60 KEfcOKT ON THfc 



plants near the glass and the weak and dwarf ones the farthest 

 from it. From this cause I am sure the periodical scarcity of the 

 ionopsis, trichocentrums, comparettias, barkerias, and such like 

 frail things may, in a great measure, be attributed to the distance 

 they are grown from the glass. Indeed, it is of the highest 

 importance that in general practice some attempt should be made 

 to arrange the plants with relation to the distance from the glass 

 of the roof according to their height and general growth. Hence, 

 the very smallest should always be grown on blocks, rafts, or in 

 baskets or shallow pans, and the others arranged according to 

 their heights, as nearly as the necessity for occupying all the 

 staging will permit. 



Allowing 1 ft. from the glass as the safety line, a good rough 

 rule may be laid down that every small or medium-sized true 

 epiphytal Orchid will do best if brought to within its own height 

 of that line ; thus, if a plant is 12 ins. high it should be brought 

 to within 2 ft. of the glass of the roof; if 1 ft. 6 ins. to 2 ft. 6 ins., 

 and so on until the larger and stronger growing kinds, which will 

 do in any position, are reached. 



The rule should be approached as nearly as possible with 

 small things, but with large ones a distance of 3 ft. from the glass 

 is a convenient and good one. Of course, this rule, like every 

 other in -such an elastic matter as Orchid culture, cannot be 

 adhered to in all cases, but if steadily kept in mind and followed 

 where practicable, it will be found of the greatest service in pre- 

 serving the delicate subjects. Cypripediums, rnasdevallias, cool- 

 house Orchids generally, and terrestrial Orchids, although 

 requiring some consideration in the same way, are not included 

 in those which it is absolutely necessary to arrange after some 

 modification of the before-mentioned plan. I may also add that 

 fumigation, which is so injurious to many Orchids, claims many 

 victims from the small growers, and it is best for each grower 

 to find some safe liquid insecticide than to resort to fumigating 

 at all. 



And now after I have endeavoured to gain converts by 

 showing that Orchid culture is a pleasant occupation to those 

 who possess some skill and much diligence, and who are willing 

 to observe nature and follow her dictates in the culture of their 

 plants, demanding of them only twelve months' work in a year, 

 exercising their judgment in all cases to the best of their ability, 

 'and maintaining the most scrupulous cleanliness in houses, 



