46 orchid-gkower's manual. 



trickled down upon them. We should think that water 

 containing iron would be most injurious to Orchids." 



Rain or pond water is the best for the plants, but if this 

 cannot be obtained, and water from a spring must be employed, 

 it should be well exposed to the influence of the atmosphere 

 before being used ; it should also be allowed to stand in the 

 house for a considerable time, previously to its being required 

 for the plants, so that it may become warmed to about the 

 same temperature as the atmosphere in which it is to be used. 

 This indeed should be done in all cases. 



Slate cisterns are very useful for collecting the rain water 

 which falls on the roof ; and such cisterns on each side the 

 house placed over the hot-water pipes will keep the water at 

 the same temperature as that of the house. If there is not 

 room for the slate cisterns on the pipes, a cement tank under 

 the centre table will answer the same purpose, and should 

 have a hot-water pipe run through it, if possible, so as to keep 

 up the temperature of the water, which is a very important 

 point in maintaining the healthy growth of the plants. 



Over-watering is very detrimental to nearly all the species 

 of Orchids in cultivation. It must be remembered that 

 although in their native habitats they get a great deal of rain 

 during the growing season (which is generally the rainy 

 season), it is very different in our houses, where they are 

 closely confined, and evaporation does not take place to such 

 an extent as it does in their native homes, where they are 

 found growing on trees and rocks and on the ground. In 

 these positions they get all the winds that blow, and which 

 after a shower quickly dry up the superabundant moisture. 

 More Orchids are lost by over-watering than many people 

 imagine ; and although they may not show it at the time, it 

 tells upon them afterwards in the shape of disease. 



