60 
time. The orchideous house is assuredly one of the most interesting 
among the novel features of the establishment.” 
i 1847 Sir William Hooker further recorded :— ** The orchideous 
as proved admirable for its structure, mode of heating, 
an the general arrangement; the plants, which have been increa 
pun by the coed Aut dg of the Rev. J. Clowes, of Broughton Hall, 
anchester, who willed his splendid collection of Or chidee to the 
Royal Botanic Garden” It is somewhat remarkable that this is the 
niy lik eade: the orchid collection at Kew has ever received. 
of the orchids, however, did not thrive in the house oon 
for thai which proved too large for the smaller species. wer 
therefore removed to the present orchid pits (now No. XVI.) about 
1851. From about 1855-1862 part of the collection was maintained i in 
some old fruit-houses in the present herbaceous ground, which had been 
remodelled and keated by hot water. In 1863 the whole of the orchids 
had been removed to these houses and they remained in them till the 
erection, in 1869, of those in NUS. they are now exhibited to the public. 
The old houses were pulled down. 
The orchid pits (XVI a & b) are amongst the oldest structures in the 
establishment. They are the “double propagating pit 3° Dr. 
h 
o : 
Lindley's Report (1840). The north end is formed by the only 
maining portion of the wall of Methold’s garden (it having originally 
belonged to Methold House, uu Director's present official residence), 
which was added to the Botanic Garden in 1846. ‘These pits were 
heated with hot water in 1842 d rebuilt on more modern principles 
in 1884. 'The small Masdevallia house (XVI c) to the north was 
reconstructed in 189. 
According to John Smith n p. 235), * in 1848 the number of 
species cultivated at Kew d to 755 and in 1850 to 830.” By 
the same authority it is stated” in “1864 to have been 638. In 1868, 
according to the Botanical Magazine (t. 5692), “ Kew only possessed 
about four hundred epiphytic orchids”; in this enumeration there is 
probably some error, as in 1872 the number of species and varieties in 
cultivation was 851 belonging to 138 genera. Since that time the 
collection has steadily increased. 
The Kew Bulletin tor 1891 (pp. m contains a list of the orchids, 
766 in number, which flowered in 1890 
One striking evidence of the mastery which hortieulture has gradually 
acquired over this diffieult branch of eultivation is the suecessful pro- 
duction and rearing from seeds of hybrids. - 
menced with the work of Dominy in the nurseries of Messrs. 
This e 
J. Veitch p Sons at Exeter in 1853, and it has been continued ever - 
scientific value in indicating that many genera, reputed to be distinct, 
are more pego epe than had been supposed. The great range of 
species which as at its command suggests attempts of this kind. 
And in the genus Disa it has produced crosses which are easy of 
cultivation and will probably become popular as ornamental plants. 
For the convenience of cultivators a reference has been given, as as far 
as possible, to a published figure under each species. Where cepe 
those in the Botanical Magazi ine have been cited. In other 
preference has pe ae ke -- most oe accessible figure. It mu mn 
ho 
ever, be note pecies is, in many cases, figured undera — 
w 
different name ifi) ü thai cited in the Hand-list. 
ELA T 
Sak iin eee 
