THE ORCHID REVIEW. 39 
THE SOWING OF SEED.—It is most difficult to lay down hard and fast 
rules for this important work. In every instance it is advisable to sow the 
seed as soon as ripe, with the exception, perhaps, of the dull months of 
November, December, and January, when the seed vessels should be 
wrapped up in paper, and kept in the house where the plants grew. The 
seed nearest to the column is invariably the best and most fertile, and can 
be depended upon. Specially prepared pots should be kept in readiness, 
and as soon as the seed vessel approaches the ripening stage the seed should 
then be soon thinly on these pots, placed in a propagating frame, and kept in 
a uniform moist temperature of about 80 to 85 degrees. 
The frame which is most suitable is one made sloping to the walls of the 
house, 2ft. 6in. wide, r8in. high in front, r2in. high at the back, the 
front should be moveable on hinges to admit of syringing between the 
pots, and the frame heated by three row of Lin. pipes, two flows and one 
return, with a valve for regulation. A layer of 3in. rough and rin. fine ballast 
should be placed in the bottom, to retain the moisture, and thereupon the 
seedling pots should be placed on inverted pots or zinc trays. By letting 
down the hinged front the syringe can be applied when needful. Thus 
treated the seedling pots require little or only occasional spraying, with 
Stone’s patent sprayer, a capital and useful instrument. Special attention 
must be paid to the ventilation of the frame, to get rid of the superfluous 
moisture which is sure to accumulate. According to the season the seed 
will begin to germinate in due time, the good seed will turn slightly green 
and swell in the centre, like a small cucumber, and ultimately form a small 
globule, which in its turn will produce a tiny leaf. Now is the time for the 
operator to keep his watchful eye open, and prick off all those which are 
fit, a tedious work, requiring a great deal of patience and good eyes. A 
thin sharpened stick, or, even better, the handle of a toothbrush ground 
to a fine point is the best instrument to recommend. The pricked off 
seedlings should now be placed back into the frame, and treated as 
recommended before. Three weeks is about the average time for the pots 
to remain in the frame, to ensure success, and they may then be removed 
into a slightly cooler compartment; ten seedlings in a 2in. pot is quite 
sufficient for the time being; for choice I prefer to prick them round the 
edges of the pot, they appear to thrive better, and are less subject to decay. 
Twelve to eighteen months is about the time allotted for them to stay 
in tens, when they require to be potted into single pots according to 
growth. 
PotTING MATERIAL.—The success of raising seedlings mainly depends 
upon the seed-beds, no matter if it is a pot with a growing plant, or one 
specially prepared for the purpose. The very best fibrous peat only should 
be used, well beaten out; added to this one-half of the best Frencb 
