Along the many rivers and canals in lower Siam 
most people live and trade. Sampan and rowboats 
crowd the yellow water and here, quite unexpected- 
ly, is a little flower shop, supported on poles above 
the water. Orchids are for sale including Cattleya 
Mantini which seems the only Cattleya that can be 
grown successfully in this 90° tropical heat. 
Orchids in Singapore are grown in broken brick and 
love it. With a humidity of 85 to 100%, the plants 
would die if grown in Osmunda fiber. Osmunda 
holds water equal to its own volume and conse- 
quently would never dry out. Brick takes up only 
[5% in moisture, and one can tell by color when it 
is dry. Saintpaulias also are grown in broken brick. 
Fertilizer is made from rotten fish soaked for a week 
in water. 
In the Palace Gardens of the King of Siam all the 
trees, mostly small leaved Ficus nitida and Tamarind, 
are kept carefully trimmed to these curious shapes. 
LIM HONG HEE of Singapore specializes in grow- 
ing Vanda hybrids and Arachnis Singapore hybrids 
grown on poles, cutting blooms the year round 
which are sent to England by air. 
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