68 obchid-grower's manual. 



Saccolabiums, Vaiidas. Dendrohiums, and many others — such as we seldom see 

 equalled now. Since then we have used thinner shadings, with the best 

 results. Our Vandas thus treated have always been strong and healthy, 

 with broader foliage, producing their flower-spikes as often as three times a 

 year, with the flowers of a good colour, lasting a long time in perfection ; 

 in fact we are never without flowers, always having a good display. We 

 refer more particularly to the suavis and tricolor section of the genus. 

 Some people imagine Vandas do not flower till they attain a large size, but 

 such is not the case if they are properly grown and thin shading is used. 



" Our experience leads us to the belief that all Orchids, with a few ex- 

 ceptions, require a thin shading, that is to say, one that, while warding off 

 the direct rays of the sun, will allow the light to enter through it. To 

 arrive at this result we now use a strong durable cotton netting, woven in 

 small squares, close enough to exclude the rays of the sun while the light 

 penetrates it with but little interruption. This netting stands exposure to 

 the weather much longer than canvas, and on that account is cheaper in 

 the long run. We have used this material for some years in the case of 

 cool Orchids, Mexican and East Indian kinds, with the best results, the 

 netting being attached to rollers with appropriate gear. For the cool 

 Orchid houses we employ Raised Blinds. In the winter we take them of£ 

 the house and put them in a place of safety until they are required again in 

 the ensuing spring." 



The Raised Blinds just referred to, formed the subject of 

 a subsequent note under Plate 35 of the same work, which 

 note is here transcribed : — 



"During the summer months we have found Raised Blinds very bene- 

 ficial to the growth of Orchids, especially to those requiring cool-house 

 culture. When the hot summer's sun is shining upon the glass, it is very 

 diificult, where Raised Blinds are not employed, to keep the temperature 

 sufficiently low. The glass roof of the structure upon which the sun is 

 shining becomes very hot, even when shaded with ordinary blinds ; but if 

 Raised Blinds are used a current of air is allowed to pass over the entire 

 surface of the roof, and the glass is kept comparatively cool. The effect of 

 this is to decrease very appreciably the internal temperature of the house ; 

 and the moisture, which would otherwise be dried up by the burning heat 

 of the sun, produces a nice humid genial atmosphere in which Orchids 

 delight. 



" We will now explain brieflj^ the mode of construction. Supposing that 

 the house to be furnished with Raised Blinds is an ordinary span-roof 

 structure, it is necessary in the first place to provide a second ridge elevated 

 about six inches above the top of the existing one. This should not consist 

 of a solid plank, but of a strip of timber sufficiently strong to bear the 

 weight and strain of the blinds and roller ; and should be supported on 

 blocks of wood placed at intervals in order to allow the current of air from 



