THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



Vol. X.] DECEMBER, 1902. [No. 120. 



DIES ORCHIDIANI. 



It is interesting to find such a concensus of opinion respecting the value of 

 leaf-mould as a compost for Orchids as is given at pages 331 to 334. The 

 matter seems to be passing out of the experimental stage, and the full 

 details given as to the proper way of preparing and mixing the materials 

 will probably induce other growers to give the system a trial, and thus 

 familiarise themselves with it. The beautiful group of Cattleya X 

 Mantinii grown in the new compost, as illustrated at page 337, is also 

 very instructive. It now seems probable that some cases of failure have 

 not been so much due to the materials themselves as to the methods of 

 using them, for those who have paid proper attention to the mechanical 

 condition of the compost have not been troubled with " wet feet," which 

 seems to be one of the chief difficulties encountered. 



I see it is suggested that the term " leaf-mould " is misleading, as some 

 growers who have not paid sufficient attention to details have used the 

 material in a completely decayed condition. But the term " Oak-leaves " 

 would be equally misleading if taken literally, as one might pot his plants 

 in perfectly new Oak-leaves, and expect to get correct results. The advice 

 not to give Orchids " soggy " potting materials is sound enough, but the 

 instructions given over a year ago were to use Oak-leaves in a flaky or 

 half-decayed condition, and after being rubbed through a coarse sieve, the 

 fine materials were to be sifted out, and then some fibrous peat and 

 chopped sphagnum moss added to keep the compost open (O. R., ix., 

 p. 301). Such a compost is not likely to get " soggy " with ordinary care 

 in watering. 



This latter point seems to furnish one of the chief difficulties with the 

 new compost, and the advice given seems to be a little contradictory. The 

 majority of growers recommend that less water should be applied, but 

 Mr. Harrison finds that " they want more water than when in peat and 

 moss" (page 333), and asserts that "leaves do not get sour nearly so- 

 soon." But even he at first tried "thoroughly decayed leaves, which 



