﻿THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



Vol. XII.] JULY, 1904. [No. 139. 



DIES ORCHIDIANI. 



I was much struck with the beauty of the group of Odontoglossums from 

 the collection of Norman C. Cookson, Esq., given at page 177, and with 

 the note respecting their culture, because it enables one to judge of the 

 results of the treatment. And the chief reason for mentioning this is the 

 remarkably diverse opinions which continue to be expressed with respect to 

 the use of leaf-mould. There can be no doubt that the illustration repre- 

 sents a series of remarkably well-grown plants, and we are told that the 

 compost consists of fibrous peat and sphagnum, with an admixture of old 

 oak and beech leaves, just beginning to crumble, to the extent of about a 

 third, and that only a single crack is used at the bottom of the pot, over 

 which is placed a layer two inches thick of old bracken rhizomes. This 

 must be a very different compost from the sandy, soily-looking substance 

 often supplied as Belgian leaf mould, and much more difficult to overwater, 

 for all superfluous moisture would drain away as fast as poured on, as long 

 as the drainage remained perfect. I wonder whether the " Cookson 

 formula " was also used. 



I have read with interest Mr. Orpet's remarks at page 164 in reply to 

 my previous notes, and can readily understand that a leaf-compost— and 

 indeed most others — would get waterlogged if watering was done with a 

 hose in a haphazard way ; and Mr. Orpet suggests that nine-tenths of the 

 Orchids grown in America receive such treatment. The method suggests 

 the survival of the fittest, and the perfect drainage provided by Osmunda 

 fibre is likely to be beneficial under such conditions. Mr. Orpet describes 

 how a collection of O. crispum in leaf-mould in a north house needed no 

 water all the winter, neither did they make any growth, but since removing 

 them to a house where the winter sun is available, watering about once a 

 week, always using the Cookson formula, the miserable scraps became fine 



or maturation " rather than against the use of leaf-mould. 



