829 
The disa grandifloea. 
them. PoT vases and table decorations, arranged with light 
grasses and ferns, they are very effective, as also in hand bouquets; 
and they last for a long time when cut. 
The Besting Period. 
All the Orchid family take a rest at some period of the year, 
many of them when the pseudo-bulbs have finished growing. 
But the Disa has a short rest before it commences its new growth. 
It can scarcely be perceived, for when the old growths are quite 
gone the new ones will be an inch or so in height; but when the 
foliage is seen to put on a yellow tinge, they want to be kept a 
little dry, but not dust-dry, as in their native home they will get 
heavy dews at night; so, to imitate their natural conditions, I 
usually syringe them late in the afternoons, or draw the lights 
off for an hour or so when it is raining gently. 
Potting the Plants. 
I have repotted them in November, December, and January, 
but I find the most suitable time to be the latter end of 
September or the beginning of October, as the fleshy roots have 
not then got so far advanced in growth as to be injured in the 
potting process. My mode is to top-dress and look to drainage 
one year, and the next year to repot them, having perfectly 
clean pots and crocks, as this is very important, for the Disa’s 
roots will not work in anything that is dirty or sour. I have tried 
the perforated pans for them, but find they are not at all suitable, 
as they dry up too quickly during hot weather; and not only 
that, but the young growths are very awkward to get out of the 
holes at potting time without breaking them off. They are also 
favourable to the wood-lice, as they can enter the holes, and so 
make their way readily to the roots, which they are so fond of. 
So having tried both sorts of pots, I much prefer the ordinary 
ones without side-holes. 
Crocking the Pots. 
This should be done with great care. Instead of placing the 
crocks flat side down, I find it is better to arrange them on their 
ends, as the roots delight to ramble down between them without 
turning in a horizontal direction, as they must do when the 
crocks have been laid flatways. After crocking place a thin 
