ai4 THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



orchids of this species cooler than under the ordinary treatment. The following 

 extract will show the opinion of a competent judge who inspected them : — 



" In one division were feathered what Mr. Warner more especially calls his ' cool 

 vinery orchids.' This is a low span- roofed house like the rest, covered with vines 

 hearing a capital crop of grapes, and with the leaves so trained as just to screen the 

 plants without the use of blinds. It has a fixed roof, with a few side ventilators ; 

 and the rule adopted, as we were told, is 40° minimum in winter, and in summer as 

 inuch natural heat as the season affords, with ventilation. In this house Lj^caste 

 Skinneri was revelling, its leaves a yard long ; Odontoglots had formed pseudo- 

 bulbs half as large again as those of imported plants; Arpophyllums were in sturdy 

 vigour ; and Pleiones, which had been flowering some time since, presented a perfect 

 picture of healthy foliage." 



After my first year's experience v/ith Lycaste Skinneri, other Lycastes were 

 tried, and did equally well ; also Odontoglossum grande, pulchellum, etc., next 

 Arpophyllums, and lastly Pleione lagenaria and various others, including Cattleyas. 

 All did well under the shade of the vines in summer, but I could not recommend 

 Cattleyas to remain during winter at the same low temperature which is sufEcient 

 for Odontoglossums and Lycastes. 



It is not, however, desirable at the present time to describe too minutely the 

 treatment of what are now called cool orchids. Suffice it to say, that in my 

 opinion there are very few orchids but feel the beneficial effects of warm fresh air 

 and the sun's rays, especially if the latter are made to pass through grape leaves. 

 'This remark is chiefly intended to apply to their growing season. 



Temperature in winter, 45' to 50' Fahr., sometimes lov/ei', if frost is severe, 

 hut never below 40", even at night. Summer temperature varies according to the 

 weather outside. Plenty of fresh air is admitted when the days are fine and warm, 

 ■entering by front sashes through perforated zinc, and passing directly over the 

 foliage of the orchids. 



As a rule, artificial heat is dispensed with on warm spring, summer, and autumn 

 days • but at these seasons, if the weather is cloudy or cold, a little fire-heat is 

 given to dry tip the moisture occasioned by watering the plants. The annual value 

 of the grapes usually amounts to half the cost of erecting the house. 



Thus many orchids may be grown well, and at little cost, for two different crops 

 are produced out of one simple house, the one being beautiful flowers to please the 

 ■ eye in the winter and spring months, and the other such fruit as no one would 

 refuse to partake of in the early autumn. 



PET PLA.NTS— THE SOTJTHEENWOOD. 



iHE Southeniwood {Artemisia alrotanum) bears the names of Lad's-love, 

 Old Man, cnm multis aliis. There is a homely charm about this tiny 

 bush v;hich endears it to every one, and its various names have been 

 household words among rich and poor throughout Christendom for 

 centuries. From its merits alone it has kept its ground against all 

 comers. Being a native of the south of Europe, it has travelled northwards, or 

 rather its sweetness has caused it to be carried to every district, hall, and cottage 

 in town and country. You see it in the neat patch of mixed flower garden in front 

 of the labourer's cottage, and the toy garden in the crowded town has a hapless 

 busli of ill-used southernwood, struggling Avith soot and sunshine to keep a green 

 leaf in view of the country-bred matron, who despairs of seeing her native place 

 again, but dwells upon the ideal beauty of wold and lea as she looks upon this 

 quaint old-fashioned pet. In some parts of Scotland it is usual to carry a nosegay 

 to church, and the venerable spinster may be seen with the Book in hand by way of 

 foundation, and the snow-white pocktt handkerchief neatly folded over that, and 

 the sprig of southernwood, fresh gathered, on the top, with more or less of other 

 garden gear, as the season of the year and state of the garden will admit. South- 

 ernwood, from its sweet scent and feathery foliage, is admirably adapted for setting 

 off gny flowers to advantage when used as a back to a nosegay, and for more than 

 two-thirds of the year this supply may be depended upon. I should be glad to 

 know how the plant came to be called Ouveriugie in Scotland. 



