OKCHIDS, AND THEIR ALVNAGEMENT. 



of the vine, because I thought it important as evidence, and the result was such as to 

 leave no doubt in my mind that decomposed animal matter was a valuable manure 

 for vines, and that there need be no fear of rendering the border " a sodden mass of 

 unctious matter" by using it freely and as fresh as possible. 



[We thank Mr. Cleveland for his account of this interesting and very conclusive 

 experiment. That good grapes and heavy crops can be obtained without dead cai-casses 

 we have had abundant proof, and that such carcasses can be safely, if judiciously, used, 

 we have not a doubt. — Ed.] 



ORCHIDS, AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



BY OPX'HIS. 



Those who have had an opportunity to visit an Orchid house in England, where this 

 tribe of plants is much admired, have beheld a display of curious and beautiful 

 flowers that afford the highest gratification. As yet, taste in this country is not 

 sufficiently advanced to induce the wealthy to make large collections of these plants ; 

 still, it is gratifying to see some fair collections around our large cities. As Orchids 

 are not difiicult to grow under glass, it does seem neglectful in those who seem to 

 take an interest in horticultural pursuits to be silent on their cultivation. This class 

 of plants cannot be grown with much success among other plants. They require a 

 seperate house, but it does not require a large one to contain a fine collection of 

 Orchids. The house should be neat, and must be strong, as many of the plants do 

 best suspended from the roof in neatly made baskets. By passing an iron chain 

 round the roof, attached to the rafters, the baskets can be secured to this chain by 

 means of strong iron hooks, hung so that the leaves will be about two feet from the 

 glass. It would be advisable to plant some of the finest stone climbers so that they 

 could be trained to the roof. Deciduous plants are best for this purpose, as they admit 

 more light than other plants. It would be advantageous to have a large tank in the 

 house, situated so that the water would be exposed to the warm atmosphere of 

 the house. 



It may be taken for a rule that Orchids do best when grown in a light peat, but 

 where this is not to be had, any other substance of a light, porous nature will answer. 

 Those plants that should be grown in wire baskets and hung from the roof are the 

 Stanhopeas, and all plants that throw their flower stalks down, as it were, from the 

 basket, instead of growing upwards. I have known plants of this kind potted in 

 common pots, but from their peculiar habit of flowering, nothing could be seen but 

 their leaves until they were put into baskets. and suspended. 



Miltonia spectabilis, Lycaste SMnnerii, and all such plants as throw out small, creep- 

 ing roots, do best in large, flat pans, five or six feet in circumference, and six inches 

 high. By potting in the center in an elevated position, and by keeping the roots 

 ered with moss as they grow, they will become fine specimens. 



