THE ORCHID WORLD. 
I cannot say I altogether agree with the 
method of damping the hot-water pipes ; in 
some instances it may, perhaps, be done with 
advantage, but in many cases, I fear, more 
ha.-m than good wiU result. 
In a stove-house the plants are in a high 
temperature, and steam coming in contact 
with them will not do much damage ; but m 
the case of a cool-house the steam is very 
apt to scorch the leaves, for there is here a 
wider difference between the heat of the 
steam and the leaves of plants in a cooler 
house. 
My practice has always been to thoroughh' 
damp the floor of the house ; the pipes will 
then continue to draw up moisture. I find 
6S 
this lasts longer than the moisture obtained 
hy damping the hot-water pipes. 
I had charge fo/ some time of a cool-house 
in which thin sheets of corrugated iron were 
placed directly on top of the pipes, and so 
close that the damp cinder ash on them 
generated steam, which soon disfigured some 
Miltonia ve.xillaria standing close by. When 
this corrugated iron was placed at an in- 
creased distance from the pi]:ies no visible 
steam existed, and the plants thereafter im- 
proved in health. Miltonia vexillaria is, I 
know, not an easy ])lant to grow, but I do 
not remember any other plants being affected. 
Interested. 
The Orchid House of H. Andriesse, £sq., Malang, Java. 
Note the ingenious contrivances for growing the Phalanopsis. 
