ORCHID CONFERENCE. 



07 



it benefits the plant, because from the constant moisture going 

 up in the growing season, the plant must take in the ammonia 

 which is constantly rising. With reference to syringing, I do 

 not think that all our friends would have agreed with Mr. 

 O'Brien in never using the syringe, and I think that statement 

 would require qualification. We have always used weak liquid 

 manure on the surface of the plants, and a moderately good 

 practical rule is not to use it strong enough to injure the flower. 

 I do contend that the syringe is beneficial in the growing 

 season, especially when the nights are genial and there are no 

 frosts. I think that manure is quite beneficial, and I have 

 satisfied myself on the matter with reference to the many 

 different things we have used. The difficulty which many meet 

 with in using artificial manures, and which I myself have met 

 with, is that of beginning by applying it too strong. Whenever 

 people begin to use it they begin with it too strong. If they 

 would only use it weaker and then proceed to ascertain for 

 themselves the plants that will take the strongest kind, they 

 will not have so many failures. 



Mr. Burbidge : In connection with what Mr. James has said 

 as to cutting off the spikes of Orchids, I have no doubt that 

 must be of the greatest assistance to the plant. Twelve or fifteen 

 years ago the finest plants in England were those in the collec- 

 tion of Mr. E. Salt, at Ferniehurst. I never saw plants which 

 grew so well, and all their growth was owing to the spikes 

 being cut off. Mr. Salt had a delicate wife who could not go 

 into the Orchid house, and the consequence was that Mr. Salt 

 cut the spikes at once, even before the last flower on the spikes 

 had expanded ; and I believe that it was owing to that that they 

 were the finest specimens I ever saw. The question of manure 

 for Orchids is a very delicate question. Mr. James tells us we 

 must not use the manure too strong, I think the best point in 

 Mr. Borwick's paper was, when he told us to use the manure 

 on our common plants. I am very anxious to put the point in 

 this way, because if young growers begin to use manure without 

 having some proportion given to them, some absolutely exact 

 data as to cases in which manure has been successfully used, 

 they will simply be playing with fire. I am very anxious to 

 put these points before the meeting, because I have often seen 

 these plants so badly injured by an indiscriminate use of 

 manure, 



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