56 orchid-grower's manual. 



ORCHID HOUSES. 



I T is not absolutely necessary to build a bouse for tbe 

 cultivation of Orcbicls, for in ruany cases they are 

 grown most luxuriantly in pine stoves, or in bouses 

 principally devoted to flowering and ornamental-leaved plants. 

 Where only a few plants are cultivated, such a plan is by no 

 means objectionable, for we have found many of our Oi'chids 

 do well in such houses, which fact has only been discovered 

 by those who have been compelled to have recourse to such 

 means. Where, however, a large collection is to be cared 

 for, it is quite essential that houses should be specially set 

 apart for them, and in our opinion the best houses are 

 those with span roofs facing east and west (see pages 57, 59). 

 Ground plans and end sections of such houses are here 

 given. The largest sized span-roofed house should not be 

 more than ten or eleven feet high in the centre, seventeen 

 or eighteen feet wide, and about a hundred feet long, 

 ■with two glass partitions to separate it into three compart- 

 ments — one for plants that come from the East Indies, which 

 ought to be nearest the boiler, the second for those that come 

 from Brazil and therefore require an intermediate temperature, 

 and the third for the Mexican species which require plenty 

 of heat and sunlight. There should be upright sashes on 

 both sides of the house, with glass from twelve to fifteen 

 inches high, but not made to open. Many Orchid growers 

 object to side sashes, and sometimes recommend brickwork 

 up to the spring of the roof, but that is not, in our opinion, 

 the best plan ; on the contrary, we would advise any one 

 about to build an Orchid house to have upright sashes on 

 both sides and at each end. 



For cool Orchids either a span-roofed structure or a lean-to 



