TREATMENT OF SEEDLINGS 77 
sand to this compost. The whole should be thoroughly 
well watered before the tiny seedlings are placed a quarter 
of an inch or so apart in small holes in the surface of 
the compost and sprayed to settle them in position. Up 
to this stage the greatest mortality is observed. Wide 
crosses between species of dissimilar nature, and which 
have up to the production of the growth point or root 
appeared to be doing well, having shown that they did 
not belong to the unfertile, suddenly collapse. Those 
which have taken a long time to germinate have fallen 
victims to the minute fungi, and other low forms of 
vegetable organism, which, commencing at one or two 
spots, have gradually overgrown the surface of the pot 
and destroyed them. The stronger are often destroyed 
by small insects, while drip, however carefully guarded 
against, claims its share of the spoil. These things are 
specially vexing to the amateur who is working in a small 
way. To the expert cultivator who has a multitude of 
subjects in hand, and whose methods and appliances 
mitigate the evils, the losses are not so serious, for when 
Orchid seeds germinate freely they provide for losses when 
sown on a large scale. Nothing is gained by removing 
the little seedlings from the seed pot or basket too early. 
If thriving, they should be left until they are large enough 
to be handled safely. But where there is overcrowding, 
or “damping off,” or decay from fungus, it is best to 
remove some or all of the little seedlings in any stage 
of growth to the store-pots. 
The store-pots should be returned to the seedling case, 
or placed on a shelf near the glass in a warm, moist house, 
where the seedlings should increase in size until they are 
