a 
AN ENCYCLOPÆDIA 
~ . r 
OF HORTICULTURE. 519 
Orchid House- continued. ; 
amount of heat required, in three separate houses, or 
three compartments of one house having the heating 
arrangements fully under command. When only a mixed 
collection is grown, the several genera forming it must 
be afforded positions as favourable to their well-being 
as circumstances admit, and the temperature varied 
somewhat by giving a greater or less amount of 
ventilation in different parts of the house in which 
they are placed. The following are the names usually 
given to the three different Orchid Houses, or divisions 
referred to. Approximate temperatures for each, during 
summer and winter, are also subjoined, as a general 
guide for cultivators, and not with the intention of their 
being rigidly followed: 
1. East Indian House. To this department are relegated 
all Orchids requiring the highest temperatures, such as 
those originally received from the Eastern, and also from 
the hottest parts of the Western, hemispheres. These 
plants need plenty of moisture in the air during their 
season of growth, and also a circulation of air, some- 
what cautiously applied, to avoid sudden changes of 
atmosphere. Temperatures: Summer—day, 75deg. to 
90deg., with sun; night, 70deg. to 75deg. Winter—day, 
70deg. to 75deg.; night, 60deg. to 65deg. 
2. Brazilian and Mexican House. This provides ac- 
commodation for Orchids which require an intermediate 
temperature, as, for instance, the bulk of the Mexican 
species and a number from Brazil, Ke. These will 
succeed in a drier atmosphere, generally, than those 
already referred to, but shrivelling must not be allowed.- 
Temperatures: Summer—day, 75deg. to 85deg., with sun; 
night, 65deg. to 70deg. Winter—day, 65deg. to 70deg.; 
night, 60deg. 
3. Peruvian House. A division specially for cool 
Orchids, natives of the mountains of South America, 
India, &c., many of which never appear to have any 
fixed season of rest. They are best suited with a cool 
temperature, and a more or less genial, moist atmosphere 
all the year round. Temperatures: Summer—day, 60deg. 
to 70deg. ; night, about 60deg. Winter—day, 50deg. to 
60deg; night, 40deg. to 50deg., according to temperature 
outside. 
The shape of structure most suitable for Orchid cul- 
ture, generally, is a span-roof, or something very closely 
approaching it, such as a three-quarter span. Lean-to 
houses, with northern aspect, are well adapted for all 
the cool species and varieties of such genera as Masde- 
vallia and Odontoglossum, in summer particularly, as 
these do not succeed in a high temperature, nor in 
houses where, from sun heat or other causes, the atmo- 
sphere is dry at any time of year. Where the ventilation 
is properly arranged and managed, cool Orchids may be 
grown as successfully in a structure of another shape as 
in a lean-to. A span-roofed Orchid House, about 60ft. 
long, 12ft. wide, and 8ft. high, would accommodate a large 
quantity of small plants, which could all be arranged 
on side stages, near the glass, or a large number might 
be suspended from the roof. The side walls should 
be carried about 4ft. or 4}ft. above the ground, and 
small doors or sliding ventilators inserted in them, about 
half-way up. The top ventilation should be effected by 
having a longitudinal flap, made to rise up from the 
inside, or by small sashes attached with hinges to the 
ridge, and arranged so as to open without admitting 
rain in wet weather. Running sashes on the roof, and 
side-sashes opening on a level with plants on the 
stages, should now be recognised as things of the past 
when new Orchid Houses are being constructed. If 
plants requiring various temperatures are to be 
grown in one house, a glass partition will be 
the most convenient way of dividing one part 
from the other, which might have more or less 
heat and air applied, as found necessary. The dimen- 
Orchid House—continued. 
sions given above would only be suitable for a house in 
which small or moderate-sized plants were intended to 
be grown; for specimens of considerable growth, or for 
large collections, proportionate measurements to any ex- 
tent might readily be taken to meet requirements. Side 
stages should be about 4ft. from the ground. A system 
of having a double staging is sometimes adopted with 
excellent results for Orchids, namely, a bed of ashes, 
shingle, coke, or breeze, is laid on slates, which are 
supported by upright iron pillars. This bed is continually 
kept moist, and an open woodwork staging is placed 
above, on which the plants are stood. In some of the 
best-arranged Orchid Houses, the plants stand over a 
water-tank, formed beneath the woodwork staging. Into 
this the rain-water from the roof is conducted, and is 
always close at hand for watering the plants. It is 
most important that only rain-water be used for this 
last-named purpose, if it can possibly be obtained. 
Orchid Houses should never be built so high that the 
plants, when arranged inside, will be very far from 
the glass, or situated so as not to receive a sufficiency 
of light, which the majority of them require. There 
are few Orchids, except, perhaps, the Mexican species, 
that are not benefited by shading in summer. This 
should not, however, be thick, neither should it be per- 
manently fixed on the roof. A thin shading, sufficient 
to exclude bright sunshine, while, at the same time, ad- 
mitting light, is best; it should be tacked on rollers, 
and kept up during dull weather. 
General Remarks on Culture, $c. The special cultural 
requirements of all the important genera of Orchids being 
given elsewhere in this work, under their respective 
headings, it will be unnecessary to add more here than 
a few brief remarks of a general character. At one time, 
Orchids were limited to the gardens of a comparatively 
few wealthy owners, who took an especial interest in 
them, and spared no expense in obtaining such plants. 
The same conditions exist up till the present, in respect 
of rare specimens, or those of exceptional merit; but 
some representatives of the more popular genera are, for- 
tunately, now found almost everywhere. This is mainly 
the result of enterprise, shown by sending collectors of 
plants to remote foreign lands, where Orchids abound, for 
the purpose of seeking new additions to the species, or 
varieties, already obtained, and for transmitting, in quan- 
tity, well-known and popular kinds, for distribution in 
this country. The method of culture, too, has been much 
modified, since it was found that the plants, in general, 
did not really require so much heat as what was, at 
first, thought necessary. Orchids are able (especially 
many of the strong-growing species) to withstand a con- 
siderable amount of ill-usage, compared with many other 
plants; otherwise, so many thousands would never reach 
this country and re-establish themselves in the way 
they do. Heat and moisture afford nearly all the plants 
need, consequently, the proper method of applying these 
is, at least, one of the main points in successful culture. 
Good fibrous peat, living sphagnum, and charcoal, form the 
principal materials necessary for the majority of Orchids. 
These are of more use for holding the plants in position, 
and retaining moisture for the encouragement of the tender 
roots, than for any particular nourishment afforded. It is 
remarkable how some attach themselves to a block of wood 
and succeed admirably with nothing else, save a little 
sphagnum and the proper attention in watering. Pots 
for Orchids should, with few exceptions, be quite half- 
filled with clean drainage, and they should be used as 
small as possible, in proportion to the size of plant. 
Shallow pans, made in various sizes, either for suspend- 
ing from the roof or for standing on stages, have been 
used very extensively of late, with most excellent results. 
Orchid baskets should be made of teak wood, as it is 
hard, and lasts a long time. They may be purchased in- 
. 
