THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 11, 1901. 
4 8S 
dried, and if new pots be used, place them in a tank of water 
for a day to< get thoroughly soaked and afterwards dried before 
using. The potting compost should consist: of equal parts 
good fibr’ous peat, sphagnum, moss, and leaf-mould—“ Oak or 
Beech,” the latter being passed through a 1,-in. riddle, being 
careful to remove any small piece of stick that may have! passed 
through, and with the addition, of a dash of rough silver sand 
and charcoal the compost will be complete, thoroughly mixing 
all before using. Carefully place the plant so that, itsi base 
will be slightly-elevated above the rim of the pot, press the 
compost, moderately firm, being careful not to break any roots 
in the operation, and finish up with a, layer of .sphagnum moss, 
choosing nice broad, healthy heads. Place the plants on a 
moist stage' close to the glass, and keep well shaded, and, 
given a good watering, they will require little more until the 
roots have taken hold cf the fresh, compost. Spray overhead 
to keep the surface sphagnum alive, and this, accompanied by a, 
moist atmosphere, isi all that, will be found necessary for a, 
time. When fully established they are not difficult to manage, 
but, the inexperienced must exercise care in the use of the 
watering-pot, bearing in mind that with leaf-soil in the compost 
it retains the moisture for a much longer period than, would 
otherwise be the case if peat' and sphagnum were the only in¬ 
gredients; but on no account allow the plants to approach 
dryness during the growing season or when carrying flower- 
spikes. 
Endeavour to strike the happy medium, and 'success is sure 
to be attained. In growing Odontoglossumsi, I never allow 
them to get at all dry, even in the resting,season. Some 
growers, I know, like to give them a good drying off, but I have 
always been very successful by keeping them just, uniformly 
moist. The working* of the; blinds must be carefully studied, as 
it will be found that with, plants potted with leaf-mould they 
will require more sunlight,to solidify their growth than would 
otherwise' be required if grown, in, peat and sphagnum alone. 
Therefore the grower must usei his own, discretion by gradually 
lifting his shading earlier and delaying the putting of it down, 
as the sun, begins to lose power. The plants will soon present 
a less succulent appearance a,n,d. be able t, 0 ' withstand all the 
sunlight we' generally have during the latter end of summer. 
A draft air as required, making use of the bottom ventilators 
first and top as may be found necessary, but bear in mind that 
the less top-air given the less moisture will escape. Guard 
against cold, cutting winds during the early spring months by 
admitting air on the leeward side of the house. Keep the 
temperature at 50 deg. during night and 55 deg. during day 
for winter months, and 55 cleg, in night to 65 deg. in day 
during summer months'. As flower-spikes appear, protect them 
from "thei ravage® of slugs by placing a piece of cottonwool 
around their .base ; but even; this is sometimes useless, more so 
if it should get at all wet. It, always repay® the trouble to go 
round the plants every night while flower spikes appear ; many 
a, marauder I have put am end to by going carefully over the 
plants. An effective way of staking the flower-spikes is to 
o-et a few rubber rings of about 2-in. circumference, cut one in 
twos and with a. tack or small nail fix it, on to the top of any 
sized stake required, and all that remains is to place it under 
the spike, when it will keep. it. in. a very graceful position; 
tyino- the spikes to stakes is simply taking the graceful appear¬ 
ance' from them. In, cutting spikes, allow the blooms to. be 
fully matured before cutting; they will last much longer if so 
Meditation. 
Stocks in Pots. 
Although a reader of your paper, and on© much interested m 
he contents, I do not remember haying seen anything about 
■he Stock for winter or spring blooming m pots. Cannot it be 
aid that this would be a, grand addition to the greenhouse 
m.d conservatory, where it cannot fail to he attractive not 
mly for its semi-double white flowers and glossy green 
cliage,' hut for the perfume which fills the air 1 
The Stock for pot culture is Sutton’s Intermediate All the 
fear Round. The cultivator requiring the above plants to 
flower in, the months of March, April, and May should beffin 
by sowing his seed about the third week of July in a mixture 
of loam, leaf-soil and enough sand to keep, it open, a box 
being j)referable to pots for sowing, a® they will not dry out so 
soon. Fill the box within \ in. of the top,.and, before sowing, 
water well and let drain. After sowing, slightly cover the 
seed, and, placing a piece of gla,ss over, return to the frame, 
shading from sunshine. When these appear, remove to all the 
air and light pcgshble, and when large enough to handle they 
should be picked off into, other boxes within, the same compost. 
Sprinkle overhead about, twice a day to keep them up, and 
shade from bright sunshine. 
In about a month these will bei fit for potting off into large 
60 size. But before doing this see- that your pots are quite 
clean. They should be washed and not merely wiped out. If 
this be neglected it will not only cause trouble, but injure 
the ball when, the final * potting takes place, as the roots of 
the Stock are so small that the slightest soil adhering to the 
pot will cause them to cling. 
The compost should consist of one part leaf-soil and dung 
from an old mushroom-bed to four of loam, and enough sand to 
keep it open. 
These plants may remain outdoors until the frost comes, 
when they may have the lights pushed on t,o. protect., them, and 
covered with enough material to exclude' the frost.. 
As. the winter advances, with its long spells of wet and frost, 
these may be removed to a cold house, such as a "late vinery. 
A diy, any shelf will be a, capital place for them; but ’by noi 
means should these have any heat beyond enough to. exclude 
fro-st. 
These plants by now .should have got thoroughly pot-bound, 
and the wood hard, which is just as they should be. 
Of course, with Stocks, you cannot guarantee them all 
coming double, but by obtaining seeds' of the above-named 
variety you will get a. good percentage of double. 
Now, for amateurs' cultivating this plant, I should advise to 
let the plant® remain ini the 60-sizei pots until they show 
flower, then, as soon as the flowers are. visible repot, into. 48-size. 
As. the room in, a small greenhouse is a, consideration, the pot¬ 
ting up of singles would utilise a lot of valuable' space. 
Very good results are obtained by this method, hut, in cases 
where yon have plenty of room at command there is no 
advantage gained by potting the lot before they get to. this 
stage, and, of course, discarding the singles as they appear. 
The final potting should consist of one part, leaf-soil and 
dung from an old mushroom-bed, to four of loam ; an addition 
may 'be made of old mortar rubbish and wood ashes and 
enough siand to keep the whole open. 
This operation .should take place about the beginning of 
February, taking care to. crock the pots well, and putting some 
rough material over them. On this may be placed a little 
manure and soot. Pot firmly and return. t,o thei house. 
If these plants 1 are wanted toi flower in early March you 
must afford them a. little compost, which will not hurt, them if 
given, in, moderation'. A little water overhead on a bright day 
will also be beneficial and keep down green fly. When these 
plants are rooted and begin to show flower, an. occasional dose 
of soot water,-and another of an artificial manure will also, prove 
beneficial to them. 
Patent plant food of some kind may be employed. The way 
I use it is to have a littlei tin, box full in the house where the 
plant® are, and when watering drop, a little in the. can ; it will 
quickly dissolve and quickly improve the plants. 
The only troublesome pest, is, green fly, which you can easily 
destroy by dusting the top of the plant, with tobacco powder. 
When these plants have finished flowering in the conser¬ 
vatory they may be planted out, in. an old shrubbery border 
and they will continue to flower through the summer.' 
Thus you will see that this plant can be cultivated not only 
by the. professional, but by the amateur, with little, convenience, 
which certainly adds veiy much to its value. A batch of plants 
treated in, this manner will, I am sure, give- great satisfaction 
to the cultivator. A. Middleton. 
Coombe Lodge, Croydon. 
