310 FLOWER GARDEN. 



green-house should never be allowed to descend below 

 forty degrees in the absence of the sun ; and even at 

 that temperature plants will, in very clear cold weather, 

 often part with so much of their warmth through radi- 

 ation as to be nipped by frost. But, in closing out the 

 cold external air, the vital importance of ventilation to 

 plants must not be forgotten, and fresh air should be 

 cautiously admitted on all occasions. When the tem- 

 perature is high, plants require more watering than 

 when the thermometer is low. In very cold spells, 

 much moisture invites frost. Whenever the weather is 

 sufficiently mild, the plants should be allowed the full 

 benefit of the open air. 



Tropical Orehidacese. — Till within the last few years, 

 the cultivation of epidendrous plants was deemed too 

 difficult to be attempted in private establishments, and 

 was resigned to Royal Gardens. A great revolution in 

 this respect has since taken place ; epiphytes being now 

 extensively cultivated. The collection of such plants 

 in the principal nursery gardens near London is vast, 

 particularly at those of Loddiges, Hackney — Rollisons, 

 Tooting — Knight, Chelsea — and Low, Clapton. Some 

 amateur cultivators eminently excel in them ; such as 

 the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth, where Mr. 

 Paxton presides; Earl Fitzwilliam at Wentworth, where 

 Mr. Cooper is gardener; Mr. Bateman at Knypersley, 

 and Mr. Bucker at Wandsworth. More than 1000 

 species of epiphytes are now in cultivation. They are 

 all tropical productions, and, of course, need stove-heat 

 in this country; but those from- the East Indies require 

 a higher temperature and more humid atmosphere than 

 those from South America. " In Scotland, the cultiva- 

 tion of tropical epiphytes is carried to great perfection 



