OlfCHIDS: now TO (iUOW THKM SUCCESSFULLY. OO 



plfiiity of thoiii hanjG^in*? over the paths, from 12 to IS inches from 

 the f^lass, also over the door and at the far end of the house, or in 

 any other place where they do not obstruct the light much from 

 the plants on the stages. Th(!se shelves meet the requirements 

 of some Orchids to perfection, especially those which require 

 light and air, or are shy bloomers when gi'own on the side 

 stages with other plants. I shall treat more fully on this 

 subject when referring presently to Cool, Intermediate, and 

 Warm houses. 



ORCHIDS IX BLOOM. 



When Orchids are in flower they should not bo allowed to 

 become veiy dry at the root, or the flowers will draw too largely 

 upon the reservoirs of the plant, greatly exhausting it, and 

 sometimes lead to its entire (iollapse the follo^ving season ; neither 

 should the flowers be allowed to remain on the plant for too long 

 a time, especially if the plant is at all weak. Oncidiums, Odonto- 

 glossums, Phalaenopsis, and Vanda cserulea, suffer from this cause 

 more than other Orchids, as these kinds generally throw large 

 spikes with a great number of flowers upon them, and should not 

 be allowed to become too dry. Should the plant be in a weak 

 condition and allowed to flower, the blooms must be cut imme- 

 diately, or the plants will be still further weakened and probably 

 dwindle away. The removal of the flower is no deprivation to the 

 owner, as it will keep a very long time in water. Even where strong 

 and vigorous it is not ad\dsable to allow the spikes to remain on 

 the plant more tlian a fortnight. Any small glasses or neat Httle 

 vessels for holding the flower spikes can be judiciously placed 

 among the plants, and but few casual observers would notice 

 that the flowers had been removed from their parent stems. 



PLANTS THAT MAY BE GROWX WITH 

 ORCHIDS. 



The culture of Orchids need not in any way k-ad to the 

 exclusion of the beautiful foliaged or flowering plants, and 

 especially ferns, which aie generally foimd in every gi-eenhouse ; 

 in fact, it would often prove to be a distinct advantage to these 

 plants to be in the same house, as the atmosphere is more suited 

 to their requirements than that generally maintained in an 

 ordinary greenhouse. There are, however, some plants which 



