AuGUST, 1909.]| THE ORCHID REVIEW. 227 
sample of compost sent by Mr. Bolton. It is a mixture of oak leaves and 
chopped sphagnum moss 1n about equal parts, the former being gathered in 
the woods in autumn and kept in the open under a shed until used, when 
they are rubbed through a half-inch sieve. The leaves are ordinary oak 
leaves, such as might be gathered in any district where oak trees grow by 
themselves, for we find no other leaves present. This mixture is pressed 
firmly into the pots, and the surface is then finished off with a layer of 
living sphagnum. 
Mr. Bolton remarks that this mixture is used for all classes of Orchids 
except Cypripediums and other terrestrial species. For these about one- 
third red marl is added to the mixture. This red marl is gathered locally, 
anda sample of it is sent. It occurs in small nodules, and breaks up 
readily when rubbed. Mr. Bolton grows about 60,000 plants in his 
establishment, and he remarks, ‘‘ It does not matter what variety of Orchid 
it is, they all do well, and we have no failures, though Warrington is not 
reckoned to have the best atmosphere for growing Orchids in. We have 
some of the finest Cypripedium insigne Sanderze to be found. Odonto- 
glossum hybrids, Oncidiums, and Miltonias are all doing well, and the 
same may be said of Cattleyas and Cymbidiums. The plants sent are 
Cattleya labiata, Gaskelliana, Mendelii, Mossiz, and Warscewiczii, Miltonia 
vexillaria, Odontoglossum crispum (three), O. luteopurpureum, Oncidium 
ornithorhyncum, Trichopilia nobilis, and Cypripedium insigne Sanderz, 
and they are without exception in rude health and vigour, with leaves 
perfect to the tips. There is no sign of deterioration anywhere, and this 
ought to have manifested itself long ago, for the compost has been used 
long enough to decide its utility. It is also certain that if the plants were 
not doing so well the treatment would have been changed long ago. It will 
be very interesting to see how the plants behave when eee among those 
potted in the more usual fibre compost. 
The amount of sphagnum seems large, and should serve to keep the 
compost sufficiently open, but whether part of it might not be 
advantageously replaced by some fibre is perhaps matter for experiment. 
Sphagnum is certainly a moisture-retaining substance, but it should be a 
very long time before such a compost became in such a state as to rot the 
roots, as was alleged by those who tried the Belgian leaf mould, and 
probably the plants would require repotting first. Some years ago it was 
contended that Orchids could be successfully grown in pure sphagnum, but 
we do not think such a thing is practiced now. 
Mr. Bolton’s houses are peculiar in some respects, as may be seen by 
the articles mentioned, and we hope some day to see them personally, but 
we should say that the atmosphere within must be in the right condition, 
which after all is the main thing in Orchid growing. The compost seems 
