THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



DIES ORCHIDIANI. 



There seems to be a considerable diversity of opinion as to the value of 

 the new compost for Orchids, and I suspect that M. Linden's remark, at 

 page 76, that the precise nature of the potting materials is not of primary 

 importance, if the treatment is correct in other respects, is not very wide 

 of the mark. Most of the composts used contain humus in some form or 

 another, and humus-loving plants probably do not trouble as to the particular 

 way in which their wants are supplied, provided always that they are not 

 completely overlooked, in which case the grower will soon know all about 

 it. But I cannot agree with the remark that the new compost will only be 

 of service to those who do not know how to cultivate Orchids, for it is 

 being tried by expert Orchid growers, some of whom report very favourably 

 upon it for certain kinds. I think we have yet to find out to some extent 

 how to use it, for there can be little doubt that a judicious combination 

 with other ingredients would be more suitable for certain kinds than if 

 used pure. 



For example I am told that certain Cypripedes do not do well in it, 

 which perhaps is not remarkable when we know that some of these plants 

 grow in crevices of rocks, where the soil is certainly not pure leaf-mould, 

 though traces of it are present. Many terrestrial Orchids grow naturally 

 in a mixture of loam and leaf-mould, and there is no reason to suppose 

 that a compost of pure leaf-tnould would be an improvement, but rather 

 the reverse. And there is the mechanical composition of the compost 

 to consider, and its capacity for retaining the necessary amount of air and 

 water. It is very satisfactory to find that experiments are being made, 

 for by this means the facts are sure to come out, and the precise value of 

 the new compost will be better understood. 



The remark about sphagnum is a little difficult to follow. Living 

 sphagnum may be an excellent material in which to resuscitate plants that 



