OKCHIDS I HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 147 



satisfactorily. Their failure is not so much due to an insufficiency of 

 heat, as to the aridity of the atmosphere too much air at times, or too 

 much sun. It should be borne in mind that Orchids, though fond of 

 fresh pure air are also fond of moisture and shade to a reasonable 

 extent. They also require a somewhat regular and evenly balanced 

 temperature, and this is seldom found in an ordinary greenhouse. 

 Better companions for Cool Orchids, if we consider the year through- 

 out, are ferns and the warmer kinds of greenhouse plants, of which 

 there are large numbers, not necessarily stove plants but sometimes 

 classified as such. 



The kinds that I would strongly recommend to amateurs are those 

 commonly known as Intermediate, for such is the temperature that best 

 suits the great majority. Most of those classified as cool and hot kinds 

 grow equally as well intermediate, whilst but very few indeed require 

 strong heat, or are very cool growing. There is therefore absolutely no 

 reason whatever why the amateur with his one house should not grow 

 an enormous number of species from various parts of the world with a 

 great deal of success, and especially so if the structure has a small 

 portion partitioned off, or if he possess a cool frame so as to provide 

 better summer accommodation for Odontoglossums of the crispuiu 

 section and just a few other cooler sorts. 



Now to proceed with the subject of cultivation, and in order to 

 make the same as clear as possible let us put the whole of those 

 commonly called intermediate, as well as those already known as cool 

 growing kinds, into one category and class the whole as Cool Orchids. 

 sub-dividing them again into two classes or sections, which we will call 

 the "warmer" and the "cooler 5 ' sections of cool growing Orchids. 

 The first named will differ from the last mentioned only because they 

 naturally prefer more warmth during the summer months when they are 

 making their growth in other wdrds, the growing season in their 

 native habitats is much warmer than their winter or resting season ; 

 whilst with the latter section there appears to be but little climatic 

 difference between winter and summer, or the resting and growing 

 seasons. This extra warmth preferred by the " warmer section " while 

 making growth is very easy of attainment. Nature supplies it for us 

 in the form of the sun. We can maintain during the summer any 

 degree of warmth which we may wish. It is indeed easy by not paying 

 due attention to little matters of ventilation and shading to have too 

 much heat. To illustrate my meaning I will here state what I find to 

 be the best treatment and most favourable conditions, which should 

 prevail in the cultivation of those species which we constitute the 

 warmer section of the cool Orchids ; it will then be seen how very 

 simple are their requirements. Generally during the summer there is 

 but little difficulty in keeping the night temperature about 60 or 65, 

 which is ample. During the days it will range from these figures up 



