STRUCTURE OF ORCHID HOUSE n 



timber should be avoided. In glazing, only a thin bedding 

 of putty should be used, and the glass should be bradded on 

 the upper side, as top putty when decaying or on becoming 

 loose is worse than useless, and tends seriously to foul the 

 water in the cisterns. Span -roofed houses 12 feet to 15 feet 

 wide, and of proportionate elevation, are suitable for ordi- 

 nary Orchids, but if specimen plants are desired a loftier 

 house will be necessary. 



A range of houses should, if possible, be connected at 

 the end which is most exposed to the north and north-east 

 winds by a corridor or covered structure, in which the pot- 

 ting-shed stores and entrance to the boiler hold should be 

 arranged. The greatest care must be taken that no fumes 

 from the heating apparatus can find their way into either 

 the corridor, potting-sheds, or plant-houses, or the plants 

 will suffer the worst consequences. Safety can easily be 

 assured by thoroughly ventilating the stoke-hold and making 

 the partition between the corridor or offices and the stoke- 

 hold as air-tight as possible. 



The wood-work, when of pitch-pine or other hard wood 

 planed smooth, may be oiled or varnished, painting being 

 undesirable for new houses. In course of time, however, 

 painting has to be resorted to, and it is one of the most 

 trying operations about the Orchid houses. Great care has 

 to be taken to obtain a reliable quality of paint that will 

 not harm the plants, and to keep the house vacant for as 

 long a time as possible for the gases from the paint to 

 escape. After the plants are returned to the house some 

 ventilation must be maintained day and night for a time. 

 Tar should not be used inside an Orchid house for any 

 purpose. 



