PROGRESS OF ORCHID CULTURE 5 
temperature were made in the first half of the nineteenth 
century, one of the first to grasp the truth in this direction 
being Joseph Cooper, who was gardener to Earl Fitzwilliam 
at Wentworth. Buta considerable time elapsed before the 
more rational treatment, which meant less artificial heat and 
more ventilation, became general, The culture was further 
improved by the introduction of the hot-water system of 
heating Orchid houses, a method which is now almost 
perfect and has done more to further Orchid-growing than 
anything else. 
The spread of information respecting the climatic con- 
ditions of the countries in which the plants were collected 
also helped cultivators in this country, and the articles 
published in the Gardeners’ Chronicle in 1851 by the late 
B. S. Williams, and subsequent articles by other experts, 
were of great service. 
The latter half of the ‘nineteenth century was the most 
important era in the development of Orchid cultivation. A 
remarkable feature was the beginning of that industry which 
has now attained such widespread popularity, namely, the 
raising of hybrid Orchids from seed. The first hybrid 
Orchid, Calanthe x Dominyi (obtained from a cross be- 
tween C. furcata and C. Masuca), flowered with Messrs. 
James Veitch & Sons in October 1856. The same firm 
subsequently produced many fine hybrid Calanthes, Phala- 
nopsis, Cattleyas, Lzelias, and Lzeliocattleyas. Many of 
these are now standard garden plants, whilst the work of 
hybridising and raising hybrid Orchids has become general. 
Another notable event in Orchid culture during the 
period mentioned was the commencement of the Cool-house 
or Odontoglossum Section of Orchid Culture. In 1863, 
