ORCHIDS : HOW TO GUtOW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. lot 



mild weather. Under these simple and easily obtainable conditions, 

 which I have briefly attempted to describe, it is really remarkable 

 what an enormous quantity of different species can be collected in one 

 small house and there together grow, doing well and flowering freely. 

 They are too numerous for me to here find space to mention them each 

 separately. The quickest way for me will be to mention a few names 

 p^ejf genera and species which would probably not succeed on account of 

 insufficient heat. The whole of the others left unmentioned may be 

 given a trial with reasonable chances of success. They may not ail 

 grow well, some are sure to do better than others, it is always so, even 

 when that which supposed to be the most approved treatment is given 

 by professional men. But what I say is, try a few inexpensive kinds to 

 commence with. 



Those kinds which I would advise an amateur to avoid for a time, 

 unless it is with just one or two of each to experiment with, are as 

 follows : The species of Bollea, Pescatorea, Phaleenopsis, 

 Angrsecum, and Sacalabium. Some few species of Dendrobium. may 

 also be mentioned, principally those coming from the East Indian 

 Islands, such as Dendrobium Phalsenopsis, and its var. Schroederianum, 

 D. superbum (macrophyllum), D. Lovvi, D. Johnsonise (Macfarlanei), 

 D. superbiens, D. bigibbum, D. atroviolaceum and D. Dalhousieauum ; 

 likewise a few Cypripediums, the principal of which are those coming 

 from the hot lowlands of the East Indian Islands, such as C. Eoths- 

 childianum, C. Lowii, C. Stonei, C. philippinensis and C. Sanderianuin. 

 Cattleya Eldorado, C. superba and C. Aclandise may also fail to do 

 well on account of insufficient warmth. These are all I think that I 

 need point out as being unlikely to grow with much certainty. Of 

 course there a good many Oncidiuras, Odontoglosums, Masdevallias, 

 and some few others, independent from those mentioned in the 

 following chapter, that delight in a pretty cold summer treatment. But 

 still, if the house is not partitioned off, or the cool frame is not at 

 hand, the whole, with the exception of those hereafter named, may be 

 tried under the aforementioned conditions, where they will be found to 

 grow very well if suitable positions are selected according to their 

 requirements. The selections of which is the most interesting study of 

 the whole thing, and one which can only be taught by practice, and 

 the looking up of various works and writings on the subject, if necessary, 

 after this work is exhausted. 



Remember steam arising from the cold water coming in contact 

 with the hot water pipes is most harmful to any orchid, and produces 

 many ills. Of course it makes no difference on a small scale, such as 

 a little accidently. But why I mention this fact is because I find it 

 is the custom of some amateurs to syringe the pipes whenever they are 

 hot, to produce a vapour. Truly a moisture is thereby created, but 

 it is certainly the wrong kind of moisture. 



