ORCHID HOUSES IN THE NATURAL STYLE. 35 



cases in which this plan may be followed out judiciously, 

 and with the best possible results. Terrestrial Orchids in 

 pots are portable, and more convenient for many reasons 

 than when planted out, though I very much doubt whether 

 they ever grow so luxuriantly as they would if planted 

 out in a suitable structure. In a state of nature Orchids 

 grow with a wild luxuriance quite unknown to us, their 

 aerial roots extending in all directions in quest of food and 

 moisture ; and they would grow more vigorously in our plant 

 houses if planted out in suitable composts, though, as a matter 

 of course, this plan could only be adopted in places where 

 there was no probability of their having to be removed. All 

 Orchids are not adapted for planting out, but there are some 

 that are specially amenable to this course of treatment,- and in 

 this respect cultivators should be judicious, only selecting such 

 plants as are likely to succeed and give satisfaction. There are 

 several beautiful Ferneries arranged in the natural style in this 

 country, with fountains and little trickling brooks bordered by 

 moist banks of sphagnum and turf, and to these the addition of a 

 few Orchids would be a marked improvement. A moist, 

 spongy bank partially shaded in such a structure would be 

 just the situation in which to plant out the glorious Disa 

 grandiflora, and to grow it in perfection. It has grown and 

 flowered out-of-doors during the summer months in this 

 country, but the chances of success would be far greater under 

 the above conditions than when subjected to either the vicissi- 

 tudes of our climate or to having its eager roots cramped within 

 the circumference of an earthenware pan. Give it a chance 011 

 one of these moist banks, where its roots can ramify in all 

 directions, and its fresh vigorous foliage will bid defiance to 

 thrip or red spider, and it will form an object of beauty not 

 easily excelled. There are other terrestrial Orchids admirably 

 adapted for planting out, such as the evergreen Calanthes, 



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