108 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



After the first shock had passed, caused by the change from 

 the fernery to a cold frame with the lights off at night, I saw a 

 steady improvement set in : the young growths took new life ; 

 the old pseudo-bulbs became plump ; fresh roots appeared every- 

 where amid the green and rampant sphagnum, which found itself 

 once more as if on its native heath ; and by the end of September, 

 when I took my plants again indoors, they looked as much better 

 for the tonic open-air treatment they had enjoyed as any young 

 party of children ever did fresh from a trip from the seaside. 



Pleased as I was at the unexpectedly great success of the 

 frame treatment, I did not put them again in the fernery facing 

 north for the winter, but boldly placed them in a cold plant- 

 house where Koses and Azaleas thrive, and the useful and 

 ornamental Chrysanthemum blooms in autumn, as I was so 

 satisfied that plenty of fresh air and light had much to do with 

 their health. I gave them an eastern aspect close to the glass 

 and with a saucer of water beneath each inverted pot, so that 

 there should be no lack of air-moisture, and no need to deprive 

 other plants of their accustomed ventilation. Here they con- 

 tinued to thrive until really severe weather rather checked some 

 of them ; but with the first return of spring all went well, till I 

 had to devise canvas screens and shading to keep off the March 

 sun and March east winds. By this means I was able to keep 

 them in good health till the joyful time came round for turning 

 them out again into their summer quarters. This second 

 summer they grew away at once with increased vigour, and by 

 the time the first chill of autumn came in September I was 

 able to show fine spikes of bloom pushing up from really fine, 

 strong, healthy plants. I will not weary you with more details 

 as to potting, &c, but merely say that from that day in 1885 

 when I first put out these Orchids till the extraordinarily hot 

 and dry year of 1893 I never had a check to my success. In 

 that exceptionally hot and dry year of 1893, when no rain fell 

 for weeks together, and nights were as hot and as dry as the days, 

 these Orchids did not do nearly as well as usual. A few indeed 

 really suffered, showing, I think, how inferior a watering-can is 

 to the gracious rain and dew of heaven, which is life and 

 strength to all Alpine Orchids, and a sure means of recovery to 

 plants that have exhausted themselves by flowering. Each 

 year I have tried some fresh species of Orchid in this frame, and 



