A EETEOSPECT OF OECHID CULTUEE. 



119 



l^lace. In tlie earlier volumes of the Magazine Paxton published 

 various articles relating to the Chatsworth and other collections of 

 orchids, and in them may be traced the steps by which he, in the 

 first place, emancipated himself from the prevailing erroneous methods 

 of treatment and afterwards gradually substituted more scientific and 

 consequently more successful ones. Evidence of these were afforded to 

 Dr. Lindley who visited Chatsworth in 1838 and who thus recorded his 

 impressions: — "The success with which epiphytes are cultivated by 

 Mr. Paxton is wonderful, and the climate in which this is effected, 

 instead of being so hot and damp that the plants can only be seen 

 with as much peril as if one had to visit them in an Indian jungle, 

 is as mild and delightful as tliat of INIadeira." * Then follows an 

 account of the cultural treatment adopted at Chatsworth by Paxton 

 of which the salient points need only be noted here ; they were — 

 separate houses or compartments of houses for orchids from different 

 climates— a lower average temperature than was usually maintained by 

 the cultivators of orchids at that time — a more efficient ventilation 

 by which a larger volume of fresh air was admitted into the houses, 

 especially during the growing season — the maintaining of a moist 

 atmosphere by occasionally Avatering the patlis and stages of the house 

 — an improved method of potting with especial regard to efficient 

 drainage and greater attention to root development.. 



Orchid baskets used by Loddiges about 1840. 

 (Copied from Paxtoii's Magazine of Botany. ) 



The example of Paxton and the frequent occurrence of failures 



in the collections under their charge were not lost upon many 



intelligent gardeners who had opportunities of becoming acquainted 



with Paxton or had access to his writings. Among the earliest of 



these was Donald Beaton^ a man of remarkable industry and keen 



perception, and characterised by Sir William Hooker as '^one of the 



ablest and most scientific gardeners of this country/'t ^nd during 



* Bot. Reg. XXIV. (1838) sub. t. 5 ex. Sertum Orcliidaceum . 

 t Bot. Mag. sub. t. 3804. 



