The Garden Under Glass

THE BEST FLOWERING PLANTS 89 Dendrobium Nobile Here we have another of those orchids which give living and floral testimony to the rankness of the heresy that orchids are for the rieh and extravagant; for this plant can be grown and flowered easily in a warm greenhouse. Indeed in small establishments we often find a few neglected orchids, and dendrobium nobile being among them can be depended on to flower well and during that time bring the owner credit for cultural skili which should make any honest man blush. Imported pieces, which are cheapest to buy but not always the most satisfactory, may be treated on arrival in the usual manner by washing and cleaning them and laying them on a bed of moist material in a warm house to be subjected to several syringings a day, until sufficient roots are emitted to give some anchorage and support when potted. This support may be augmented by a stake set in before the crocks are put in the pot, for obviously it would have little stability if driven into the compost only. The compost may follow on the lines recommended for cattleyas. Indeed, with this dass of orchid compost does not play a large part in successful culture. Provided it be clean, sweet and capable of holding moisture, the essentials are present. Here let me warn readers never to give these orchids—viz. cattleyas, dendrobiums and odontoglossums —any manure-water or Chemical stimulant. I do not con-tend that they never benefit from it, but in the hånds of inexperienced persons it is likely to cause grave injury. Few good cultivators, in faet, do use stimulants, and then only in a very careful manner. The soundest ad vice I can offer readers is to leave all kinds of stimulants alone. During its growing career the dendrobium relishes a