CULTURE. 3 
shillings he can buy a manual which will teach him what 
those species are, and how to grow them. An expenditure 
of five pounds will set him up for life with plants. 
Nothing else is needed save intelligence.” 
Many Orchids will grow as well when placed along 
with other plants as when kept in special houses. By first 
ascertaining what are the conditions under which a given 
Orchid will grow well, it is easy to place it in a position 
where those conditions are supplied. Thus, some of the 
cool species of Odontoglossum, Masdevallia, &c., would 
grow well in a house devoted to cool ferns, or to a mixed 
collection of greenhouse plants. Dendrobiums and Cattleyas 
do well in vineries, and so on. When once the general 
conditions which apply to the artificial management of 
Orchids are properly grasped, all the rest is easy. 
By far the larger proportion of Orchids grow naturally 
upon the branches of forest-trees, their long roots becoming 
fastened to the bark, and thus fixing them in position. 
These, with age, grow round and about the adjacent 
branches, or hang down, drawing their nourishment almost 
entirely from the humidity of the atmosphere. Sometimes 
the roots find nourishment in the débris of decayed leaves, 
&c., which becomes lodged between large -branches of 
trees. This, however, is very different from growing on 
the ground. Moisture, then, is a most important factor 
in their culture; indeed, during their period of growth 
they can scarcely have too much (in reason), and many 
of them do not like to be allowed to get dry, even when 
not in a growing state; although it may be accepted as a 
general rule, that after growth is completed much less 
water will be necessary. Although Orchids in a state of 
nature grow upon the branches of trees, there are not many 
which are treated thus under cultivation, and teak baskets 
or pots, containing copious drainage and a little peat fibre, 
Be 
