142 ORCHIDS : HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



There are of course many other beautiful kinds which could be 

 enumerated, indeed, the supply of species together with their 

 separate varieties is almost inexhaustible, but I feel that quite 

 sufficient have been named to answer the purpose for which this 

 book is compiled, /.<"., that of placing the new beginner upon a solid 

 foundation from which to work. 



In addition to the many gardening periodicals which treat 

 more or less on Orchids, there are also many books which have 

 been published from time to time, some of which could be taken up 

 with advantage, after this little book has been thoi'oughly 

 digested, but until the rudiments of Orchid culture are 

 understood, such books may perplex rather than assist. Acting on 

 this principle I have omitted long botanical descriptions of stem, 

 foliage, date of introduction, or their early history, neither have I 

 endeavoured to correctly describe the colours and shape of the 

 flowers, only sufficiently to enable the beginner to form an idea as 

 to whether he possesses the correct species or not, and I have 

 enlarged somewhat fully, but in simple terms, on the cultural 

 treatment required by the various families of Orchids. ' 



®rcbiJ)0 wbicb ma^ be grown in IDineries 

 or peacb Ibonsee, 



In an early chapter it was stated that I could not advise the 

 culture of Orchids in fruit growing houses, and I intended these 

 words to apply to Orchids generally, but when a vineiy or peach 

 house has been started early in the year, in February for instance, 

 then the warmth such a house would afford would exactly suit the 

 requirements of a few species of Orchids, and materially assist the 

 plants in forming their new pseudo bulbs. By the time the fruit had 

 ripened, and it became necessary to give the vines or fruit trees 

 plenty of air in order to thoroughly ripen the wood, the now growth 

 of the Orchids would be in an advanced condition and able to 

 withsta.nd, and indeed, would be benefited by large quantities of air 

 and cool treatment, provided it be not too cold, remaining here 

 until it became necessary to start the houses in the following year. 



