Sept . 1892. the cultivation of orchids. 207 
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employed for covering the drainage in the pots before the 
principal soil is placed. 
CHARCOAL 
is an important material for mixing with compost for many 
orchids. 
CULTURAL UTENSILS. 
Large numbers of orchids are grown in pots and pans, 
more so perhaps than formerly, when baskets, rafts, and 
blocks were almost exclusively used. I think they are best 
grown in pots, as they require less attention with regard to 
watering. 
POTTING. 
In all operations connected with orchids it must be 
remembered that the roots cannot be safely treated like those 
of many plants, they are much more delicate and readily 
injured, consequently in potting much carets needed. If the 
old roots are adhering to the sides of the pots or drainage the 
pots must be broken, and these or the pieces of crocks, placed 
m the new pots, disturbing the roots as little as possible. All 
dead roots must, however, be cut away, and if any of the 
others appear unhealthy, or if the compost is old or much 
decayed, they should be washed in tepid water. 
Pots should be thoroughly drained, the largest having 
smaller sized ones inverted in them, and the space round these 
filled with clean crocks, or crocks can be used alone. 
The drainage should be two-thirds the depth of the pot. 
Large pieces of broken pots are arranged hollow side down, 
and upon these smaller pieces, and then a layer of sphagnum, 
then put the plant in position, filling with the compost, which 
may have been previously mixed—or the peat can be 
introduced separately, fixing it amongst the roots sufficiently 
firm to hold the plant steady. The base of the pseudo bulb 
should always be raised above the rim of the pots, if buried 
below, the chances are that the eye or bud which springs from 
the base of the pseudo bulb will decay, and great injury 
to the plants thus result. They should therefore be raised 
above the rim of the pots, making an even and rounded 
surface of peat, covering this with the selected sphagnum 
previously mentioned. Plants with few or no roots at the 
time of potting should be firmly secured by means of stakes 
or wire pegs. The growing point or lead of an orchid should 
be kept on a level with the surface, the back part of a plant is 
not of so much importance. 
WATERING, SYRINGING, AND RESTING. 
Few plants that are not aquatics require so much water as 
orchids, both about their roots and in the atmosphere, 
and therefore the supply of moisture is an important operation. 
Orchids when growing freely can scarcely have too much 
