ORCHIDS. 207 



me under it. I use first quality glass. The glass is 

 shaded with canvas from March to October, from nine 

 o'clock in the morning to four o'clock in the afternoon, 

 except on cloudy days. 



8th Any further information that you think would 

 be useful, please add. 



Orchids grown to pay a florist would have to be grown 

 in quantity, each species with a house to itself. The most 

 of the twenty-four species named could be had in flower 

 from November to April in a house 150 by 20 feet; 

 all plants with a tendency to early maturity should be 

 placed at the warm end of the house, or in the fall parti- 

 tion off fifty feet at the warmer end for the most forward. 

 The plants would have to be imported from the woods at 

 first cost (established plants at present prices would be 

 too expensive), and the flowers sold cheap to become 

 popular. Orchid growing to-day is where Rose growing 

 was thirty-five years ago. To sum up : In the culti- 

 vation of Orchids all plants when newly potted should 

 be made firm, otherwise if the plants move by syring- 

 ing, or other cause, the rootlets will be destroyed. The 

 atmosphere of an orchid house should always be moist, 

 winter and summer, in winter allowing the pottery 

 material to become more dry. Light and air are essen- 

 tial to vigorous growth, deluging with water when in act- 

 ive growth, but never closing top ventilation ; never hav- 

 ing a stagnant atmosphere, gradually withholding water 

 as the growth approaches maturity, and then only enough 

 to keep from shriveling. As to time for re-potting the 

 cultivator is guided by the commencement of growth ; 

 plants should always be under-potted as long as the 

 plant is not top-heavy, such as Cattleyas, Lcelias, Den- 

 droMums, etc.; a top dressing is all that is needful. 

 Calanthe, Phajus, etc., are re-potted annually. 



Insects, such as thrips and aphis, are kept under by 

 filling the evaporating pans, or other vessels, with 



