VARIEGATED ORCHIDS. 45 



stronger : when too much confined in the case or bell-glass 

 they grow up spindling and damp off in the stem ; the latter 

 being fleshy requires more substance and hardihood. I have 

 seen Ancectocliili grown in bottom heat, which I find to be 

 injurious : they succeed in it for a time, but not long ; they 

 grow too fast, and become so weak as to often die alto- 

 gether. What I had in bottom heat I removed to a cooler 

 house without it, and I found that they improved very fast 

 under cool treatment. 



The finest collection I ever saw belongs to J. A. Turner, 

 Esq., of Manchester, and is under the care of Mr. Toll, his 

 gardener ; the plants are grown under bell-glasses in a little 

 top heat but no bottom heat. I sold Mr. Turner a plant of 

 each kind about three years ago ; they have been grown and 

 propagated, and now he has large pots full of them, many 

 plants of a kind being placed together. This shows how well 

 they may be grown without bottom heat. I also have seen 

 them doing well in other places without bottom heat : in short, 

 they may be grown without having an Orchid house at all ; 

 any common stove will do, or even a well-heated pit. I have 

 sold several collections this last season to gentlemen who 

 have no other Orchids, but who have bought these for the 

 express purpose of growing for decoration of the dinner table, 

 on which they have a beautiful appearance under gas light. 

 As table decoration, therefore, is in fashion, plants such as 

 these will doubtless be much sought after for that purpose, 

 and subjecting them to such treatment for a few hours in a 

 warm room will do them little harm, provided they have 

 glasses over them with a ventilator at the top to let out 

 moisture so as to keep the leaves dry ; being grown, as they 

 generally are, in small pots, they can be plunged in handsome 

 vases with ornamental glass tops. When done with, take 

 them back into the heat. For room-work let the foliage be 

 dry, and there should not be much moisture at the roots. 

 I should not, however, advise them to be used in the way 



