REPOTTING — SURFA CING— WA TERING. 



5 7 



directions given under the headings of the respective genera. Occasionally the need for 

 disturbance may be deferred for a time, by giving the plants a surfacing only of new 

 material, first removing a little of the old to make 

 room for it. Avoid injury to the roots in doing this, 

 and never let surfacing take the place of-repotting 

 or re-basketing when this is necessary. 



Frequent renewals of the surface are misleading, 

 as the top compost dries more rapidly than the older 

 material beneath, making it difficult to determine 

 whether or not the plant is really in need of water. 

 Observation is the best teacher, and a year or two 

 spent among these beautiful plants enables the 

 amateur grower to tell at a glance whether any 

 individual specimen needs re-potting or not. Never 

 let a plant get out of health before attention is given, 

 or it will be so weakened as to suffer badly, and then Fig 2? Pottino Pseudo . Bulbous 0rchiu 

 the disturbance is blamed when previous neglect 



References : — a, compost ; b, layer of moss to 

 was really in fault, protect drainage (c). 



ROUTINE MANAGEMENT. 



As success in the cultivation of orchids very largely depends on the intelligent 

 manner in which certain essential practices are carried out, it is necessary that the chief 

 factors in routine be explained, in order that the significance of the details enjoined 

 under each of them may be comprehended. The structures may be in every respect suit- 

 able for the plants, the temperatures correct for the respective kinds, and the composts 

 the best procurable, yet it is impossible that satisfactory cultural results can be obtained 

 in the absence of sound judgment and attentive care in the routine operations of water- 

 ing, syringing, shading, and ventilation As these are primary elements by which 

 success is achieved, intending cultivators should study carefully the remarks under each 

 sectional heading. 



Watering. 



Few plants other than aquatics need more water both at the roots and in the atmo- 

 sphere than do healthy orchids while growing. The nature of the compost advised 

 above is such that water, when applied, drains rapidly away, and a fresh supply 



VOL. III. I 



