214 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
and time at his disposal, which would be necessary at first to ensure 
success. 
Something about manuring Orchids is doubtless looked for, and rightly 
so, in the Calendar of Operations, which is above all things practical, and 
written for the guidance of all who may desire it. I have from time to 
time advised manure in a weak liquid state for certain species, such as 
Calanthes, and Ccelogynes, and some few others, which from practice 1 
have found did them no harm, but, on the other hand, seemed to do them 
good for atime. But I have never been very loquacious on this matter of 
manuring Orchids, for I have never fully believed in it, and yet have never 
openly flouted the idea. Like many others, I have sometimes thought that 
manurial aid might possibly be of assistance, if once the proper proportion 
and the proper way of applying it was fully understood. Now I am 
determined to shelve manure in every shape and form, for, so far as 1am 
concerned, my conclusion is that manure is not permanently beneficial; 1 
don’t believe I shall ever use another drop of manure, not even on those 
species which I have previously enumerated as manure takers. Iam certain 
that in the long run manure does more harm than good, and that the 
plants are better without it, and that it is the cause of much mischief 
which is attributed to other causes. , 
Having said this much I feel relieved, for I should indeed be sorry for 
any cultivator to think that I recommend manure. On the other hand, I 
now believe that an Orchid which receives it is apt to go wrong at any time: 
Things have happened that make me think there is no certainty about 
them ; that you cannot depend upon them, and that they are liable tO 
disease at any moment, which will carry them off like the snuff of a candle. 
Plants that are here to-day and gone to-morrow are, to say the least, most a 
_ undesirable. It is better to go on slowly but surely ; to be satisfied hy 
‘slower and smaller new growths, well ripened, and matured by the admission 
of plenty of fresh air, which I believe is, after all, the best possible manure, 
and the only natural one for Orchids. Plants so nurtured are bout 
make their mark in time ; all that is required is patience. é 
We must endeavour, if possible, to get the greater part of the repotting 
finished in the Cattleya and Intermediate houses this month. I neve” 
Tepotting Cattleyas much later, as it leaves such a short time before tie 
dull weather sets in upon us, for them to recover sufficiently td ea 
through the winter safely. Sobralias should be repotted 4% with 
as the flowering season is past. Good turfy strong loam, mixed | if 
broken charcoal and sand, suits them admirably. They should be pote! 
firmly. Once strongly established, they are of most easy growth, a 
but little trouble, They make a large quantity of thick fleshy woe 
must therefore have pots, or pans, of a reasonable size to contain" : 
