The Garden Under Glass

228 THE GARDEN UNDER GLASS inch sieve. 2. For general purposes : six parts loam, three parts leaf-soil, one part sand. 3. For special plants : five parts loam, two parts horse manure, two parts leaf-soil, one part mortar rubble, one part sand. 4. For terrestrial orchids (those growing on the ground) : three parts loam, three parts peat, one part cow-dung, one part charcoal, one part leaf-soil. 5. For epiphytal orchids (growing on trees) : three parts peat, two parts sphagnum moss, one part leaf-soil, half-part charcoal. These are given merely as a general idea of what to use. The mixing of a compost is governed to a veiy gieat extent by the character of the loam which forms the base of the compost. If this be of a heavy nature more opening matter will be needed; if very sandy, cow manure may be used in preference to any other form. As a general idea I like a compost to be fairly open, with not much manure in it. Then, when the plant is well established, liquid manure may be freely given.