134 
ON SUSPENDING PLANTS IN GREENHOUSES AND STOVES. 
remove this mistake ; for they are found in elevated and exposed localities where 
the sun shines on them almost constantly in the day, and where the temperature of 
summer hardly exceeds the heat of our own climate, and slight frosts, are actually 
experienced during winter. Such plants, then, there would be no impropriety in 
subjecting to greenhouse treatment ; and experience shows that many Oncidia, 
and most Lselias and Stanhopeas, will succeed best in a warm greenhouse. 
In introducing plants of either of these genera to such a cool structure, it is 
better to hang them beneath the partial shade of climbers, that no artificial shading 
may be necessary. The atmosphere of the house should also be kept a little moister 
in summer, which will be of great benefit to the ordinary greenhouse shrubs ; since 
we have long entertained the belief that the arid atmosphere of greenhouses in hot 
dry weather must be most prejudicial to vegetation, and detract much from its 
healthy appearance. The best materials for suspending the plants upon, are 
simple logs of wood, where they will be suitable ; baskets, formed of pieces of oak, 
hazel, or elder wood, one inch thick, and the outline of the whole contracting 
towards the bottom in the manner of a pot, but with a more precipitous slope ; or 
similar baskets, for Stanhopeas, with the narrow end upwards, in order to secure the 
flower-scape being sent on the outside of the frame ; or, still for Stanhopeas, a block 
of wood with three forks pointing upwards but outwards, or three pieces of wood 
having the same direction as the preceding, and nailed together at the base, in the 
hollow between the forks of which the plant could be placed. Either of these 
methods could be adopted, as the habits of the plants might suggest. 
For a common stove, again, in which shade afforded by climbers, or that 
furnished by an external covering of canvas, would be useful to the plants usually 
grown in it, rather than otherwise, during the height of summer, and to which, 
moreover, atmospheric moisture is alike beneficial, there are few Orchidacese that 
might not be appropriately made use of in a suspended manner. Here, too, a 
more interesting class of epiphytes could be employed. We allude to those of a 
caulescent description, which have either drooping stems, or the stems of which 
assume a more graceful position, or whose roots are put forth into the air, and 
give them at once a grotesque and agreeable character. The many lovely Den- 
drobiums, whose stems would droop so elegantly if not unnaturally and inju- 
diciously supported ; the charming group of Vanda-like plants, including Vanda, 
Sarcanthus, Saccolabium, Aerides, Renanthera, &c. ; the airy Burlingtonia rigida, 
and the curious species of Coryanthes^ with others that will readily occur to every 
cultivator, would all grow finely in a moist and shady stove ; and it is a subject of 
regret, that they are not more frequently or extensively cultivated in such houses. 
The whole of the plants we have named might very properly be fastened to 
logs of wood, or planted in moss and heath mould in the baskets before described, 
or either of those recommended and figured in a recent number of our work. The 
habits and mode of growth of each species, and its prevailing colours, must decide 
which of the receptacles will be fittest. 
