HYBRIDISATION, SEEDS, & SEEDLINGS 19 



ventilators may be opened a little instead of a few opened 

 widely. 



All these remarks apply to the Odontoglossums and other 

 cool Orchids as well, in every respect except that of temperature. 

 For these the winter temperature for the advancing seedlings 

 should not fall below y^ degrees, and there should be an abundance 

 of piping to provide sufficient heat without unduly forcing the 

 fires. When the fires have to be driven hard to maintain the 

 temperature the atmosphere of the house has a stuffy, used-up odour, 

 and it is then bad for the plants. 



Not so very many years ago the Orchid traders were entirely 

 dependent upon imported plants for their supplies ; but now home 

 raised hybrids are the great feature of the business, and in the 

 near future we shall have home raised seedlings of the finer forms 

 of the species also offered for sale. At home, on the Continent, 

 and in a lesser degree in America, Orchid raising is a large and 

 growing industry, for not only are the connoisseurs steadily increasing 

 in number, but also in every garden where there is a glass house, 

 and where there is a desire to grow Orchids, that desire is being 

 fulfilled now that the culture of the plants is better understood 

 and the discovery has been made that home raised plants are 

 easily grown as compared with imported ones. During the last 

 ten years the sales of imported Orchids have very greatly 

 diminished and the sales of rare and beautiful hybrids have 

 correspondingly increased. Of course, the finest novelties realise 

 high prices, but the rank and file of the hybrids are well within 

 the purse-limits of amateurs, from the skilled artisan class upwards. 

 New Carnations, Fuchsias, Hardy Ferns, Auriculas, Pelargoniums, 

 and Roses are sold at prices for which nice plants of ordinarily good 

 Orchids can be purchased. Popularity has followed the general 

 reduction of prices, but lower prices do not necessarily mean a 



