: ORCHID REVIEW. 



SEPTEMBER, igo 2 . [No. 117. 



DIES ORCHIDIANI. 



It would appear that the system of growing Orchids in leaf-mould is being 

 tested very thoroughly, for after finding some difference of opinion among 

 American growers, we now have a favourable opinion of the new compost 

 from far Japan (page 231), where experiments have been carried on for some 

 three or four years. It is interesting to find a similar account of the im- 

 provement of certain genera when grown in leaf-mould to that reported 

 from various European collections, and the question which seems of most 

 importance at the present time is to know how best to collect or prepare 

 it, and in what proportions it should be mixed with other ingredients to get 

 the best results. 



discussion, 

 l I 

 has been 



One interesting point, however, 

 that Cypripediums form an exception, not thriving in the new compost^ 

 other subjects, and that after careful trials for 



glance may seem somewhat surprising, these 

 it bears out what I think has been previously 

 have heard of one successful grower who had 

 v compost, with equally disappointing 



given up 

 stated, s 



. This at the first 

 sing terrestrial, but 

 ind I remember tc 



expenm* 

 and had 



inted w 

 abando 



ith the ne 

 ned its us< 





consequence. 



It would be interesting to 

 5 sometimes 



have some details of these experiments, for pure leaf-mould ; 

 recommended, might be too light for these plants, which usually thrive 

 better when a proportion of fibrous loam is added to the compost I have 

 been told that these plants grow naturally in a stronger soil than that 

 recommended for epiphytes, which would explain their comparative failure 

 in leaf-mould, and some of our most successful growers invariably add a 

 certain proportion of fibrous loam to the compost used for certain terrestrial 

 species. That true epiphytes, which grow in accumulations of decaying 

 vegetable matter on the branches of trees-or obtain most of their nutriment 

 from this source-should thrive in leaf-mould is not surprising, and the 

 observations above mentioned may help us in estimating the value of leat- 

 mould in Orchid culture, and the way it should be used. Humus, or 



