THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEX GUIDE. 169 



at the roots. If mildew makes its appearance, dust the plants with 

 flowers of sulphur at once, before it gets ahead, and smoke the house 

 or frame with tobacco paper directly there are any signs of thrip or 

 green-fly ; let the foliage be thoroughly dry, and as the leaves are 

 tender, and consequently very susceptible to injury from strong 

 smoke, give two or three weak applications in preference to one 

 strong one. A golden rule in growing these plants is to give them a 

 smoking directly the first enemy is seen, and then the stock will 

 always be clean and healthy. As the flower-stalks push up, give 

 the plants plenty of light to make them stout and stocky. It is 

 hardly necessary for me to say that shading from bright sunshine 

 after March until they are turned out of doors will be beneficial. 



In conclusion, I cannot help expressing my opinion, that if 

 amateurs who have but limited space would confine themselves to a 

 few good things, calceolarias being amongst the number, and grow 

 them well, the results would be far more satisfactory than crowding 

 into a small place a host of things, one half, in all probability, being 

 little better than rubbish, and more suitable for the rubbish-heap 

 than a gentleman's greenhouse. Tastes and opinions difi"er. I hope 

 I shall not oftend by this plain and well-meant hint. 



COOL OECHIDS. 



BY AX AMATEUR CULTIVATOE. 



VAST amount of misunderstanding has arisen respecting 

 growing orchids in low temperatures, for some people 

 indulge in the supposition that the plants can be grown 

 in an ordinary greenhouse or conservatory. It is a 

 fallacy, for none of the plants will stand the air which 

 the usual stock of greenhouse plants require. No plants are so 

 valuable where the accommodation is limited, for they do not soon 

 overgrow the space allotted them, and no plants furnish an equal 

 amount of beauty in the some contracted space. If I say that 

 orchids are comparatively easy to grow, I shall very probably be met 

 with the assertion that all plants are easily grown when the culti- 

 vator is thoroughly acquainted with their requirements; I will 

 admit this, and confidently assert that few plants can be grown so 

 well with the same amount of labour and attention as these. To 

 make matters clear, I will give you my opinion as to the best kind of 

 house for growing cool orchids in, where expense is an object, for 

 where this important consideration does not thrust itself forward, 

 much can be left to the individual taste. Though I am opposed to 

 the idea which exists in some quarters, that cool orchids can be 

 grown without trouble or expense, I am desirous of encouraging 

 their more extensive culture, upon the ground that no more skill is 

 •necessary than that required for a mixed collection of greenhouse 

 plants, and that no more expense is incurred by it. No form of 



