23O' Orchid Culture. 



ORCHID CULTURE. — III. 



By John G. Barker, Cambridge, Mass. 



Shading. — This is indispensable, and the best thing for tlie purpose, 

 probably, is canvas. The easiest way to use it is to have it tacked on 

 to a strip of wood and fastened to the top of the house, the lower part 

 to be tacked on to a roller and run on pulleys with cords ; it can then 

 be rolled up or let down at pleasure. It will also be found exceedingly 

 useful on very cold nights, and will help the heating of the house very 

 much. Some use whitewash, or some other daub, which answers very 

 well in hot weather ; but when it is dull, the plants need all the light 

 they can possibly get ; hence the necessity of a shade that can be used 

 at pleasure. On the upper part of the house a small box may be built 

 for the shade to be rolled up under it in stormy weather, which will 

 keep it dry, and preserve it for a greater length of time than if not 

 protected ; this box can be made neatly, and so as to give a finish to the 

 ridge of the house. 



Air. — This is very important, for where the temperature is too high, 

 air must be admitted ; but care must be taken that the cold air does not 

 come in contact with the plants. The best way to admit air is by small 

 openings in the wall, opposite the hot-water pipes, to be opened and 

 closed by sliding shutters. When these are open, the air rushes in and 

 becomes warm before it comes in contact with the plants ; the sash 

 must also be opened at the upper part of the house to allow the heated 

 air to escape. In summer, when there is no heat in the pipes, the out- 

 side air is so warm that when admitted it will not injure the plants in 

 the least. 



Baskets. — These are indispensable, and for this reason — that some 

 species, especially Stanhopeas^ and a few of the Peristerias and Acine- 

 tas send their flower spikes down through the soil ; and it is evident that 

 if these are grown in pots they must perish, or the greater part of them 

 at least, unless the plants are elevated very high above the rim of the 

 pots. These baskets must be of a size proportionate to that of the plant, 

 the smallest being six inches square, the next ten, and the third four- 

 teen. A very pretty basket may be made of rods of some kind of hard 

 wood ; hazel or oak will do. Cut them into proper lengths, and with a 

 sharp-pointed borer, made red hot, bore a hole through each end of the 

 rods, and, having some copper wire ready, run it through the holes, lay- 

 ing the rods one on the otlier, about three high for the smallest size 



