TWO OR MORE HOUSES TO CULTIVATE ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS. 
83 
acknowledge such indifference. And yet this is in fact the real effect of the 
system above alluded to. We allow that such a system does appear plausible and 
rational, and that it seems to be founded on correct and accurate principles ; indeed 
we ourselves eagerly embraced and supported it, and, to a great extent, practised 
it ; but we have since been convinced of its fallacy and impropriety, and have 
arrived at the conclusion, that, to grow these plants to any degree of perfection, 
they should at least be kept in two houses, and if convenient, three will be highly 
desirable. In these houses, the temperature should be maintained at different 
degrees, and the atmosphere adapted to the natural habits of the plants respectively 
intended to be grown in them. As an illustration of this hypothesis, we mention 
the elegant and interesting genus Dendrobium, most of the species of which require 
a high temperature and a great degree of moisture ; and where these are not 
supplied, a consequent deficiency becomes manifest in size, and the beauty of their 
general appearance. We were afforded a striking proof of this a few months since 
in the splendid collections of Messrs. Loddiges and Eollison ; in that of the former 
gentlemen, who are known to maintain a high degree of temperature, and as a 
necessary concomitant, great humidity, in their orchidaceous house, the species of 
Dendrodium flourish in the richest luxuriance, and constantly exhibit a living mass 
of verdure, which, together with the size and beauty of the specimens, is equalled 
by few, and, as far as we are aware, surpassed by none. On the contrary, in the 
collection of Messrs. Rollison, where a more moderate degree of temperature is 
kept, and a less quantity of atmospheric moisture supplied, though they undoubt- 
edly excel the gentlemen before alluded to in the cultivation of some of the species 
of this tribe, we witnessed plants of Dendrobium cucullatum, and others, which 
indeed produced their flowers in tolerable profusion, but were wholly destitute of 
foliage, and consequently were deprived of much of their interest and beauty. This 
defect was evidently attributable to the want of a higher temperature and a greater 
degree of atmospheric humidity, and is of itself sufficient to prove, that the 
attempt to adapt the climate of one house to the constitution and habits of those 
plants which require a great degree of heat, and others which will thrive best in 
a lower temperature, is neither founded on correct principles, nor at all calculated 
to answer the purpose required. Again, it is obvious that the Messrs. Loddiges, 
though they succeed so well in the cultivation of Dendrobiums, can by no means 
compete with other gentlemen in the size of their specimens of the various species 
of Cattleya, nor in the healthy luxuriance in which they are grown ; and still less 
do they cultivate the numerous species of Oncidium, in the perfection to which 
Messrs. Rollison and other gentlemen have brought this elegant genus. We beg, 
however, distinctly to be understood, not to imply anything like an allusion to the 
incompetency of either of these gentlemen to cultivate any of the genera comprised 
in this beautiful tribe ; all that we wish to deduce from the above facts is, that 
Dendrobiums require a very high temperature, Cattleyas a much lower one, and 
that Oncidiums will thrive best in a house where a still less degree of heat is kept. 
