November, 1913.] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



39 



fresh root action takes place after flowering. 

 The compost must be chopped finely, and 

 should consist of polypodium and osmunda 

 fibres, sphagnum moss, and a few small pieces 

 of charcoal to keep the whole sweet. Careful 

 watering is necessary for a time after 

 re-panning. 



White scale is sometimes a source of much 

 trouble, clinging with tenacity to the rhizome 

 and under the tissues of the bulbs. Spongmg 

 with some approved insecticide is the best 

 remedy. 



If the new growths are weak it will be 

 found advisable to remove the flowers as 

 soon as they are expanded. If healthy 

 plants are obtained, and grown with 

 care, they may be relied on to produce 

 their richly coloured blossoms annually. 

 Unflowered seedlings require much care, and 

 amateurs will do well to procure strong plants 

 that will flower during the same year. — ■ 



Alwyn C. Harrison. 



ORCHIDS FOR AMATEURS. 



THE cultivation of Orchids during the 

 dull days of winter is not so difficult 

 a task as one imagines, although it 

 must be said that in those collections situated 

 in the heart of a manufacturing town there 

 is a deficiency of light which often renders 

 the foliage yellowish-green in colour. The 

 cultivator should always endeavour to obtain 

 strong, healthy foliage, and to do this without 

 actually burning the leaves by too much 

 direct sunshine requires careful attention. 

 Well-ripened foliage will withstand much 

 varied treatment during the winter months ; 

 consequently the good cultivator need not 

 have much to fear when the unsuitable 

 weather of winter arrives. But there are 

 many collections, as previously mentioned, 

 which are situated in a smoky atmosphere, 

 and on that account have but little chance 

 of obtaining a sufficient quantity of bright 

 light. Plants that are unripened have sickly- 

 looking bulbs, yellowish leaves, and weak, 

 drooping flowers. And, unpleasant to 

 relate, there are many such plants to be 

 seen in amateurs' collections. 



Now much can be done to assist these 

 plants in obtaining a healthier nature. In 

 the first place, they often receive the same 

 amount of water as a vigorous specimen, 

 although the amateur seldom considers 

 whether they require it or not. The pot in 

 which they are growing is usually much too 

 large, while the compost rapidly turns sour, 

 and the roots suffer in consequence. How 

 can a plant surrounded by such unsuitable 

 growing conditions be expected to survive 

 even the summer months, much less those 

 of winter? 



The most satisfactory treatment consists 

 in keeping the plant in a light, airy position, 

 either suspended from the roof, or placed 

 upon a pedestal, and allowing the compost 

 to become almost dry, only just enough water 

 to prevent the bulbs from unduly shrivelling. 

 In course of time new roots will be formed 

 in order to seek a further supply of nutriment 

 to sustain the plant. This is a sure sign 

 that a favourable opportunity for repotting 

 has arrived. In country places where the 

 winter light is good there is nothing to fear, 

 and the operation may take place at any 

 time, but in smoky atmospheres the work is 

 much better left until the advent of spring 

 weather. There is nothing to be gained 

 in potting plants when no new roots are 

 being made, although in some instances where 

 there is a large number to be done the plants 

 are potted and left without water until new 

 roots make their appearance. If water is 

 given before the roots commence growing 

 there is much likelihood of the compost 

 becoming sour through there being nothing 

 to absorb the water. A light syringing of 

 the foliage will prove quite sufficient to keep 

 the plants fresh. 



Orchids are frequently placed in pots 

 which are much too large for their require- 

 ments ; no doubt the young amateur imagines 

 that the more compost he gives the plant 

 so much the more food will it have to live 

 upon, and a rapid increase of growth is 

 expected. But such will not be the case. 

 All roots must have a chance to breathe. 

 It is the frequent experience of successful 

 cultivators to find that the strongest roots 



