334 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



the coarse sieve, a fine meshed sieve i 

 and dust. The result is a flaky mal 

 leaf-soil. 



Some brown fibrous Orchid peat is now selected, broken up by hand, 

 and the earthy particles sifted out and rejected, the fibre being used in 

 varying proportions with living sphagnum moss, of the short growing, small 

 kind ; not the long fleecy variety, which does not give such good results. 

 The materials are prepared and kept separate until wanted for use. For 

 Cattleyas, Laelias, and Odontoglossums about one-half leaves is used, the 

 remainder being made up of the two materials, but for Calanthes, Phaius, 

 Sobralias, and strong-growing Cypripedes, and Orchids of a similar nature, 

 a small proportion of fibrous yellow loam is added. For Aerides, Saccola- 

 biums, and Vandas the amount of sphagnum is increased, but for Miltonias, 

 Oncidiums, and Odontoglossum Edwardi considerably more than half 

 the compost consists of leaves. By mixing as required for use the pro- 

 portions can be varied as desired. 



The mode of potting is uniform. First a large crock is put in, concave 

 side down, then an inch or so of broken crocks and charcoal, with a layer 

 of sphagnum moss to keep the drainage clear. The plant is now inserted, 

 and held with one hand while the compost is filled in, and lightly pressed 

 between the roots. The filling extends to within half-an-inch or an inch 

 below the rim of the pot, after which a good layer of sphagnum moss 

 is placed on the surface, which rises to a similar distance above the 



Plants so potted, it is said, can be watered in the same way as those 

 in ordinary peat and sphagnum, for the drainage is perfect ; but without 

 the careful preparation mentioned above, and with much decayed materials, 

 the greatest care must be taken to prevent the materials getting too wet, 

 and it is in this point that the trouble with such material is experienced. 



The distribution of moisture seems to be one of the most important 

 points in Orchid culture, and for this purpose the sprayer is gaining 

 steadily in favour. For young seedlings in pans it is said to be a 

 foster-mother, and for plants in all stages its judicious and frequent 

 use is highly beneficial. Of course the compost is not everything, 

 and when Orchids fall into bad health it is equally important to 

 find out whether the heating, ventilation, watering, or some other 

 detail is not at fault. If such is the case the defect should be at 

 once remedied or the plants will benefit but little, whatever potting 

 material is used. — I.e., p. 292. 



We believe that the autumn is a good time in which to collect Oak- 

 leaves, just before the new crop falls. 



