THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[August, 1915. 



moisture arising from the tank. In this situa- 

 tion the lowermost breaks also flower, but 

 which, when detached from the parent plant, 

 fail to do so. Moreover, the old plant seems 

 to suffer if it be shortened in the manner 

 sometimes practised on some species of 

 Vanda. — Veitclis Manual of Orchulaccojis 

 Plaiils. 



THE ART OF WATERING. 



Al^^GUST IS a month of fine weather, at 

 least, SO we are generally informed 

 by the almanac, but experience 

 proves that this is not always true with the 

 English climate ; in some years it is particu- 

 larly hot and dry, while in others there is an 

 unusual amount of cloudy weather with a 

 continuation of much moisture in the 

 atmosphere. It is thus apparent that no 

 definite directions regarding the watering of 

 plants can ever be laid down with any degree 

 of accuracy ; so much depends on the actual 

 conditions of the weather that the cultivator 

 must use his own discretion daily. 



The conveyance and introduction into the 

 plant body of the nutrient material of the 

 compost IS entirely dependent on the water 

 supply ; no solid food can be absorbed by 

 plants ; all nutriment must be in a liquid form 

 or it cannot be taken up by the roots. Hence 

 we see the necessity of keeping the compost 

 moist when the plant is in active growth and 

 reducing the moisture during the resting 

 season. The best cultural results are obtained 

 not by an abundance of water, as many young 

 amateurs suppose, but by a careful considera- 

 tion of the plant's requirements and the 

 condition of the surrounding atmosphere. 

 Just as an excessive amount of food is 

 injurious to the welfare of animals so is a 

 compost saturated with water very harmful to 

 a tender plant. One of the essential principles 

 of succes-ful cultivation is to first ascertain 

 the need of the plant and then to sustain the 

 compost in a condition most likely to meet 

 the plant's requirements. Circumstances may 

 not always allow this to be carried out to 

 the fullest extent desired, nevertheless the 



cultivator should not forget that an excessive 

 amount of moisture often proves as disastrous 

 as an insufficient supply. 



The descriptive notes of an Orchid collector 

 often contain some such remark as : " During 

 the growing season the plants are subject to 

 torrential rains," a statement which, although 

 it may be perfectly correct, is likely to mislead 

 amateur cultivators. There is a vast difference 

 between the open situation of the plant's 

 natural abode and the artificial conditions 

 existing m glass-houses. In the former there 

 are frequent drying winds which prevent an 

 over-abundance of atmospheric moisture, 

 while the roots, spread out over a large area, 

 are continually finding their way into fresh 

 nutritive material ; in the latter, that is, under 

 greenhouse treatment, the weather is often- 

 times unfavourable to much ventilation being 

 given, evaporation being correspondingly 

 retarded, while root action is impeded by rigid 

 confinement to pots, compelling many roots 

 to travel again over a compost from which 

 much of the nutriment has already been 

 extracted. Consequently, when cultivating 

 Orchids under the restrictions which the 

 difference in the geographical situation 

 compels us to adopt, it is never wise to 

 attempt the formation of the exact conditions 

 under which plants are known to flourish 

 when in their natural abode. Every factor 

 and condition must be duly considered. 



When applying water to large pots sufficient 

 must be given to moisten the whole compost. 

 The practice of applying a little at frequent 

 intervals is not recommended, for by so doing 

 the upper portion of the material is always 

 moist, while the lower part is invariably dry. 

 A large pot thoroughly moistened will keep 

 the roots supplied with water for some time, 

 and thus save considerable labour. Some 

 cultivators have a habit of rapping with their 

 knuckles the outside of the pot, the sound 

 thereby produced varying in accordance with 

 the interior condition ; a dull heavy sound 

 indicating moisture and a hollow sound 

 dryness. When large pots are placed at some 

 distance back from the footpath, where they 

 can only be reached with difficulty, care must 

 always be taken to ensure a supply of water 



