ORCHIDS FOR PARLOR CULTURE. 141 



CHAPTER IX. 



ORCHIDS FOR PARLOR CULTURE. 



LTCASTE. ODONTOGLOSSCM. CTPBIPEDIUM. BLETIA. PHAIUS. 



fTlHE word " orchid" conveys to most minds an idea of a 

 plant which grows only in great heat, and requires a 

 peculiar mode of culture. To some, " orchid " is synony- 

 mous with air plant ; yet a large portion of orchids are 

 not air plants (epiphytal), and many thrive in a moderate 

 temperature, and require no peculiar culture. 



Some orchids grow at such elevation that hoar-frost is 

 found upon the leaves, while others are natives of the hot 

 jungles of the Indian Archipelago. 



Formerly all orchids were grown in a hot, steamy atmos- 

 phere, that being the treatment which theory recommended. 

 The natural consequence was that many perished under 

 such uncongenial culture. 



The past few years have shown that orchids from cool 

 regions require cool culture, a temperature somewhat re- 



