ORCHID CULTURE 117 



to seventy-five degrees in summer, and sixty to sixty-fbe 

 degrees in winter, with, about ten degrees higher during 

 the day ; Brazilian and Mexican forms, with a night 

 temperature of sixty-five to seventy degrees in summer, 

 and sixty in winter, and the Peruvian orchids, that do 

 not need over fifty-five to sixty degrees at night in sum- 

 mer, and forty-five to fifty degrees in winter; in each 

 case they may be ten degrees warmer during sunny days. 



In our treatment of orchids, we should endeavor to 

 provide them with surroundings similar to those that 

 they are accustomed to, in a wild state. Many of the 

 East Indian orchids are supplied with an abundance of 

 moisture for a part of the year, during which they make 

 their growth, and rest during the dry season. As they 

 grow upon tree tops and on the sides of mountains, they 

 are fully exposed to all movements of the air, and from 

 this their need of an abundance of fresh air can be 

 readily seen. The Peruvian orchids, on the other hand, 

 are found at high altitudes, where the climate is cool 

 and moist, and the supply of water throughout the year is 

 abundant. For such species, it will be seen, it would be im- 

 proper to provide any extended period of drouth. While 

 some of these plants grow in the full sunlight, others are 

 found in the dense jungles, and will not stand the full 

 sunshine, even of our climate. The conditions under glass 

 are, moreover, quite different from those in the open air 

 just above, and for most plants, it is desirable to pro- 

 vide some way of shading them, during the summei 

 months. For this purpose, permanent shading, using 

 some wash for the glass, rolling blinds, canvas or net- 

 ting, may be used. 



Orchids are collected and shipped to this country 

 and Europe in large quantities, and can be purchased, 

 while yet dormant, at comparatively low prices. Most 

 of the importers are large growers of orchids, and, if 

 desired, can furnish established plants, at prices rang- 



