THE ORCHID WORLD. 
87 
the conclusion that the cultural attainments 
of the grower are primarily responsible. 
My idea of a site for orchid-houses is in 
the middle of a field, far removed fx'om the 
shade and debris of trees, buildings, or any- 
thing that will obscure the light. Too much 
emphasis cannot be put upon this. The ideal 
site would be one upon which the sun shines 
as soon as it rises above the horizon, and 
dips off when it sinks below the horizon. 
This ideal will be difficult of attainment in 
most gardens, but should be kept ever before 
those who contemplate building. Consider 
what it means. In England the summer is 
short and inconstant, and often the early 
morning sun is all that we get during the 
day ; and a glasshouse that benefits by several 
hours' more sunshine daily will have a higher 
mean temperature of natural heat that one 
that doesn't. The day becomes materially 
lengthened, and, far suite, the growing sea- 
son. But this IS not all. Orchids, although 
essentially sun-loving plants, cannot endure 
the full rays of our summer sun when it is 
high in the heavens. The leaves quickly 
scald or become yellow with most orchids 
in the comparatively close atmosphere of a 
glasshouse, so that the house during many 
hours must be shaded, sometimes pretty 
heavily. But the early morning and late 
evening sun can be allowed to have full plav 
on the foliage, with effects of such magnitude 
that few of us probably realise how great. 
The growing season having been lengthened 
immeasurably and made more genial through 
the extra hours of solar heat, the little seed- 
ling grows relatively more quickly, and the 
early and late light makes it a sturdy nursling. 
And the advantages of the open site during 
the growing season are equalled, if not 
eclipsed, during the winter, the benefit of the 
extra light being of the first consideration 
for all orchids ; while Odontoglossums, which 
grow during the winter, are particularly bene- 
fited. I hope to have an opportunity of 
further discussing the question of light and 
the Odontoglossum-house later. 
With the open site there is an economy 
all round — in fuel, in time, and ultimately, 
when flowering, in the plant's strength. Great 
physical deterioration succeeds the flowering 
of a badly-matured plant. We all know the 
phenomenon of cell growth when light is 
insufficient — how the cells lengthen, and 
vegetation becomes attenuated and flabby. 
In inverse ratio, plants that have an abund- 
ance and a continuance of light have shorter 
cells, and the plant is built up of close, tough 
texture, and flowers without unduly exhaust- 
ing itself. 
It is difficult to gauge even approximately 
how great the influence of cultivation is on 
the variety ; it certainly runs through all the 
gradations of very poor to very good. Plants 
grown with the full advantage of an open 
site, and where the air and light are pure, 
would be classed as choice orchids, and have 
a value in the orchid market ; they would 
confer a dignity and importance on the 
grower, while suggesting wisdom, foresight, 
perspicuity and lavish outlay in the selection 
of the parents ; whereas the same plants 
grown under adverse conditions, although 
possibly conveying the idea of good health, 
would flower shabbily and have no intrinsic 
value. 
The open site thus offers a sequence of 
advantages leading up to the culminating 
point of the plant's existence, the crowning 
episode of all effort, when whatever good has 
been put into the plant in the way of parents 
will reappear in the seedling in that degree 
of emphasis there is no mistaking, and which 
we call " good cultivation." 
I am not disposed to cavil at the phrase, 
but I should like it understood in its less 
restricted sense. There is a good cultivator 
out in the Brazilian forests! 
(To be continued.) 
1% 1% 
The (icntlenian s Journal for December 
17th, 1 9 10, contains an illustrated article on 
the orchid establishment of Messrs. Charles- 
worth and Co., Haywards Heath. Besides 
portraits of Mr. J. Charlesworth and Mr. H. 
H. Smith, there are ten interesting photo- 
graphs of the houses and packing sheds, etc., 
and a good reproduction of the 50-guinea 
cup presented by the firm to the Manchester 
and North of England Orchid .Society for 
competition. 
