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The Orchid-House. 



THE ORCHID-HOUSE. 



The construction of the house is a most important part of orchid-culture. 

 The first conditions to be secured for the health and growth of the plants 

 are a moist and warm atmosphere ; and the house must be built with a 

 special view to this end. 



We often see collections of orchids in greenhouses where all the requi- 

 sites for their growth are wanting, crowded with greenhouse-plants, drenched 

 at one time with water, and then again allowed to dry up, subjected to 



cold draughts of air, and exposed to a burning sun. Is it a wonder they 

 never thrive ? that year by year they dwindle and die, till at last only a few 

 of the hardiest species, such as Oncidia, Stanhopeas, and Peresteria, sur- 

 vive, and these weak and sickly ? and, if they bloom at all, they throw up 

 such weak spikes of bloom, that the owner, in despair, throws away the 

 whole collection. 



The failure is not surprising. Orchids cannot be grown successfully with 

 other plants ; though, in an orchid-house, many of the beautiful variegated- 

 leaved plants, which, like orchids, require a moist heat, may be grown with 

 perfect success. 



Orchids must, then, have a house to themselves. This need not, however, 



