ORCHIDACEOUS HOUSE. 
57 
the truth is, they may be made to grow to 
perfection, with a certain degree of attention, 
but this degree of attention they require. To 
commence with small plants raised from cut- 
tings last year, which are required to be grown 
into a fine specimen, something like the sub- 
joined treatment should be given : — About 
the end of February, place the plants in a 
forcing-house, where they will receive a mode- 
rate degree of bottom heat ; when they begin 
to grow, which may, perhaps, be in about 
three weeks, shift them into pots several sizes 
larger, (as, for instance, from a three-inch to 
an eight-inch one,) using a compost of "four 
parts turfy loam, two parts turfy peat, two 
parts half decomposed leaf-mould, one part- 
charcoal, broken into lumps about half an inch 
in diameter, to which the dust of the charcoal, 
clean white sand, and broken freestone, should 
be added, sufficient to render the whole tho- 
roughly porous." This should be used as 
rough as possible, and the pots must be well 
drained After potting, they are to be plunged 
half the depth of the pots in a mild bottom 
heat, and where they will enjoy a warm and 
moist atmosphere, and a heat of from 60 to 
30 degrees ; the latter by sun-heat. With 
due care and attention, these plants will have 
made a strong shoot, some inches long, by the 
middle of April, and their treatment we shall 
then take occasion to notice further. Old 
plants, placed in a mild stove temperature, 
will soon throw out young shoots, some of 
which should be taken off with a heel, (oee 
the cut,) and inserted firmly 
in well-drained pots of rather 
sandy soil, surfaced with an 
inch or so of clean white sand. 
The pots should be covered by 
a glass, and half plunged on a 
brisk (but not too powerful) 
bottom heat ; after a fortnight 
or so, the pots may be plunged 
to their full depth, and in about three weeks 
longer, they will be rooted, and fit for potting. 
The manner in which the cuttings should be 
inserted, will be understood from the annexed 
sketch. The small inner pot 
may be kept filled with water, 
or not, as may be found ne- 
cessary ; the hole at bottom 
being stopped with clay. When 
they are rooted and potted 
separately, these plants should 
be treated similarly to the 
others alluded to already. 
When cuttings enough are obtained, the old 
plants may be. cut inclose, and then gradually 
excited. These old plants have a finer ap- 
pearance, in consequence of producing a greater 
number of flower-heads, but the individual 
heads arc smaller. 
Ixoras. — Young plants, struck about the 
month of July, and re- potted now, and plunged 
in a mild bottom heat, with a temperature of 
from 60 to 70 degrees, will make nice bloom- 
ing plants in the summer. 
Gardenias. — These should be treated the 
same as Ixoras. The old plants should always 
be started in a frame, where there is a strong 
moist heat. The powerful and delicious fra- 
grance of these plants is admired by every 
one. 
Cacti. — Old plants, that were starved last 
season, should now be made to commence 
growing in good earnest through the present 
summer, to flower in splendid style during 
next winter and spring, or later, if kept back. 
Hedychiums, Marantas, Caladiums, ,jx. — 
Kept dry during winter, should be gently 
excited by applying heat and moisture. 
Amaryllis. — Of this, and the allied genera, 
the bulbs should be potted, and the plants 
grown vigorously in strong heat and light, 
through the season; and they will flower splen- 
didly next year. 
Brugmansias. — The fine old plant, for- 
merly known as Datura arborea, (now Brug- 
mansia Candida,) as well as B. sanguinea, and 
one or two other kinds, should be raised from, 
cuttings of single eyes, planted in moist heat, 
in light rich loam : they make nice blooming 
plants by autumn. 
Palms. — It is not every collection that can 
boast of palms, but where there is a stove in 
which any room can be afforded, some of these 
noble vegetables should find a place. There 
are kinds of many different forms, and attain- 
ing very different sizes, so that in this respect 
a few that would suit any sized house could 
be selected. They require a strong moist 
loam, and should be frequently washed with 
the engine. 
OECHIDACEOUS-nOUSE. 
The annexed engraving represents a struc- 
ture which is both economical in its erection, 
M^-l-'-'-j— j^q 
i. . i- -i J 
_Maf 
and very suitable for the growth of these 
plants. It may be made of any length, 
