COOL TREATMENT OF ORCHIDS. 1 03 



adorned by the gorgeous, fragrant, and curious flowers of 

 Orchids, the discovery is one of greatest value to the 

 florist and amateur. 



We propose to condense from the latest English publi- 

 cations the experience of those who have put the new 

 theory into practice, feeling that if farther trial proves 

 the discovery to be of general adaptation, its value can 

 hardly be estimated-. 



But first let us state, that while experience has shown 

 that this mode of culture succeeds with most Orchids, it 

 does not suit the nature of those species which come from 

 the hot, damp jungles of the Eastern Continent, but is 

 especially adapted to South American and Mexican spe- 

 cies, particularly those which are natives of the great 

 Andean range, where in fact the larger part of South 

 American Orchids occur. 



We learn from Humboldt that although Orchids are 

 scattered throughout every part of the torrid zone, from 

 the level of the sea to the height of 10,000 or 11,000 feet, 

 yet it must be admitted that in the number of species, the 

 coloring of their blossoms, delicious fragrance, rich foli- 

 age, and brilliant flowers, none can be compared to those 

 that inhabit the Andes of Mexico, New Granada, Quito, 

 and Peru, where the shade is moist, and the breezes 

 mild, the mean temperature of the year at an elevation of 

 between 4,800 and 6,600 feet being from 64 to 69. In 

 fact these most beautiful of plants, like those most beau- 

 tiful of birds, the humming birds, seem to cling with a 

 marvelous partiality to the vast Andean chain, which 

 stretches from the frontiers of Mexico to the confines of 

 Peru. These mountains are, geologically speaking, 

 of recent date ; the Orchids, therefore, that inhabit them, 



