GROWING SPECIMEN ORCHIDS FOR EXHIBITION. G9 



below to find an outlet, which would not be the case if a solid ridge-board 

 were adopted. Having arranged for the ridge, the next thing is to provide 

 supports for the rollers. Either wood or iron may be used for this purpose, 

 but we have found iron to be the lightest looking and the most durable. 

 Where the length of the rafters does not exceed say eight feet, half-inch 

 rod iron will be found to be strong enough, and this should be cut into 

 proper lengths with the lower end turned up in a semi-circular form so as 

 to catch the roller when it descends, and prevent it from running oflE the 

 supports. These supporting rods should be fixed to the bars or rafters of 

 the house about six inches above the woodwork, by being welded to vertical 

 iron stays, which latter should be flattened out at the base, and provided 

 with holes so that they can be screwed to the rafters or bars of the roof. 



" In this way a strong support for the blinds to roll upon will be formed ; 

 the blinds themselves can be attached to the elevated ridge in the ordinary 

 way, and the gearing usually employed for the purpose will be found to 

 answer well for pulling them up and down. Many Orchid growers have 

 already adopted the Raised Blinds with very beneficial results." 



GROWING SPECIMEN ORCHIDS FOR EXHIBITION. 



REAT progress has been made in Orchid culture 

 ^Yithin the last forty years, owing perhaps to what 

 has been written on the subject. There were, 

 however, in years gone by, many fine collections of Orchids 

 around London ; some in France, and a few in Belgium, 

 Germany, &c. The grand specimens that were exhibited at 

 our London shows were very fine, especially the East Indian 

 kinds, which were far in advance of those of the present time, 

 and also more numerous. The single specimens were very fine 

 indeed, and great interest was excited, and no little pride was 

 felt among amateurs to produce those which were exhibited 

 for many years at the Chiswick and Regent's Park shows. 

 Within the past few years the taste seems to have in some 

 measure revived, although many of those now exhibited are 

 made up, instead of being genuine specimens. Of course there 

 are some Orchids which will not make an exhibition specimen 



