ORCHIDACE.E. 



189 



observations I feel proud in laying before my 

 readers, commencing with that of Mr. T. Edgerley. 



SIR, 



In compliance with your request, I have com- 

 menced a selection of the best varieties in cultiva- 

 tion. We have 700 varieties in this place. It is 

 generally believed that this noble family is difficult 

 to cultivate in our common plant stoves ; but in 

 this respect I beg leave to state that I have seen 

 these plants cultivated in a pine stove, in a manner 

 far superior to that in which they are cultivated by 

 many persons who have a house appropriated solely 

 for them. It is commonly supposed that they re- 

 quire a very great degree of heat; most cultivators 

 give much more than I do ; I rarely keep above 65° 

 fire heat, considering a higher temperature un- 

 necessary, and I can affirm that the plants are in 

 vigorous health, and looking much better than many 

 which I am accustomed to see, growing in that de- 

 gree of heat which most cultivators deem necessary 

 for them. Having this in view, I shall draw up 

 whatever I send for insertion in your work, in a 

 way best adapted to each genus. I wish to observe 

 that the same treatment, in most instances, will be 

 found adapted to the whole genus : when, however, 

 any species requires a different treatment I will 

 point that out. 



Moisture. — Orchideous plants delight in a hu- 



