ON THE CULTURE OF ORCHIDS. 
15 
require to be kept properly under, as they usually grow so rapidly as to smother 
the legal occupants. 
It has not been thought desirable to use the more choice Orchids in this planta- 
tion ; but Ccelogyne Gardneriana, Ancectochilus setaceus, Trichosma suavis, Miltonia 
spectabilis, Oncidium Lanceanum, Stanhopea tigrina, Odontoglossums, Deiidrobiums, 
Cymbidiums, Lycastes, Zygopetalimis, Bolbophyllums, and a host of other genera 
are included, and the largest measure of success has attended the experiment. It 
is remarkable, that the highest degree of temperature any of the plants which have 
flourished so well, experienced, has been that which a close greenhouse usually affords, 
and many have grown and flowered admirably in the atmosphere and temperature 
of a close cold pit. Another thing made evident by these turned-out plants, is the 
fact of how thoroughly Orchids delight in shade. Many plants among those which 
succeed best, grow under a roof whose frame- work is of the old-fashioned material, 
wood, and many feet beneath it ; and in addition to the shading the whole house 
is further screened from light, by a heavy framing of rough timbers, poles, 
&c, erected inside the structure, for the purpose of hanging plants growing on 
baskets and small blocks. The plants alluded to are of a deeper green, by 
only enjoying a greater degree of shade than their fellows ; their roots being always 
healthy, and not so often subjected to alternations of drought and extreme wet. 
Specimens on " blocks " can be kept quite dry or " starved " at pleasure, just as 
those under other circumstances can ; and those we have been writing of are quite 
out of reach of bottom-heat — a fact much deserving mention, though one that had 
almost escaped observation. 
Where Orchids are cultivated for the love of the family alone, " block " planting 
should be resorted to ; for it not only is highly favourable to the welfare of the 
plants, but enables them to be grown in the most natural and interesting manner. 
If their increase and progress for the purposes of commerce is the object, then 
planting them out on " blocks " is also well adapted for the end in view, since 
under no system of culture do they so rapidly multiply in size, and admit of separa- 
tion, as when thus grown. 
Lastly, growing Orchids " on blocks " can be practised where it is desired to 
publicly exhibit them, because no individual could on reasonable grounds consider 
an exhibition specimen all bloom, all perfection, less lovely, splendid, or noble 
in consequence of its growing characteristically on a rude " block " of wood, perhaps 
in company and contrasting with half-a-dozen others quite as much in perfection. 
