504 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
sent home Orchids, but also remonstrances against growing (or attempt- 
ing to grow) them under conditions so different from those under which 
they were found. These remonstrances, joined to an increasing know- 
ledge and intelligence in the gardeners, gradually led to the abandonment 
of the old system. Hot-water pipes were substituted for the brick flues, 
a lower temperature was maintained, fresh air was admitted, more 
perfect drainage ensured, and a moist atmosphere obtained by sprinkling 
the paths and staging. This was the treatment adopted by Paxton at 
Chatsworth, and which gradually, after many years of clinging more 
or less fully to the “orthodox” teaching of Lindley, found its way into 
the Orchid-houses of the land, with the result that most epiphytes can 
now be flowered with perfect success. Some still puzzle the most suc- 
cessful growers, such as Cattleya citrina, Diacrium bicornutum, some 
Dendrobiums, Catasetums, and Mexican Oncidiwms, yet in certain 
establishments one or other of these is flowered successfully. Thus 
Diacrium bicornutum gives little difficulty at Kew, and Sir Charles 
Strickland has grown sins citrina successfully for fifteen or sixteen 
years in an ordinary greenhou 
Among the firms that followed the lead of the Loddiges in growing 
Orchids for sale were: Rollison, Veitch, Low, Williams, and >~ll, in 
London; Maule of Bristol, Backhouse of York, and Sander of St. .lbans, 
—the last-named with three acres of greenhouses devoted exclusively to 
Orchids. Perhaps the most striking testimony to the knowledge brought 
to bear upon Orchid-culture in the last fifty years is to be found in the 
fact that hybrids “made in Britain” are becoming plentiful. As early 
as the year 1852 Mr. John Dominy entered upon a course of experiments 
in hybridising in the Exeter nurseries of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. 
His first hybrid, Calanthe Dominii had C. masuca and C. veratrifolia 
for parents, and was raised in the following year, but did not flower 
until 1858. Among other good things associated with Mr. Dominy’s 
name are Calanthe Veitchii, Cattleya exoniensis, and Lelia Dominit. 
Mr. Seden, a pupil of Dominy’s, has carried out similar work with success 
in Messrs., Veitch’s Chelsea nurseries, and there are now numerous 
ostablinhnselite in which the breeding of Orchids artificially is an 
important industry. Hundreds of hybrid Cypripediwms, Cattleyas 
and Dendrobiwms have already been raised, and numerous other genera 
have been operated upon by the hybridiser with success. The bulk of 
the plants, however, are imported direct from their native habitats. 
Much more might be said relating to the history of Orchids as 
cultivated plants, but exigencies of space forbid. We must content 
ourselves with a glance at a few typical genera. 
