7° THE ORCHID REVIEW. LMaxcu, Igrs. 
and was now quite a large industry. There were several reasons for this. 
First, the geographical position was good, Belgium being surrounded by 
the great nations, Germany, France, England, and Holland, while 
Antwerp, the third greatest port in the world, has shipping connections 
with America and many other countries, and freight rates are comparatively 
low. Secondly, fuel was cheap, there being coal mines close at hand, and 
the cost of fuel is an important factor in a large nursery consisting mainly 
of glass. Thirdly, the climatic conditions were favourable, the temperature 
being temperate and the atmosphere moist, and, lastly, labour was 
abundant. 
The chief establishments are near Ghent, Brussels, and Bruges, and it 
made one feel sad and to think of the beautiful nurseries in this garden of 
Europe which were now, many of them, devastated by the war. 
Housrs.—Belgian Orchid houses were generally small, and the 
foundations level with the surrounding surface. The frame work consists 
generally of wood with brick walls, and the houses were not built close 
together, as a little space was left for aeration. They were span-roof 
structures, facing West and East, varying in size, with a central path and 
resting directly on the brickwork, while other large span-roof houses had 
two paths and a central Stage, which might be flat or have shelves to 
provide a larger staging area. Along the east and north sides of the 
nursery would be a big wall, against which are built half-span roof houses, 
used for certain species, especially hanging varieties. The lecturer had 
seen many establishments with one or two houses, facing north with 
ventilators at the top and sides, where Cool Orchids grew well. 
HEATING was done by means of hot-water pipes, with the boiler outside, 
these being of the saddle-back type, though a few of the sectional kinds are 
now in use. Some nurseri 
thick straw mats, a practice 
tely upon fire heat alone, and this, of course 
apparatus, but the fuel used was coke and briquette. 
VENTILATION followed the usual system, the lower ventilators being 
atmospheric moisture, due regard bein 
the period of vegetative activity, 
leaves, not requiring the same amou 
leaves. The temperature and intensity of the light had also to be takeB_ 
