of EpipJiytal OrcMdece, 141 



colour both of its pseudo-bulbs and elegant leaves. I will not 

 trespass farther on the patience of your readers, than to give you 

 a slight outline of the method I should wish to see put in prac- 

 tice by some enterprising and intelligent gardener, for the cul- 

 tivation of epiphytal Orchidese in our stoves. 



We will suppose two houses, of reasonable dimensions, to 

 have been built for the reception of a fine collection of epiphytal 

 Orchideee just arrived from their native country; and, having 

 produced in one of these houses a rather moist temperature of 

 about 70°, we will proceed to get ready our plants. 



I have a most decided objection to placing epiphytal Or- 

 chideas in mould or in pots ; because, as I have before said, I 

 consider that Orchidese derive their principal support from the 

 atmosphere ; and, by burying their roots in mould, you deprive 

 them of any nourishment except that which they can derive from 

 the moisture of the mould ; and, at the same time, you run the 

 risk of causing the pseudo-bulbs to rot, by communicating to 

 them moisture, and preventing that action of the atmosphere 

 which, in their natural state, saves them from rotting. 



Let us, therefore, prepare a few pieces of wood, each with the 

 bark on, and cover them with a slight layer of, if possible, fresh 

 moss; and, having trimmed off the dead roots of our pseudo- 

 bulbs, let us bind them to the wood with fine wire, and suspend 

 them from the rafters, or rather, from rods fixed for that pur- 

 pose. This will allow of a free circulation of the air, and will 

 also prevent their being attacked by their voracious enemies the 

 woodlice. If it be necessary for convenience to place some of 

 them in pots, I would recommend the plan adopted by Mr. 

 Low, from some hints which I gave him : — Let the plant be 

 affixed to a piece of wood of convenient size ; then let the lower 

 end of the wood be placed in the pot so that the base of the 

 pseudo-bulb may be even with the rim of the pot ; then fill up 

 the pot with crocks and pieces of good peat turf, the mould 

 having been previously beaten out. JBy this plan, the plant has 

 the choice of throwing its roots over the surface of the peat, &c.j 

 or of clasping the piece of wood to which it is affixed, and which, 

 at the same time, serves to keep it steady. 



I have, since my return to England, seen a plan pursued by 

 Mr. Pratt, the intelligent gardener of W. Harrison, Esq., 

 Cheshunt, which I think likely to answer. He has suspended 

 from the rafters of his orchideous house, globular shapes com- 

 posed of strips of zinc, which being filled with very rough peat 

 and pieces of old wood, the plant is placed on the top ; and, al- 

 though it is only a few weeks since Mr. Pratt commenced the 

 experiment, the plants so treated are already pushing their roots 

 vigorously over the peat, &c., and are looking remarkably well. 



Let us continue the temperature of our house at 70°, by day, 



