206 
THE CULTIVATION OF ORCHIDS. 
Sept., 1892. 
of which there are thirty-six woodcuts in the text and 
four coloured plates, are all good and above the average. 
In fine, “ Animal Coloration ” is a book which, while indis¬ 
pensable to the library of the biologist, may yet not 
inappropriately find a place in his drawing-room. 
THE CULTIVATION OF ORCHIDS. 
BY E. A. BEVERS. 
(Continued from page 183.) 
CULTURAL MATERIALS. 
These consist of peat, sphagnum moss, charcoal, and 
potsherds. Peat is a well-known substance used extensively 
for hard-wooded plants, heaths, etc., and for the majority of 
orchids it is indispensable. It varies greatly in character, 
depending chiefly upon the nature of the soil where it is 
obtained, and the roots of which it is composed. In some 
places it consists mainly of the roots of grasses, and a black 
soil derived from the decomposition of vegetation, and is then 
termed bog peat. In others it chiefly comprises wild heath 
roots and finer grasses, and is found in higher districts ; a 
third kind being mainly formed of fern roots and rhizomes, 
both the last named containing a varying proportion of light 
brownish soil from the further decomposition of roots. The 
third kind is the best for orchids. For these plants it must 
abound in fibre, and the smaller particles should be shaken 
out before it is used, when it can be broken up into pieces of 
various sizes according to the plants for which it is to be 
employed, but never very small. When ordering peat you 
should state that it is required for orchids. 
SPHAONUM. 
The moss used for orchids consists mainly of Sphagnum 
ohtusifolium, but S. squarrosum, S. acutifolium, and S. cuspi- 
datum are abundant in some districts. These are termed bog 
mosses, and are found in low moist places frequently partly 
submerged. The sphagnum serves as a retainer of mois¬ 
ture, and by its decay furnishes something for the support of 
the plant grown in it. When received it should be spread 
out on a bench, and carefully picked and selected, removing 
all weeds, leaves, and grasses, or foreign substances, and 
divided into three qualities. The first should consist of the 
fresh growing points or shoots, which must be preserved for 
surfacing ; the next in freshness will be set aside for chopping 
up and mixing with the peat for potting, and the third, com¬ 
prising all the roughest and most decayed portions, being 
