24 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



plants may enjoy the full light. To do this, nails or hooks may be driven 

 into the rafters, or strong rods be carried along the rafters, to which hooks 

 shaped like the letter S may be suspended. This mode is preferable to the 

 former, as it has a neater appearance and is more convenient. 



a\\\ the rods, nails, hooks, &c., used in the house should be of copper 

 wire, of the various sizes, as required ; brass may be used, but is not so 

 easily obtained. Nothing of iron should be used : if unpainted, the mois- 

 ture causes rust immediately, and the rusty water runs from the nails and 

 discolors the paint, and in a very short time the nails rust out and we learn 

 the fact to our cost in the fall of some valuable plant ; if the iron is paint- 

 ed it is more durable, but the paint soon peels and falls off. We have 

 found brass hooked screws to answer most admirably. 



Now, having described the house and its appurtenances, let us turn to 

 an all-important subject — the treatment of the plants ; and this we have 

 space but to treat imperfectly. We can only give a few general hints, and 

 leave the grower to his own experience, — after all, the best teacher in this 

 as in other things. 



But first, how is a beginner to obtain these plants, many of them very 

 rare and natives of remote regions ? And we must be forgiven if we here 

 do a little advertising. The two best collections which have come under 

 our notice in this vicinity (we speak now only of sale collections) are those 

 of Mr. Cadness, of Flushing, Long Island, and of Isaac Buchanan, of 

 Astoria. In both of these collections we saw, during the last summer, 

 plants of many fine and rare orchids at moderate prices. But what is 

 really a moderate price for an orchid may seem very large to one who has 

 been accustomed to grow only greenhouse plants. Orchid growing is a 

 luxury, and we advise none to begin who have not means at their com- 

 mand. At those collections a nice assortment of the Mexican and South 

 American orchids may be obtained ; but if a grower would indulge in the 

 East Indian epiphytes, he must send to England for plants. A good way 

 to procure a stock of the Mexican orchids is through some friend in the 

 country ; they will generally arrive in good condition, but for one worth 

 growing the importer will find at least a dozen perfectly worthless. 



Orchids just imported from their native country are too often killed by 

 kindness. The treatment is very simple. First examine them closely, 

 clean them, cutting away any dead pseudo bulbs (the swollen fleshy stems 

 of orchids are thus denominated) with a sharp knife, also carefully removing 

 any decayed stems or leaves. Apply powdered chalk to the fresh cut 

 places, which will at once dry up the sap and prevent any decay. The 

 plants must then be treated according to their different natures. Stan- 

 hopaeas, Gongoras, and other plants of kindred nature, should be placed in 

 shallow baskets and hung up in the coolest part of the orchid-house. 

 Syringe the plants occasionally with water the temperature of the house. 

 Use no moss, peat, or any substance whatever round the plants. When 

 the plants show signs of growth it is time to change our treatment; then 

 place the plant in a shallow basket, with peat and moss ; give it more heat, 

 and water and treat it as a well-established plant. Lelias, Cattleyas, Epi- 



