The Orchid-house 



one who can grow mustard and cress, can grow 

 cool orchids at present. It is no monstrous ex- 

 aggeration. But still the public repeats and credits 

 the legends of that early time. 



If the amateur will keep before him the principles 

 which I have laid down in the first chapter, he 

 will not regret "going in for orchids," whatever 

 the situation or the architecture of his house may 

 be, provided that it have sufficient light. All other 

 defects can be remedied more or less. 



I should mention, however, a very common 

 difficulty. Builders love encaustic tiling for the 

 paths, and concrete for the floor of a conservatory, 

 and householders generally have the same taste. It 

 is neat, but it will not do. I myself fought with 

 this disadvantage for years, trying various methods 

 to overcome it; for concrete will never hold the 

 damp. At length I bordered the paths with garden 

 tiles, and filled the area beyond them with sea-sand. 

 It lies four inches deep, and this, watered with the 

 hose once, twice, or three times a day, according 

 to the season, gives ample moisture. The paths 

 themselves I have covered to an equal depth with 

 shell-gravel, coarse white sand, and crushed gypsum 

 from Derbyshire over all. The effect is good ; no 

 water can be seen though the whole floor be soak- 

 ing ; and my orchids are happy at last. 



23 



