44 ORCHIDrGROWEK'S MANUAL. 



winter's. sun, suddenly throwing back its green cloak Ejnd displaying the 

 wondrous beauty of its richly tinted lining. It is almost worth being 

 ill to enjoy such a scene." 



Since the late Mr Skinner wrote this there has been q.uite a change 

 in Orchid growing. Large quantities of the cool growing kinds have 

 been introduced, so that now persons possessing only a pit or small 

 greenhouse with a little heat in winter can indulge their tastes in the 

 possession of some of these beautiful and most interesting plants. All 

 these might be kept in rooms while in flower. 



Encouragement like this must surely add new life and vigour to 

 Orchid growing. We hope that as a consequence many may be induced 

 to try their skill. The great secret is to secure robust growth in 

 summer, when there is plenty of sun heat in our greenhouses ; but for 

 further and particular instruction, we must refer to the notes on the 

 cultivation of the Lycaste, and to the chapter on the Treatment of Plants 

 in Flower. 



ORCHID HOUSES. 



TT is not absolutely necessary to build a house for the cultivation 

 J- of .Orchids, for in many cases they are grown most luxuriantly in 

 pine stoves, or in houses principally devoted to flowering and ornamental- 

 leaved plants. Where only a few plants are cultivated, such a plan is by 

 no means objectionable, for we have found many of our Orchids do well 

 in such houses, which fact has only been discovered by those who have 

 been compelled to have recourse to such means. Where, however, a 

 large collection is to be cared for, it is quite essential that houses should 

 be specially set apart for them, and in our opinion the best houses are 

 those with span roofs facing east and west (see page 45). Ground 

 plans and end sections of such houses are here given. The largest sized 

 span-roofed house should not be more than ten or eleven feet high in the 

 centre, seventeen or eighteen feet wide, and about a hundred feet long, 

 with two glass partitions to separate it into three compartments— one 

 for plants that come from the East Indies, which ought to be nearest the 

 boiler, the second for those that come from Brazil, and therefore require 

 an intermediate temperature, and the third for the Mexican species, which 



