b ORCHIDEOUS HOUSE AT PENLLERGARE. 



Orchideous plants. I found no difficulty in re-arranging it for 

 its new design, and after a trial now of about two years can 

 say that it has entirely answered the ends I had in view. 



The moist stones were speedily covered with a thick carpet 

 of seedling ferns, and the creeping stems of tropical lycopods, 

 among the fronds of which many species of orchideae delighted 

 to root themselves. 



Huntleya violacea was one of the first epiphytes that I 

 planted, and it flowered and throve in its new situation, as I 

 hoped and expected. The East Indian genera, however, of 

 Vanda, Saccolabium, Aerides, and other caulescent sorts, similar 

 in habit and growth, were the most vigorous of all, and many of 

 these in a very short time only required the use of the pruning- 

 knife to prevent their overgrowing smaller and more delicate 

 species. 



Plants that are grown in this manner have a wild luxuriance 

 about them that is unknown to the specimens cultivated in the 

 ordinarj' manner, and to myself they are exceedingly attractive, 

 more resembling what one fancies them in their native forests — 

 true air-plants, depending for their subsistence on the humid at- 

 mosphere alone. 



Different species thus intermingle together in a beautiful con- 

 fusion, Dendrobium, and Camarotis, and Renanthera, side by side, 

 with wreaths of flowers and leaves interlacing one another, and 

 sending their long roots to drink from the mist of the fall, or 

 even from the water of the pool below. 



Many species are cultivated upon the rocks themselves, others 

 upon blocks of wood, or baskets suspended from the roof, and 

 thus sufficient room is secured for a great number of plants. At 

 the same time the general effect is beautiful, and the constant 

 humidity kept up by the stream of falling water suits the con- 

 stitution of many species in a degree that might be expected from 

 a consideration of their native habits ; and I would strongly re- 

 commend tlie adoption of this or some similar plan to all who 

 have the means of diverting a stream of water from a level 

 higher than the top of their stove. 



This, I think, in most situations might be easily contrived. 

 My own house lies on higli ground, and the water is brought 

 from a considerable distance, but yet I found very little of 

 difficulty or of expense in its construction ; for it must be borne 

 in mind that a small quantity of water is sufficient, and that this, 

 after passing through the stove, might be conveniently used for 

 garden purposes. 



It must be remembered also that this plan may be added to 

 any existing stove, and that the sole expense will be for the pipe 

 to conduct tlie stream, and for the labour of the carriage and 

 arrangement of the rock-work. 



