A.VI) THEIR MANAGE.MENT. 



A Chapter for Beginners. 

 to the dwelling house. This means that it is the first 

 step to render the dwelling unhealth\- if the requirements 

 of plants are to be supplied, and therefore the attach- 

 ment of greenhouses to dwelling-houses cannot be too 

 severeh- condemned. 



Having ascertained the heating advantages, and the 

 position, it is useless to expect to grow Orchids that 

 require an abundance of strong light in a house with a 

 north aspect, where for the greater part of the \-ear there 

 is little sun. Far better is it, ex'en with plenty of heating- 

 power, to turn such a structure into a cool-house, and 

 grow onh' species and varieties that do not require a 

 great amount of bright light. The desire b}' amateurs 

 to grow Orchids ma}- generall}- be traced to their ha\'ing 

 attended an Orchid sale or to ha\'ing seen some plants 

 successfully cultivated b\' a neighbour. Naturall}' the 

 beginner is attracted b}- the showiest species and varieties, 

 quite unmindful of their cultural requirements, and the 

 limited means that they possess for their accommodation. 

 We have frequentl}- seen the amateur secure such attrac- 

 tive plants as Cattlcya labiata, simpl)- because such plants 

 were being sold for less money than their flowers would 

 realise in the basket of a flower-seller in the streets. 

 Such purchases are ver\- well while the flowers last, but 

 in attempting to cultivate the plants under unfa\'ourablc 

 circumstances, the ardour of the grower gets damped, and 

 he not infrequenth- deduces therefrom that he is not 

 likely to become a successful culti\'ator of Orchids. 



Were the question asked : What are the most suitable 

 Orchids for beginners ? we should have no hesitation in 

 recommending the Slipper Orchids or Cypripediums, if an 

 intermediate temperature house were at command. There 

 are sufficient species, varieties, and h)-brids amongst these 

 to suppl}- a succession of bloom throughout the whole }-ear. 

 Even in the depth of winter, when other flowers are scarce, 

 they produce the greater proportion of their blossoms, 

 and these last for months in perfection. As so large a 

 proportion of this work has already been devoted to 

 Cypripediums, space will not permit of our further dealing 

 with the genera here. We therefore refer readers ^ to 

 page 142 for particulars as to cultivation and the selection 

 of varieties. 



