The Orchid-house 



one who can grow mustard and cress, can grow 

 cool orchids at present. It is no monstrous ex- 

 aggeration. But still the public repeats and credits 

 the legends of that early time. 



If the amateur will keep before him the principles 

 which I have laid down in the first chapter, he 

 will not regret " going in for orchids," whatever 

 the situation or the architecture of his house may 

 be, provided that it have sufficient light. All other 

 defects can be remedied more or less. 



I should mention, however, a very common 

 difficulty. Builders love encaustic tiling for the 

 paths, and concrete for the floor of a conservatory, 

 and householders generally have the same taste. It 

 is neat, but it will not do. I myself fought with 

 this disadvantage for years, trying various methods 

 to overcome it ; for concrete will never hold the 

 damp. At length I bordered the paths with garden 

 tiles, and filled the area beyond them with sea-sand. 

 It lies four inches deep, and this, watered with the 

 hose once, twice, or three times a day, according 

 to the season, gives ample moisture. The paths 

 themselves I have covered to an equal depth with 

 shell-gravel, coarse white sand, and crushed gypsum 

 from Derbyshire over all. The effect is good ; no 

 water can be seen though the whole floor be soak- 

 ing ; and my orchids are happy at last. 



23 



