70 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING 
tropics where the atmosphere is always moist and cool. These 
are called ‘Cool House Orchids”’ and can only be grown in the 
north with great difficulty. Among them is the genus Odonto- 
glossum, containing some of the most exquisitely beautiful things 
in the world,.and there are many others. I have repeatedly 
tried a number of these in my hammock and have met with abso- 
lute failure. Our summers are no doubt too warm and they can- 
not stand dry weather. 
There is another class of Orchids which is neither wholly epi- 
phytic nor terrestrial; the plants may grow in a native state near 
the ground on trees, on rocks or even in the ground. Among 
these is Oncidium sphacellatum, which I have mentioned in the list 
of Florida species, the Coelogynes and some of the Cymbidiums. 
They should be grown in moist places in the hammock at the 
bases of trees, on rocks with moss or leaf mould, or a sort of arti- 
ficial rock-work with decaying wood and leaf mould mixed in 
will suit them. I have not had much experience with Cypripe- 
diums and other strictly terrestrial forms but they might prob- 
ably be grown successfully in moist hammock in a mixture of 
peat, fern root and leaf mould. 
Most of the Orchids received from the dealers have their roots 
contained in the mixture of chopped fern root or peat and sphag- 
num in which they grew in the orchid house. In my earlier 
attempts at growing them on my trees I made the mistake of 
leaving this all on and fastening the ball against the tree by means 
of pieces of shingle nailed on so as to press against it. I believe 
that the freshly imported plants which have not yet been potted 
are better than the potted and established ones. 
No Orchid will flourish on a tree unless it isso firmly fastened 
to it that it cannot possibly be moved about. It must also be so 
fastened that the collar, that is the part of it where the roots join 
the stems, is not choked or smothered. I find it best with plants 
that come with the potting material around their roots to soak 
the mass a little and carefully remove as much of it as possible 
without unduly mangling the roots. Most of these die anyhow 
after the plants have been on the tree awhile. Cut window 
screen wire (iron wire is best) into strips an inch wide and of 
any length. Fasten one end of a strip with a small nail to the 
