6 orchid-grower's manual. 



Lohhii, Saccolahium ampullaceum, S. giganteum, Cypripedium 

 concolor, Cymhidium tirjrinum, &c., all growing at elevations 

 varying from 2,000 to 7,000 feet, enjoying a copious supply 

 of water during their period of gi'owth, and subjected to a 

 very severe resting season. Now, as these plants grow upon 

 the stems and branches of the forest trees, or upon rocks, 

 they must necessarily be exposed to all the breezes that blow. 

 How reprehensible, then, is the practice of many growers of 

 Orchids in trying to exclude air from their Orchid houses. 

 For the well-being of Orchids, it should be remembered that a 

 free circulation of air is absolutely necessary, as well as an 

 abundance of light ; but cold draughts, and also the burning 

 effects of the sun's rays, must be avoided, for it is not essen- 

 tial to their well-being to be hung up close to the glass, fully 

 exposed to the blazing sun : indeed, the life of the plants 

 would, under such circumstances, soon be sucked out of them 

 if shading were not prepared. There are so-called observers 

 of nature who blame the cultivator for many of his acts, and 

 he has perhaps suffered more wrong at the hands of this class 

 of persons upon the matter of shading, than upon any other. 

 We are frequently told that in a state of nature such and such 

 plants grow in most exposed situations — situations open to 

 the full effects of a tropical sun, and that nothing can be 

 more erroneous than the manner in which we use '' blinds " 

 for the purpose of keeping away the bright light of that lumi- 

 nary. All I can say in answer to these objectors is that they 

 totally lose sight of the fact that our plants are growing under 

 glass, which has the power of rapidly burning up the leaves 

 and disfiguring our plants for years, if not for life. A little 

 practice would soon teach such persons how en-oneous their 

 ideas had been, and they would soon sink their so-called 

 natural treatment, had they to be responsible for the effects 

 produced by their advice. In lea^dng this subject, I must 



