ORCHIDS FOR GREENHOUSE CULTURE. 105 



as the growth matures lessen the supply of water. This plant 

 grows well in a forcing graper}^, under the shade of the vines, or 

 in a greenhouse that has shade. 



Dendrobium nobile. — This is one of the oldest and one of the 

 best of the Dendrobiums. It is a native of India, and indispen- 

 sable in every orchid house, as it will give more blooms in propor- 

 tion to the space it occupies than any plant we know. 



The flower is white shaded with lake, and with a rich purple or 

 lake lip, and exquisitely fragrant. The plant begins to make its 

 growth immediately after it has done flowering, and continues till 

 late in summer. It should have plenty of water during its growth. 

 We use a watering-pot with' a rose, so as to water all the plant ; 

 this we do several times a day, until its growth becomes mature, 

 when we give less water. When the nights get colder, they require 

 but little water, and may be exposed to the sun, but while they are 

 growing we give them shade under some large plants of some kind. 



While they are at rest a cool place is the best for them, say 

 about 50°, until the flower buds are well developed, which will be 

 in the earl3^ spring. If the plants are kept too warm in winter 

 they start to grow and not to flower. The best soil is a mixture 

 of peat broken in pieces about the size of walnuts, sphagnum 

 moss, and broken crocks or charcoal ; the plants should be set well 

 up above the pot. 



There are many of the orchids which can be well grown in a 

 rose pit or greenhouse. Any one who will try those we have 

 recommended will hardly be satisfied with these alone. There is 

 no reason why the culture of orchids should not become a source 

 not only of pleasure, but of profit. 



Edward S. Rand, Jr., said that he was very glad to hear this 

 paper on greenhouse orchids, for Mr. Cartwright was the first of 

 our professional florists to undertake the culture of orchids. 

 Those mentioned are all adapted to greenhouse culture, but the 

 number can be largely increased. Mr. Rand went on to speak of 

 the orchids already mentioned and others, illustrating his remarks 

 with specimens exhibited by him, which received the prize to-day. 

 The Dendrohium nobile^ though flowering abundantly, had more 

 than twice as many flowers two weeks ago. After the flowers had 

 faded last year, the plant was kept in a house with the temperature 

 at about 50° by night, and never raised above that point by fire 



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