OKCHID-HOUSES. 



9 



received, and I place them so tliat the plants hang down- 

 wards, in order that no water may lodge about them, till 

 they begin to gi'ow and form new roots : this is much the 

 safest mode of treating these valuable Orchids. This is 

 also the mode adopted by Messrs. Rollisson of Tooting, who 

 are among the most successful growers of these plants. 



Remarks on the most suitable House for the Culture of the 

 OrchidecB, 



Mr. Warner's house stands north and south ; it is 

 60 feet long, with a span-roof, 24 feet wide and 13 feet 

 high ; in the centre is a glass division, so as to make two 

 houses, one for those that come from the warmer parts of 

 India, next the boiler, and the other for those which come 

 from cooler climates, and which require less heat and 

 moisture. There are two middle tables, each 4 feet 

 7 inches wide, 2 feet 8 inches high, for plants, and a path 

 3 feet wide rmis up the centre of the house. Along each 

 side are slate cisterns for holding rain-water, and under 

 these are three rows of 4-inch hot- water pipes ; on the top 

 of the cisterns is a table for plants, and up each side of 

 the house there is a path 3 feet wide. York stone suits 

 best for the floor of the house, because it holds more 

 moisture than slate, but slate is best for tables ; the latter 

 should be made with a ledge, so that they can hold water 

 during the summer, but in winter they should be dry : the 

 water should never be permitted to be long on the shelves 

 at a time. I change it once a-week. I put a layer of 

 small stones, about the size of bantams' eggs, in the water, 

 to set the pots on, and in this way a good drainage is 

 maintained. 



For heating an Orchid-house nothing is better than 

 hot water ; three rows of 4-inch pipe should run round the 

 house, and two round each centre table, inside of the 



