118 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL, 
VISITS TO REMARKABLE PLACES. 
The Fence , Macclesfield , the seat of T. Brocklehurst, Esq. — A 
large collection of Orchidaceous plants is here located from all 
parts, in rich luxuriance. The principal point in their cultivation 
and which we have not seen elsewhere, except in our own 
practice, is the constant and necessary supply of moisture to the 
atmosphere, by means of cisterns or wide troughs containing 
water, which stand on and cover the whole of the stage on 
which the plants are arranged; it is well known to all acquainted 
with the management of this beautiful and curious tribe of plants, 
that without a regular and controllable supply of moisture while 
growing, success with Orchidacese is nearly hopeless ; and know¬ 
ing this, we much wonder that a more efficient system of supply¬ 
ing it than the usual laborious, and often injurious one of 
syringing, has not been more generally resorted to. It is not a 
sudden and saturating supply that is required, but a constant 
and genial amount of aqueous matter in the atmosphere suffi¬ 
cient for the support of the plants, but not more than they can 
imbibe without injury: aided by these wide troughs holding 
water to the depth of about an inch, the cultivator may secure 
a damp atmosphere; and with the addition of a gentle steaming 
from the heating apparatus at night, will find the syringe almost 
unnecessary: with us the plants stand in the water of the 
troughs, and thus moisture is given to the roots as well as to the 
atmosphere, nor do we find any ill effects from what at first sight 
will appear an excess, but, on the contrary, a strong growth is 
the usual result. At the Fence, however, the plants are 
elevated three or four inches above the water, which removes all 
apprehension of the kind alluded to. We observed the follow¬ 
ing plants in flower at the time of our visit. 
Aspasia nova sp., from Panama, fine specimen; Bletia florida; Brassia 
Eanceana; Brassavola venusta; B. angustata, fine; Cyrtopodium Ander- 
sonii, fine specimen, with three spikes; Dendrobium nobile; D. C£eru- 
lescens, both large; D. elongatum; D. Pierardi ; D. cambridgense; 
Dicrypta iridifolia; Epidendrum ellipticum; E. elongatum; E. crassi- 
folium; E, capitatum; E. nocturnum latifolium; E. nocturnum angusti- ■ 
folium; E. nova species, from Panama ; Eria pedunculata; E. pubescens ; 
E. stellata; Gongora atropurpurea, G. maculata, G. maculata fulva, all 
very fine specimens; Govenia superba, very fine spike of sweet-scented 
flowers; Lycaste macrophylla; L. cruenta; Oncidium longifolium, two 
fine varieties; O. ascendens; O. ampliatum, a fine specimen, with three 
strong spikes; O. retlexum; O. luridum; Phaius grandifolius, three fine 
specimens; Pb. Wallichianus, a noble plant, with three strong spikes of 
large handsome flowers. 
