56 ORCHIDS. 



a symmetrical effect is produced. Some growers prefer 

 stages or shelves, but the arrangement on tables seems 

 preferable to all others. 



The tables are often made hollow and filled in with 

 moss or sand, through which a heating pipe passes, thus 

 giving a gentle bottom heat ; the plants are either placed 

 on the moss or the pots plunged in it. Some plants 

 grow most luxuriantly under this treatment. Of course it 

 is necessary to keep the moss constantly wet. 



The tables should be of brick or slate laid on cement, 

 or, as we prefer, of galvanized wire as in the house at 

 Glen Ridge. Cisterns for water should be provided, 

 supplied with rain-water from the roof of the house ; 

 these should be warmed by the heating pipes being 

 carried under them. A good place for these cisterns is 

 all along the sides of the house ; then the pipes can run 

 under them the whole length, and a shelf for plants may 

 be placed on top of them. The best material for table is 

 slate or wire ; the best for floors is soft flagging which 

 will hold moisture, or cement. 



All tables should be so arranged as to hold water or 

 wet moss ; the pots should be placed on pebbles or moss, 

 in the water during summer, but in winter the shelves 

 should be dry. 



Plants in baskets or hanging pots should be suspended 

 to the rafters over the walks, as thus no drip comes upon 

 plants below. The accompanying plate represents a very 

 neat and convenient contrivance for suspending these 

 plants. It should be made of iron, galvanized, and is 

 so arranged that the plant may be turned round without 

 removing it from the rafter. 



A very pretty effect may be produced in an Orchid 



