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CULTIVATION OF ORCHIDS. 

 BY W. H. WHITE, Orchid Grower to Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., President R.H.S. 



MANY lovers of these beautiful plants are deterred from attempting their culture 

 through a belief that they are difficult to grow, but this is not so, and 1 will 

 endeavour by a few practical hints to show that Orchid growing is by no means 

 hedged about with insurmountable difficulties. When ordinary care is exercised 

 there is little fear of failure. Orchids, like other plants, will live and thrive when the conditions 

 under which they are placed favour healthy development ; the cultivator must strive to learn 

 what these conditions are, and then fulfil them to the best of his ability. It is now generally 

 recognised amongst experienced cultivators that it is not absolutely necessary to have a separate 

 division or house for each section of Orchids, but where a large number of some particular 

 species is grown, cultural requirements are more readily met when the plants are placed in a 

 structure by themselves. Those who have a limited collection should grow the kinds which 

 succeed under one set treatment. Those possessing only an ordinary plant stove or cool 

 greenhouse need not despair of being able to grow Orchids, as in some portion of the house 

 conditions almost identical with those here advised can be given. Where a large representative 

 collection of Orchids is grown the only structures really necessary are the East Indian, or hottest 

 house, Cattleya, or intermediate house, and the cool, or Odontoglossum house. 



The East Indian House should be somewhat lofty, so as to allow room for suspending 

 a number of plants from the roof. It should contain such species as Aerides, Saccolabiums, 

 Angra^cums, Phala^nopsis (Moth Orchids), Bulbophyllums, Cirrhopetalums, Phaius, 

 Galeandras, Peristeria elata (the Dove Orchid), Grammatophyllums, Cypripediums, Anaecto- 

 chilus, and Eulophiella, all of which should occupy the shadiest part of the house, in 

 fact, none of them should be exposed to strong sunshine at any time. Other species, as 



