kept in position by means 

 of. chopped sphagnum and silver sand pressed firmly in the half- 

 inch space allowed between the block and the pot. Thoroughly 

 moisten the whole and place in a warm house for a few hours, 

 where it will become warm but not dry. The seed bed is now 

 ready to receive the seeds, and these must be sown thinly and 

 regularly over the rough surface of the wood. Directly after the 

 seeds have been sown, place the properly labelled pot in the 

 propagating case, and lightly shade it. When more moisture is 

 needed, dip the base of the pot in tepid water, so that the moisture 

 gradually soaks up into the wood block. 



This is a good method, but there is another that finds more 



