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CASSELL'S POPULAE GAEDENING. 



ORCHIDS. 



By William Hugh Gowee. 



INTRODUCTION. 

 mHE name Orcliis, or Orcliid, is derived from the 

 X two peculiar pendulous tubercles which form the 

 root of many of the ten-estrial species. The beautiful 

 colours and singular shapes of the flowers fo\and 

 in this order have always attracted special attention ; 

 and this, combined with the length of time the 

 blooms continue in perfection, has caused them to 

 become general favoirrites. 



The flowers of Orchids derive their fantastic shapes 

 from the fact of their being irregular — that is to say, 

 they are not simply made up of calyx and corolla, 

 each of which is easily defined by its shape and 

 colour, or as in the case of other flowers in which 

 both calyx and corolla are alike (perianth). But in 

 Orchids we have a flower made up of several parts, 

 each different in shape, and in some uistances all 

 differiag in colour. The illustration here given of a 

 Phalsenopsis flower will fully illustrate our meaning, 

 whilst the various figures we shall give to illustrate 

 the genera, will serve to show some of the extra- 

 ordiaary forms which the flowers of this order 

 assume. Again, the peculiar stems of Orchids are 

 called pseudo-bulbs, or false bulbs, on account of 

 the swollen and often bulb-like appearance of their 

 growth. 



In the early days of our acquaintance with these 

 plants, their high prices and the extreme difficulty 

 which apparently attended their cultivation, made 

 tliem the exclusive property of the very wealthy few. 

 Now, however, we have increased our knowledge of 

 the conditions under which they thrive in their native 

 habitats, and the ease and rapidity ^ath which they 

 can be transferred is so great, that thousands of 

 plants arrive in this country every month ; and thus 

 prices have been reduced to such an extent as to 

 bring them within the reach of every one ha^dng 

 a glass-house. Not that there are no high-priced 

 Orchids even in these days. On the contrary, any 

 new species, or an extra good variety of an old and 

 well-known species, is more eagerly sought after 

 than ever, and numerous instances occur every year 

 where amateurs are found who willingly give fifty, 

 eighty, or a hundred guineas to become the happy 

 possessor of some special or unique form. Never- 

 theless, for the comfort of those who are about 

 to commence the fascinating pursuit of Orchid- 

 growing, we can assure them that some of the most 

 . beautiful kinds in this grand family of plants are 

 those which are the most reasonable in price. 



Temperature.— With the information brought 

 tis respecting Orchids by those who have collected 



them in their wild state, coupled with rational treat- 

 ment at home, these plants are now found to be 

 as easily managed as any others. One great objec- 

 tion to Orchid-growing in the earher days was 

 the enormous consumption of fuel, which had a 

 rather formidable appearance on paper when the cost 

 was added up at the end of the year. These were 

 the days when, because a plant came from the East 

 Indies or South America, it was supposed to require 

 as much heat as a cook's salamander— the fact of the 

 vast mountain ranges of both hemispheres being 

 densely clothed with verdiire up to many thousand 

 feet elevation being completely ignored. This fact 

 is now fuUy recognised, and it is found that com- 

 paratively little expense is incurred ia keeping these 

 moimtain plants supplied with sufficient heat. There 

 are, however, some kiads which do require a strong 

 heat to maintain them in health and develop their 

 beauties, such as the Angra^cums, from Africa and 

 the African Islands, the Aerides, Vandas, Phal^nopsis, 

 and Saccolabiums from the low mainland of India, 

 and from the Indian islands, &c. These undoubtedly 

 do require a large amount of artificial heat. For 

 those who have large collections, therefore, we 

 ad\dse three separate houses, or one house divided 

 into three, by which means the peculiar temperatures 

 necessary for the weU-being of the plants can be 

 easHy maintained. Those who have but a single 

 house for their pets must endeavour to keep one 

 portion of it cooler than the other by means of 

 ventilation. The temperatures should be about as 

 follows : — 



1. T/ie East Indian House, as its name implies, 

 should be used for all the plants from low elevations 

 in the East Indies, as weU as any other hot countries. 

 The summer temperature of this house should range 

 from about 75^ at night up to 90'' with sun during 

 the day. A free circulation of aii^ should be main- 

 tained, but the atmosphere should be well charged 

 ^ith moisture, so that it does not become arid. The 

 winter temperatui^e, 60^ to 65*^ by night, running up 

 to 70"^ or 75'' by day. 



2. The Brazilian House.— Thi^ will accommodate 

 all the plants from the low regions of the Western 

 Hemisphere. Summer temperature, 65° to 70'' by 

 night, up to about 80° or 85" by day with sun- 

 heat. Winter temperature, 60" by night, up to 65" 

 or 70° by day with sunshine. In this house a certain 

 space should be left entirely without shade, in order 

 to accommodate such plants as some of the Lselias, 

 Coryanthes, and similar plants, which thrive best 

 close to the glass, and love full exposure to the sun's 

 rays. This we designate the Mexican division. 



3. The Peruvian House.— T\^s. will include all the 

 mountain plants from the Western world, and also 

 some of those from the Himalayas. Summer tem- 



