ORCHID HOUSES. 35 



against Orchids and Orchid houses, on account of the excessive 

 heat and moisture attending them, and which quite precludes 

 them from enjoying their beautiful flowers. This complaint, 

 however, has now lost much of its force, because we grow 

 Orchids much cooler, yet in the case of the East Indian house 

 there is still much truth in it. The evil is one, nevertheless, 

 which can easily be remedied. To that end a small house should 

 be erected, or a small division at the end of the Orchid houses 

 assigned to Orchids in bloom, or a portion of the conservatory 

 should be enclosed. Here, with some ferns and a few other 

 ornamental-leaved plants as a background, the blooming 

 Orchids should be placed, and here they may be enjoyed to 

 the full, since the place may be kept quite cool, so that while 

 the most delicate constitution will receive no injury, the 

 blossoms will remain much longer in perfection. This system 

 is adopted by many cultivators of Orchids, and is a source 

 of great pleasure to them. In this way the beauties of such 

 plants as Calanthe vestita, Limatocles rosea, the Pleiones and 

 plants like them, which are destitute of leaves at the time 

 of flowering, is greatly enhanced, as the ferns and other 

 plants can be made to hide the deficiency ; and in summer the 

 Orchids in flower will retain their full beauty for a much 

 longer time, if kept well shaded and cool. This system of 

 decoration is well carried out by Mr. Hubbersty, gardener to 

 0. Wrigley, Esq., of Bury. A long span-roofed house, 

 which forms an entrance to the other houses, is devoted to 

 this purpose ; it has a central path, with a table on each side, 

 and the blooming Orchids being brought here and inter- 

 mixed with ferns, flowering and ornamental-leaved Begonias, 

 Poinsettias, EupJiorbias, and many other plants, according to 

 the season, the eflect produced is charming. 



