108 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [APRIL, 1913- 
practice, and in them we see the approach to the cultural routine of the 
present day. Another change that had an enormous influence on the 
cultivation of all plants under glass, and contributed in no small degree to 
the improvement and extension in the cultivation of Orchids, was the 
heating of glass-houses by means of the hot-water system. Then followed 
the modern plant house with the improved methods of ventilation and 
means for the promotion of humidity. 
How to popularize Orchid growing has for many years past occupied 
the minds of those who have been associated with these plants. Neverthe- 
less, one could scarcely expect much advance in this direction until a fair 
idea of their modest needs became more common and widespread than 
hitherto. For upwards of a quarter of a century there has been much 
evidence as to the right and wrong methods of employing the various 
necessities in connection with their culture, and I venture to say there is no 
branch of modern horticulture that exhibits such wonderful progress as is 
shown in the cultivation of Orchids. Their popularity to-day is greater 
than any other class of plants that require to be grown under glass, and the 
ranks of their admirers are ever increasing. Who will say that their 
popularization is not still in its very infancy? The Royal Horticultural 
Society, without doubt the leading society of its kind in the world, has 
recently erected at Wisley a very large and elaborate structure for the 
cultivation of Orchids. This fact alone is of sufficient evidence to one and 
all of the popularity of Orchid growing, and of the greatest importance that. 
every gardener must in these days have a good knowledge of their 
cultivation. All students at Wisley thus have every facility for acquiring 
proficiency in the art. The good and necessary example set by the Society 
should encourage the forming of collections, large or small, and all 
gardeners to study the nature of these plants in order that they may be: 
fully prepared in case of necessity. 
It is by no means necessary to have a complete range of greenhouses; 
before embarking on Orchid culture. Anyone wishing to add grace to the 
ordinary run of greenhouse plants will find one or two houses amply 
sufficient to successfully grow a very large and representative collection of 
beautiful Orchids. In forming a small collection, I always advise keeping 
to the best known and easiest grown kinds, selecting them to suit the house 
they are to be grown in. For example, it is useless to try to grow Cattleyas 
and Odontoglossums under similar conditions. Both are of fairly easy 
culture, and essentially Orchids for the small collector if arranged in 4 
suitable house and temperature. If only one house is devoted to their 
culture, I would always advise keeping this at an intermediate temperature,. 
that is, a minimum winter temperature of 50 to 55 degrees by night and 55 
to 60 degrees by day, these figures to rise in summer five degrees by 
