OEC 



[586 ] 



ORC 



on each side four feet nine inches wide. 

 The bottom of this trench forms the foot- 

 path ; its sides must be supported with 

 boards, or with four-inch brick-work. 

 Now, as everything defends on these 

 borders for there, must be no benches 

 and no shelves care must be taken to 

 make their surface loose and open : loose 

 materials, such as coarse cinders, lime- 

 rubbish from old walls, or bricks broken 

 into pieces in size from a nut to a wal- 

 nut, may be laid on them about four 

 inches deep; they may then be forked 

 over to about nine inches in depth, well 

 mixing the above materials with the soil ; 

 you thus have two borders not too far 

 from the glass, and on which your orchard 

 frill thrive admirably. It will appear 

 odd to read about trees thriving on in- 

 stead of in a border; but when explained 

 that this is to be an orchard in pots, it 

 will not seem so contrary to our usual 

 garden-culture. 



OECHIDS are divisible into two classes, 

 the Epiphytes, or those growing upon 

 trees, and Terrestrial, or ground-orchids, 

 which grow upon the earth. The two 

 classes require some difference as to the 

 mode in which they are grown, a differ- 

 ence pointed out in this work under each 

 genusinits alphabetical order. At present 

 we shall confine ourselves to such general 

 directions as are applicable to the cultiva- 

 tion of both classes of Orchids requiring 

 Stove treatment. 



Howe for Orchids. As they require 

 great light, the house ought to be so 

 placed as to catch all the rays of light 

 from the sun. A span roofed one will 

 do so, or to the greatest degree; and 

 so low in the angle, that the plants, 

 whether in pots or baskets, or on logs 

 of wood, will all be near to the glass. 

 We find the best aspect is for the roof 

 to fall due east and west ; then the length- 

 way of the house will, of course, be 

 north and south. By this means the 

 heat and light of the sun are more equal- 

 ised. In the cold mornings of early 

 spring the sun will sooner give light and 

 heat on the east side, and will be at noon 

 in such a position that his beams will be 

 slanting to the angle of the roof, whilst 

 in the afternoon his power to give light 

 and heat will be considerably prolonged. 

 Every plant in this house will thus have 

 its due share of Jight and heat. During 

 the hot months of May, June, July, and 

 August, the shade or blind can be l$t 



down on the morning side of the house, 

 drawn up at noon, and let down on the 

 afternoon side just as the sun shines ; 

 thus giving the plants all the light possi- 

 ble, and at the same time protecting them 

 from the burning rays of the sun. There 

 need not be any upright glass at the sides 

 or ends of the house. The walls ought 

 to rise high enough to allow a comfort- 

 able walk and head-room. The rafters 

 and lights ought to be fixed, and to give 

 air a few openings may be easily con- 

 trived in the highest part of the house, 

 and a few sliding panels near the floor in 

 the walls. This cold air ought to flow in 

 over the hot pipes, and to become heated 

 before it comes in contact with the plants. 

 In summer, when there is no heat in the 

 pipes, the external air is naturally so 

 warm that no injury will accrue to the 

 plants by admitting it into the house 

 without being artificially heated. It is 

 almost absolutely necessary to have more 

 than one house. However small the col- 

 lection may be, there will be some that 

 require more heat than the others. The 

 orchids of South Am erica will flourish far 

 better in a house of moderate temperature 

 than in a house highly heated. This 

 house we would distinguish by the name 

 of " the Mexican house." The orchids, 

 natives of Java, Borneo, Singapore, the 

 Philippine Islands, and the hot jungles 

 of Hindostan, require, on the other hand, 

 a much higher temperature, and close, 

 moist atmosphere. The house for these 

 plants we would designate "the East 

 Indian House." By having two houses 

 a considerable number of advantages 

 will be secured. The Indian tribes, as 

 soon as they have made there growth for 

 the year, where there are two houses, may 

 be removed into the cooler or Mexican 

 house ; and that removal or change of 

 temperature will harden theii: .pseudo- 

 bulbs, and concentrate the sap, Causing 

 them thereby to become more healthy, 

 robust, and free to flower. Should any 

 of the South American species require 

 a little more heat, they could be conve- 

 niently removed into the Indian house to 

 make their growth. The cooler house will 

 also be useful to place any of the Indian 

 species in when in flower, which change 

 will considerably prolong their season of 

 blooming. The two houses may join 

 each other, divided by a partition either 

 of brick or glass. We should prefer 

 glass, as being neater, and showing off 



