ORCHID HOUSES. 31 



slow unfolding of the perfect blossom, and then the delight at 

 seeing it some morning, stimulated by even a mnter's sun, 

 suddenly throwing back its green cloak, and displaying the 

 wondrous beauty of its richly tinted lining. It is almost 

 worth being ill to enjoy such a scene." 



Encouragement like this must surely add new life and 

 vigour to Orchid growing. I hope, therefore, that many may 

 be induced to try their skill. The great secret is robust 

 growth in summer, when there is plenty of heat in the green- 

 houses ; but for further and particular instruction, see the 

 chapter on the cultivation of the Ly caste, and also that on 

 the treatment of plants in flower. 



ORCHID HOUSES. 



T is not absolutely necessary to build a house for the 

 cultivation of Orchids, for many people grow them 

 ^ most luxuriantly in their pine stoves, and in houses 

 principally devoted to flowering and ornamental-leaved plants : 

 and where only a few plants exist, such a plan is by no means 

 objectionable, but where a large collection is to be cared for, it 

 is quite essential that a house be specially set apart for them, 

 and in my opinion the best houses are those with span roofs 

 facing east and west. A ground plan and end section of such 

 a house is here given. The structure should not be more than 

 ten or eleven feet high in the centre, seventeen or eighteen feet 

 wide, and about a hundred feet long, with two glass divisions 

 to separate it into three houses — one for plants that come from 

 the East Indies, which ought to be next the boiler, the second 

 one for those that come from Brazil and part of Mexico, and 

 the third for New Grenada and Peruvian species. There 



