THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



Feb. in them, and if they are managed properly beauty will 

 ^5~2o gush from them like water from a fountain. 



Theoretically, certain kinds of Orchids, notably 

 Cypripedium Insigne and Odontoglossum Crispum, can 

 be grown successfully in cool houses of mixed plants. 

 In practice, lovers of Orchids will find it prudent to 

 specialise them in houses of their own. In large Orchid- 

 growing establishments there may be found three 

 structures, the cool house, the Cattleya or intermediate 

 house, and the hot or East India house — nay, there are 

 sometimes four. But very gratifying results may be 

 secured from one roomy house separated into two 

 divisions, a cool one for the plants at their resting stage, 

 and a warmer one for the growing period. The maxi- 

 mum winter temperature for the former may be 45°, 

 and for the latter 55°. 



An amateur who intends to grow Orchids may well 

 commence preparations in February. He may get his 

 house built and heated, and procure the necessary 

 supply of mechanical appliances. Most of the Orchids 

 are grown in pots, but not in the ordinary form of 

 flower pot. Orchid pots are generally wide and shallow, 

 approximating to what gardeners call pans ; but a few 

 kinds are grown in deep pots. The receptacles are 

 generally made, too, with a series of large holes in the 

 sides. Some Orchids are not grown in any kind of pot, 

 but are bound on to blocks or rafts, or grown in 

 baskets. 



The root material also differs from that of ordinary 

 plants. It is not "soil" in the usual sense. It is true 

 that peat is used in some potting composts, but it differs 

 from Orchid peat, which is an entirely separate and 

 special article. The best way of getting it is to apply 

 to a trade Orchid grower, or to a dealer in horticultural 



