AN ESSAY. 195 



from June to September. This last REFUGE, will not 

 require more than 40 degrees in winter (and occasion- 

 ally less); a few degrees less will do no harm. In this 

 house we have had some few degrees below freezing 

 point for a few hours, and Cypripediums and Cselo- 

 gyne cristata were not hurt. But we wish to be un- 

 derstood that we do not advocate the practice to let the 

 frost in the house. 



I shall not go into more particulars about the man- 

 agement of orchids or other plants, because I sup- 

 pose that any moderately intelligent gardener knows 

 the A B C of cultivation of plants in pots, etc. I do 

 not suppose they need to be instructed how to sharp 

 their Jcnives when paring cuttings, or how to arrange 

 draining materials in a pot, etc. These stereotyped, 

 silly dictums can be found in all elementary Books on 

 Horticulture. But I would like to bring to the at- 

 tention of every one the SACRED as well as the pro- 

 fane the facts or sentences mentioned in the " Essay 

 on Orchids." " That in many instances the proper 

 treatment of plants (orchids) and others, I suppose, 

 has been arrived at by accident ' chance." Potent 

 words to be pondered on, as well by professors, theor- 

 ists, as by students and learners of all classes. To study, 

 to analyze, if possible, the causes of accidents and fail, 

 ures, as well as those of successes, and compare the 



