XI 



remarkable that this is the only bequest which the orchid 

 collection at Kew has ever received. 



Many of the orchids, however, did not thrive in the 

 house provided for them, which proved too large for 

 the smaller species. These were therefore removed to 

 the present orchid pits (now No. 16) about 1851. From 

 about 1855-1862 part of the collection was maintained in 

 some old fruit houses in the present Herbaceous ground, 

 which had been remodelled and heated by hot water. 

 In 1863 the whole of the orchids had been removed to 

 these houses and they remained in them till the erection 

 of those in which they are now exhibited to the public. 

 The old houses were pulled down. 



The orchid pits are amongst the oldest structures in 

 the establishment. They are the " double propagating 

 pits " of Dr. Lindley's Report (1840). The north end is 

 formed by the only remaining portion of the wall of 

 Methold's garden (it having originally belonged to 

 Methold House, the Director's present official residence) 

 which was added to the Botanic Garden in 1846. These 

 pits were heated with hot-water in 1842 and rebuilt on 

 more modern principles in 1884. The small Masdevallia 

 house (16 c) to the north was reconstructed in 1893. 



According to John Smith {Records, p. 235,) " in 1848 

 the number of species cultivated at Kew amounted to 

 755 and in 1850 to 830." On the same authority it is 

 stated in 1864 to have been 638. In 1868, according to 

 the Botanical Magazine (t. 5692), Kew only possessed 

 about four hundred epiphytic orchids ; in this enumera- 

 tion there is probably some error, as in 1872 the number 

 of species and varieties in cultivation was 851 belonging 



