32 COOL ORCUID GROWING. 



middle; this gives two compartments of 30 feet each, and one- 

 of these may be kept warmer than the other by the addition of 

 an extra row of pipes, one flow and return. In this warm end 

 many Cattleyas, Laelias, Trichopilias, Cypripediums, ands 

 Oncids may be grown, which would hardly give satisfaction to 

 a connoisseur if grown in the cool end along with the Odonto- 

 glots. Many of the Orchids usually grown in the East Indian 

 house will bear with absolute impunity a mean winter tempera- 

 ture of 50^. 



I have knowii Orchids cultivated with marked success in 

 small houses partially sunk below the ground level. Plants 

 as a rule grow well in such houses, but there may be- 

 very good arguments raised either for or against them. The 

 atmosphere of such houses is generally humid and genial, 

 and they do not require so much artificial heat as houses 

 which are more fully exposed ; they are also very convenient 

 in being easily protected from frost by throwing a few mats over 

 them at night. On the other hand, the ground has to be exca- 

 vated before such a house can be erected, and such houses are 

 not the most convenient for lady visitors to enter ; still on the 

 whole they answer remarkably well, not only for Orchids,, 

 but also for stove plants and Ferns. Orchids have been well 

 grown at Syon house and at other places in these partially 

 sunk houses. As has been previously remarked. Orchids are 

 not so exclusive as to require a structure absolutely for them- 

 selves ; indeed, I have seen some of the commoner free- 

 flowering species beautifully grown in all manner of out-of- 

 the-way places, both in England and Scotland. Orchids have 

 also been grown in a Yinery very successfully by Eobert 

 Warner, Esq., of Broomfield, and others. The partial shade 

 of the Yines and the moist genial atmosphere are highly 

 conducive to the healthy vigour of many Dendrobes, Lycastes, 

 Anguloas, and Odontoglots, and the crop of Grapes is a very 



