﻿THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



specimens. To my excellent gardener, Mr. W. H. Young. I am indebted 

 for the care and attention he has devoted to this new material. I am sure 

 lie feels that the results he has obtained in the increased vigour of the 

 plants under his charge have amply repaid all the trouble he has taken over 

 them. But this proper care is so very essential, and is after all so seldom 

 given by the average gardener, that I am not surprised at the adverse 

 •opinion so often expressed in the Review. Careless culture with leaf- 

 mould will kill a plant where the same carelessness with peat would 

 only stunt its growth. 



To those who cannot rely on this care, I should say a mixture of peat 

 and leaf-mould would mean less risk to the plants. I cannot say what 

 proportions of each material should be used, but I would say, increase the 

 proportion of leaf-mould as you find you can trust your gardener. Leaf- 

 mould does give better results than peat, therefore get to the unmixed 



Reverting for a moment to the analysis previously mentioned, it may be 

 added that the analyst— John Hughes, Esq., F.I. C— in comparing the 

 two samples of leaf-mould, remarked : — " The Belgian sample contains 

 nearly one-third of its weight of sand, and I am surprised to learn that it 

 is regarded so favourably. Probably its value may be due to the improve- 

 ment effected in the mechanical condition of the soil with which it may be 

 mixed. 



I find by calculation that one ton of each mould would only contain : — 



ENGLISH. BELGIAN. 



Phosphoric Acid - - lbs. - 2 lbs. 



Potash - - 3 5 „ 



Lime - - - 5* „ - 74 „ 



Nitrogen - - 18 „ - 13 ,, 



The Belgian is certainly drier, and contains slightly more Phosphoric 

 Acid, Potash and Lime, but less Nitrogen in the form of decaying vegetable 

 matter. For the purposes of potting I should certainly think that the 

 English quality should be fully as useful as the Belgian." 



J. Wilson Potter. 



" Elmwood," Croydon. 



EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS AND THEIR SUPPORT. 



It is known that most Orchids, like many other plants, harbour in their 

 roots endophytic Fungi. These Fungi act the part of intermediaries 

 between the Orchids, and the medium on which they grow, and it is 

 interesting to study their mutual relations, which are far from unimportant. 

 In fact, we know that epiphytic Orchids generally confine themselves to 



