ORCHIDS FOR CONSERVATORY 53 



the owners of such places were they to turn their atten- 

 tion to acquiring from time to time a few of the Orchids 

 which are now to be procured as cheaply as the less 

 suitable plants, such as Pelargoniums. Already some 

 successes have been recorded in this direction. 



Let us consider the different classes of conservatories, 

 and the species most likely to succeed in them. 



To take first the commonest kind of small conservatory 

 attached to villa gardens. These are unheated structures 

 except in the winter months, when the temperature cannot 

 be kept from getting below 45 Fahr. without the aid 

 of one of the oil-stove heating apparatus, or heat turned 

 on from the pipe connected with the kitchen range, where 

 arrangements for doing so have been provided. These 

 means of applying artificial heat should be used as little 

 as possible, and only to prevent the temperature falling 

 below 45 Fahr., for in confined spaces and with such 

 means of heating, the atmosphere is better for the plants 

 without the use of artificial heat, whenever the house 

 can be kept from getting too cold without it. In such 

 conservatories, many of the Odontoglossums, Masdeval- 

 lias, Oncidium varicosum, 0. crispum, 0. prcetextum, 0. 

 Gardneri, the pretty scarlet Sophronitis grandiflora, Epi- 

 dendrum mtellinum, Lycaste Skinneri, Cypripedium insigne, 

 Disa grandiflora, and a number of other pretty and in- 

 expensive species can be grown satisfactorily, especially 

 if the Oncidiums, Sophronitis, Odontoglossum Rossii majus, 

 and other of the smaller species be placed in baskets 

 for suspending, a means of cultivation which suits them 

 best, and adds to their decorative effect. 



The next step is the larger conservatory adjoining 



