70 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING 



tropics where the atmosphere is always moist and cool. These 

 are called "Cool House Orchids" and can only be grown in the 

 north with great difficulty. Among them is the genus Odonto- 

 glossum, containing some of the most exquisitely beautiful things 

 in the world, and there are many others. I have repeatedly 

 rtried a number of these in my hammock and have met with abso- 

 lute failure. Our summers are no doubt too warm and they can- 

 mot stand dry weather. 



There is another class of Orchids which is neither wholly epi- 

 phytic nor terrestrial ; the plants may grow in a native state near 

 the ground on trees, on rocks or even in the ground. Among 

 these is Oncidium sphacellatum, which I have mentioned in the list 

 of Florida species, the Coelogynes and some of the Cymbidiums. 

 They should be grown in moist places in the hammock at the 

 bases of trees, on rocks with moss or leaf mould, or a sort of arti- 

 ficial rock-work with decaying wood and leaf mould mixed in 

 will suit them. I have not had much experience with Cypripe- 

 diums and other strictly terrestrial forms but they might prob- 

 ably be grown successfully in moist hammock in a mixture of 

 peat, fern root and leaf mould. 



Most of the Orchids received from the dealers have their roots 

 contained in the mixture of chopped fern root or peat and sphag- 

 num in which they grew in the orchid house. In my earlier 

 attempts at growing them on my trees I made the mistake of 

 leaving this all on and fastening the ball against the tree by means 

 of pieces of shingle nailed on so as to press against it. I believe 

 that the freshly imported plants which have not yet been potted 

 are better than the potted and established ones. 



No Orchid will flourish on a tree unless it is so firmly fastened 

 to it that it cannot possibly be moved about. It must also be so 

 fastened that the collar, that is the part of it where the roots join 

 the stems, is not choked or smothered. I find it best with plants 

 that come with the potting material around their roots to soak 

 the mass a little and carefully remove as much of it as possible 

 without unduly mangling the roots. Most of these die anyhow 

 after the plants have been on the tree awhile. Cut window 

 screen wire (iron wire is best) into strips an inch wide and of 

 any length. Fasten one end of a strip with a small nail to the 



