ON ORCHIDS. 



573 



of Carnations, Geraniums, or any other class of stove or green- 

 house plants. As to the special houses in which to grow them, 

 there is no question that where the usual kinds of stove and 

 greenhouse plants are cultivated, the possessor of the houses has 

 the means at hand for the successful culture of Orchids. With 

 regard to the gardener, any man with common sense has the 

 required ability if he is a successful cultivator of stove and 

 greenhouse plants ; there is no fear but that his sense of 

 observation, with energy, will be sufficient to surmount all 

 difficulties. There is a decided line to be drawn between 

 having a useful and an interesting selection of Orchids, and, on 

 the other hand, becoming the possessor of a vast collection, and 

 making them a speciality. In the latter case, the skill of a 

 thoroughly trained and experienced man is. of course, absolutely 

 essential. 



In the cultural notes which follow the aim of the writer has 

 been to set forth the conditions under which he has obtained 

 the best results, in order to assist those who may need a 

 little guidance ; but it must be borne in mind that there are no 

 hard-and-fast lines in the cultivation of Orchids, any more than 

 is the case with other plants. In many instances (some of 

 which are cited further on) even a change of position in the 

 same house has produced remarkable effects. This is pointed 

 out in order to give encouragement, so that growers may 

 endeavour to ascertain for themselves suitable conditions of 

 culture, where those here advised may not have proved satis- 

 factory. 



For convenience of reference this chapter has been divided 

 into four sections : (i) Warm or Stove Orchids, (2) Intermediate 

 House Orchids (warm and cool), (3) Cool Orchids, and (4) Hardy 

 Orchids. 



In conclusion, the progress that has been achieved since 1853, 

 through the art and perseverance of the hybridist, will be 

 noticed ; while an extended list of desirable kinds will be found 

 in the "Appendix." 



Warm or 5tove Orchids. 



The following require a temperature of yodeg. to 75deg. Fahr. 

 in summer, and 65deg. Fahr. in winter, 



Arachnanthe. — This genus was originally introduced as 

 Vandas, In A. Cathcartii and A. Lowii we have two of the 

 most remarkable Orchids that have ever been brought into 



