282 
BOTTOM-HEAT FOR ORCHIDS. 
BOTTOM-HEAT FOB ORCHIDS. 
The surpassing elegance of this tribe of exotic plants, com¬ 
posed as it is of' a combination of the most graceful or grotesque 
forms with gorgeous colouring or agreeable fragrance, has, since 
their management received the attention necessary to success 
and became reduced to a system, forced itself on the attention of 
all who delight in admiration of the extraordinary in nature, and 
rendered their popularity far above that of any other known 
family; and without doubt the number of those who find infinite 
gratification in the cultivation of Orchidese will go on increasing 
as they become more and more widely known, and their manage¬ 
ment, through the extended researches of cultivators, becomes 
simplified and made certain. The difference which already exists 
in the results of the present method and those of the early days 
of Loudon and other writers of the same period, is enough to 
lead to the belief, that, though the progress made is already 
great, very much may yet be expected towards rendering them 
less exclusively the ornament of large establishments, and, by 
substituting a cheaper and still easier method of growing them, 
bring them at last to occupy similar places with the Geranium, 
the Fuchsia, and other popular tribes. 
The expensive character of the plants and of the mode of cul¬ 
ture generally thought necessary, have doubtless deterred many 
from attempting such an addition to their collections, and others, 
whom an unwithstandable desire urges on to their cultivation, 
find the commencement a serious affair; but I may venture to 
affirm, that those who, have hitherto enjoyed but a small col¬ 
lection, have derived therefrom no very limited degree of plea¬ 
sure, and feel anxious both to increase the number of subjects, 
and to add to their store of information, so as to carry on an 
easy and a successful management. 
As regards the cost, both of the plants and their subsequent 
growing, it is decidedly a cultivator’s question; for, though at 
present the demand far exceeds the supply, and, as a consequence, 
prices are high, as we can improve on their culture, a greater 
equality must prevail, and thus their adoption will become more 
general; and, as tending to this end, it is highly desirable that 
every advancing step in their management should be recorded. 
