Marca, 1903.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 7 
be given, doing this with care, especially before the young roots have a firm 
hold. If too much water be given the young growths will quickly turn 
black. When well rooted abundance of water will be required, and at each 
alternate watering weak liquid cow manure will be beneficial. I do not 
hold, however, with any excess of manure, for more often than not this. 
leads to that dreaded disease, black spot, and prevention is always better 
than cure. 
HABENARIAS.—These have been resting, on a dry shelf close to the 
glass in the Warm House, since the autumn, and will soon begin to push new 
growth from the apex of the tubers. Use pots or pans as small as possible 
for repotting purposes, giving plenty of drainage, covering over with a thin 
layer of moss, and filling up with the following compost :—One-half should: 
consist of good fibrous peat, loam, and moss in equal proportions, the other 
half of broken potsherds, adding a sprinkling of coarse silver sand. Mix. 
these well together and pot moderately firmly. When the operation is 
completed, sprinkle the soil lightly with a fine rose water-pot, and place 
the plant on the shady side of the Warm House, and as near the roof glass 
as possible. When in full growth a sharp look-out must be kept for thrips, 
which will soon disfigure the foliage, and give the plant an unsightly 
appearance. 
The genera Catasetum, Mormodes, Cycnoches, Cyrtopodium, and 
Spathoglottis are both curious and interesting, and all delight in warm 
treatment. They have had a long, complete rest, and will now be- 
commencing to grow. Immediately the young shoots appear they may be- 
shaken out of the old compost and repotted, using well-drained shallow, 
hanging pans. They mostly succeed best in a compost of chopped 
sphagnum and broken crocks. After repotting, water sparingly for a time, 
until the roots get a firm hold, when abundance may be given. 
THE AMATEUR’S COLLECTION. 
I HAVE been asked to give a few details each month for the guidance 
of amateurs and beginners in Orchid culture, and will commence with a 
few general remarks. 
The prevailing idea is, that Orchids are not only expensive to buy,. 
but that the cost of cultivation is such as to put them beyond the 
reach of most amateur gardeners. Our object will be to show that this 
is not the case, and that Cool Orchids may be obtained and grown at 
no greater cost than ordinary greenhouse plants. The idea that Orchids. 
are expensive to buy is, no doubt, due to a great extent to the reports, . 
which appear at various times in the press, of Orchid sales, at which 
some rare and special varieties have fetched enormous. prices. The 
public argue that as such plants have been sold for say three figures,. 
