THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[February, 1915- 



A PLEA FOR MORE ORCHID 

 GROWING. 



WITH further reference to Mr. Alf. 

 |. Fame's article and replies 

 thereto, it is possible that a few 

 hints as to the commencement and expenses 

 incurred in the growing of Orchids might be 

 interesting to prospective beginners. Be it 

 understood, however, the following remarks 

 are not intended for those who desire to 

 build and establish their own Orchid houses 

 with the latest and most up-to-date fittings, 

 this section can easily obtain advice from the 

 proper source, neither do I presume to give 

 hints to any, except those who, like myself, 

 desire to grow a few Orchids as an inex- 

 pensive and pleasant hobby. Furthermore, 

 it is useless for the beginner to expect to 

 achieve success if he does not exert a little 

 thought and care for his plants ; also, the 

 object of deriving mental and physical 

 benefit therefrom would be defeated. 



Assuming then that a start is to be made 

 in the greenhouse already existing in the 

 garden, we must consider the aspect it takes. 

 I f it be a lean-to facing south or south-west, 

 with the chance of getting the sun's rays 

 during the greater part of the day, then it 

 is best suited to the growth of Cattleyas, 

 Dendrobiums and certain Oncidiums, etc., 

 using a blind for shading during the brightest 

 weather. The staging, if of the open lath kind, 

 will require to be covered with tiles or 

 broken flower-pot ; if the latter are used select 

 fairly large pieces and lay them closely 

 together, concave side uppermost, thus they 

 retain water for evaporation. Now knock 

 up a super stage from slats, say f inch x 

 I inch, nail these about I inch apart to 

 runners ihx2l, rest this stage upon six- 

 inch pots inverted in pans filled with water — 

 this as a guard against slugs — notice too that 

 the upper stage is clear all round from sides 

 of house. The plants, on inverted pots, will 

 rest upon this stage. 



If the floor of the house is naked earth, 

 except for an ash or shingle path, so much 

 the better ; the earth should be dug over, 

 and the path restored. A wall may exist 



round the house in front of the hot-water 

 pipes ; if not, one should be built without 

 mortar and of the pigeon-hole type, with 

 the hollow side of the bricks uppermost, 

 and reaching to a height slightly beneath 

 the lower stage. This style of wall 

 is easil}- put up, and can be removed 

 at any time with little trouble ; its 

 object IS to retain moisture and to prevent 

 hot dry air reaching the plants ; also, having 

 once become warm it tends to steady the 

 temperature of the house. If the grower 

 is likely to be from home at lunch time 

 he may overcome to some extent the difficulty 

 of middle-day damping by resting on the top 

 of this wall galvanised iron shooting, a length 

 for each side and also one at the end of the 

 house, at a cost of a few shillings. A few 

 very tiny holes .should be made in the bottom 

 of this shooting", so that when it is filled with 

 water some will continue to trickle through 

 and keep the wall damp, thus greatly assisting 

 m the problem of damping down. Of course, 

 during the growing season, the whole house 

 and in between the pots is thoroughly wetted 

 in the morning whenever there is a promise 

 of a warm and sunny day. 



Taking for granted the house is clean, 

 it will now be ready to receive the plants. 

 " Ah !" I hear a reader say, " yes, and now 

 comes the expense." But wait a moment. If 

 the greenhouse has been previously used for 

 ordinary plants, I would ask him to total 

 up what he has spent at intervals during 

 the year for fresh ones to keep the house 

 gay ; also, what has he for his money at 

 the end of the year, how much has been 

 consigned to the rubbish heap, and what will 

 he spend again in the coming year, and so 

 It goes on. Now this is where Orchids give the 

 advantage, once having secured your stock, 

 at the end of the }'ear, providing you have 

 cared for them, you may increase the number 

 of plants bv dividing those strong enough, 

 thus each year one's stock increases instead 

 of diminishing, and, remember, they are 

 Orchid v, the flowers of which remain beautiful 

 for a long time ; also the stock, if kept in 

 good condition, is an asset. 



Suppose the house is 12 feet x 8 feet, a very 



