TKEATMENT OF EPIPHYTAL OKCHIDS. 



III. — Notes on the Proper Treatment of Epiphytal Orchids. 

 By George Gordon, A.L.S., Superintendent of the Ornamental 

 Department in the Society's Garden. 



(Commuuicated November, 1848.) 



Perhaps no tribe of plants has attracted more notice, even from 

 common observers, than Orchids ; yet, notwithstanding this, little 

 seems to have been understood in regard to their treatment or 

 natural habits, until Dr. Lindley published an instructive paper 

 on the subject many years ago in the Society's Transactions; and, 

 altliough a good deal of what was then supposed to be im- 

 portant has since proved incorrect, more especially as to the 

 amount of heat and moisture which shovild be given them,^ still 

 these instructions first afforded the true principles and rules to be 

 observed in tlieir culture. Now, however, that the true nature 

 and habits of Orchids are better understood, it is found that, like 

 other plants, they require rest or repose, and that much heat and 

 moisture together, unless judiciously given and at proper seasons, 

 are absolutely injurious to them. The maximum of heat and 

 moisture is only required when the plants are in a vigorous state 

 of growth, and at no other time ; but it is now pretty well under- 

 stood by good cultivators, that a great variation, both in tem- 

 perature and moisture, is required during the whole year, and 

 that without it Orchids cannot be kept in perfect health and 

 vigour for any length of time. These variations, however, must 

 be entirely independent of such changes as take place between 

 the day and night temperatures at any season of the year ; they 

 should agree with the variations in the climate in which the 

 plants grow naturally, and where Orcliids have at least two prin- 

 cipal seasons, a dry season of rest, and a moist one, to grow and 

 flower in ; for heat has very little effect on them unless accom- 

 panied by moisture. 



In the following observations I shall endeavour to point out 

 the advantage of growing Orchids in a comparatively cool and 

 dry atmosphere over the plan of keeping them, as is frequently 

 the case, in a hot and damp climate more like that of an Indian 

 jungle than anything else. In such a climate, the flowers, when 

 produced, last a much shorter time in perfection, and if the 

 plants are removed when in bloom to a cooler situation, they 

 suffer greatly by coming in contact with a drier atmosphere. I 

 need hardly refer to the several kinds of tender plants which 

 flourish so well in, and decorate our flower-beds and borders in 

 summer and autumn, in order to show how plants may be made 

 to adapt themselves to a mucli lower mean temperature than that 

 in which they are often kept, if they are properly treated and 



