j
10
DALE, J\Ir. Norman, Mr. Allcard, Mr. Cox, and Mrs. Lawrence, all in the ndglibourhood of London,—Mr. BrockleiiURST,
Bt Macclesfield,—Mr, HoRsrALL and Mr. Moss, at Liverpool,—niul Mr. Waxklyn and Mr. Bow, at Manchester.
Tlicrc are also good collections at Ennlle (Lord Sta-mford); Arley (Lord Moustnorris): at Carclew (Sir Charles
Lemon) ; Penllargare (Mr. Llewelyn) ; Bicton (Lady Rolle), &c. 5:c. ; in fact an epipliyte-liouse is already considered nn
almost indispensable adjunct to a place of any consideration.
A1 though many of the collections above enumerated are nearly on a par, as respects the number of species they contain,
there is a mde difference in the modes of culture employed, and in the degree of success attained ; and, therefore, a
torn- among those of greatest note would be of more service to the young Orchis-grower than any code of instructions
that might be laid down for his guidance.
The collections which may be studied with the greatest advantage, are those of the Dctke of Devossuire, at
Chatsworlh; the Messrs. Loddiges, at Hackney; the Rev. Jons Clowes, of Broughton Hall, near Manchester; and Mr.
Rccker, of West Hill, Wandsworth. The two first are on an immense scale, and are dispersed through several
liouses, which differ in their temperature and general arrangements, according to the particular section of the tribe that
they are intended to accomodate. At Chatsworth, the largest epiphyte-house is maintained at a moderate temperature,
and contains a large number of Nipalese and Soutli American species; while a smaller house, in which a much higher
degree of heat prevmls, is devoted to plants from such sultry locaUties as Sierra Leone, the Mauritius, and the East India
Isles. At the establishment of the Messrs. Loddiges, a house immensely long, and liot and damp almost to sufTocatioa,
contains their principal collection of Orchidaceaj, a smaller house and lower temperature being reserved for the remainder.
In the great house are some magnificent specimens, and tlie general aspect of the plants is «gorous and healthy ; but the
system tends to produce exhaustion, and the number of plants seen in flower is smaller in proportion than at Chatsworth.*
The collections of Mr, Clowes and Mr. Ruckes are admirably grown, and the houses in which they are disposed,
seem so well adapted to serve as models, that, with the permission of the owners, a ground plan of each is given
in a subsequent page. Mr. Ri'CKEii'sf plants are the most rigorous; but the house of Mr. Clowes is the most
enjoyable, and displays Orchidaceoe to greater advantage than any other that we have hitherto seen. Tlie plans will
explain themselves.
And now as respects the leading points in cultivation. Supposing the plants established in a suitable house—which
is an indispensable prcliminar}'—the follomng rules will be found to contain all that is most essential for their successful
management
1st. Tlie plants can scarcely have too much light or too little sun.
Light prevents mildew, strengthens the fibre, and checks the disposition to throw up a succession of ^^•eakly shoots,
which are quite incompatible with the production of flowers. The sun, on the contrary, scorches and turns the leaves
yellow, especially when it first begins to shine po^veriully upon plants that have just left their winter quarters. In order
to secure as much light as possible, many species should be suspended in the air from rafters or chains, some being placed
on blocks of wood (cork-wood is the best) or fragments of cocoa-nut husks, and others in baskets of wire or wicker-ivork
filled with moss and broken peat, or in pots with pierced sides. The latter answer perfectly for plants (e. g. the Savcotablunis)
which are of slow growtli, and thrust their roots into the air. Baskets answer best for Stanhopeas and tlie like.
Examples of all these contrivances will be seen in the vignette at the conclusion of tliis article. To prevent injury from
the rays of the sun, shading is, of course, necessary, but tiiis should be so arranged as to be easily removed, as it ouglit
not to be continued for more than ten or twelve hours on the very longest summer's day. E.xotic climbing plants, introduced
sparingly, are advantageous, and have a good effect.
2nd. Take care of the roots.
On the health of the roots everything depends. The winter is with them the most critical season, for if suffered to
grow too dry they shrivel up and perish ; if too wel, they rot. Much, of course, depends upon the mode in which the
plants are potted, and which should be such as to admit of their readily parting with all superfluous moisture ; and to
secure this nothing is better than a plentiful admixture of broken potsherds. Iligh-poUing is now so generally practised
mipiD cf ¡«rf«dy naloml m.Bntnl will, probably, cm long b. nflbrdcd in cbc great c<
Il wiU «oon b« reidy-u iht mw lliey arc no» progríBÍng-for ihc recepÜDn of epiphjlM ef all dc
jmlmf s>id 01
t Mr. liucittiliukindl/Kni ibe rollooing ranr
tn ond of iho hDtlx, whicli <i>uall}r foil, u iibout GO- >
of ibi> lung liouH than b another «bem Is Ins mni
m of the mode orircatmcnl, &e., at W
in good collections, that it is needless to insist upon its importance. Rapidly growing plants, such as the different species
of Phahis, Gongora, Perisleria, Stankopea, &c., require to be broken up and entirely repotted every second or tliird year;
on the other hand there are some mr-plants, &c., that may remain undisturbed for five or ten years together.
3rd. Beware of noxious insects.
Orchidaceaj are more particularly exposed to the attacks of the following insects—woodlice, crickets, and cockroaches,
tiie thrip, a minute woolly white scale, and a diminutive species of snail; tlie two last Ijeing infinitely the most
pernicious. Woodlice are easily kept in check by placing tlie plants on saucers, or wthin troughs filled \vith water,
especially if the valuable aid of a few toads be called in. The " onyscamyntic epiphyte-stand"* invented by Mr, Lyon!,
is an ingenious and, no doubt, effectual way of accomplisiiing the same end. It is made by merely fixing a forked branch,
or block of wood, to the raised centre of a massive saucer or feeder which, being kept constantly full of water, forms a
sort of foss—impassable to vermin—round the plant it is intended to guard. Crickets and cockroaches are very fond of
llower-scapes, and to be dreaded accordingly. Rod ^vafcrs scattered over and among tlie pots, are to thetn very temptitig
baits, and, if swallowed, the red lead they contain acts as a poison, but these pests are best destroyed by the mixture
recommended for the white scale. The thrip does not do much mischief, except where plants are either neglected, or
gromi in too hot and dry a temperature. It usually first appears among the Culasela, and is to be removed liy careful
washing. Small snails abound in some collections, while, in others, they are unknown; it is difficult to conjecture wliencc
they come, and all but impossible to eradicate them entirely. They batten upon the tenderest roots, such as plants put
forth when they are just beginning to grow, and if not kept in check would speedily produce irretrievable mischicf.
Lettuce leaves, slices of potato, turnip, &c., are very enticing, and wliile they divert the attention of the enemy from the
roots, they also afford an opportunity of capturing him. The collections which are watered exclusively ivith rain-water
are the least infested. But the worst plague of all is tho small white scale, which, in its first insidious npproaches, appears
only as a white speck upon the leaves, then covers them with a soft whitish down, and finally kills them. For this the
following remedy will be found efficacious; to., dissolve half a pound of camphor in a pint of spirits-of-^vine; the result
will be an impalpable powder, to which add one pound of Scotch snuff; one ditto, popper; one ditto, sulphur, and keep
in a bottle (carefully stopped). This mixture should be dusted over the infected parts, and repeated whenever or
wherever the enemy shows itself. If persisted in for some time, the niLxture rarely fails to efTect a pcrfect cure; and it
has the further good propert)' of acting as a most deadly poison to cockroaches, S:c., which have quite disappeared in the
collection at Knypersley smce this mixture came into frequent use. Besides the above annoyances, the red spider and
tlie bro\vn scale are frequently injurious, but never except in cases of gross neglect.
4tb. Give tlie plants a season of rest.
Without a season of rest, most plants wiE not flower at all, and others do so very imperfectly. It is easily accomplished
in a variety of ways, either by moving the plants from the warmer to the cooler en<l of the house; or by
diminishing the quantity of water; or by placing them in a cooler house. Even exposure in a liot, dry atmosphere,
although it scorches their leaves, not unfrequently thro^vs them into vigorous flower. Plants from the East Indies, and
from other climates \vhcrc the extremes of drought and wet are not felt so severely as in Brazil or Hindostán, require a
season of rest proportionably short, and of a less decided character.
5th. Attend to the condition of the air.
Ill winter 60° to G3° is a wholesome temperature for most of the species; in the summer it may rise to 70' or 75°, or
even higher if derived from the heat of the sun. Whore there are two houses, the warmer one should not bo lower than
70° even in wnter; but, fortunately, there are comparatively fe\v kinds that insist upon so hot a berth. The air
should always be so/i, and nearly saturated with moisture. The latter should, however, be prevented from dripping
upon the plants, as it condenses; and this is easily effected by fixing a small copper pipe, or piece of channelled wood, under
each rafter and sash-bar, to catch and carry off the water.
6th. Do not over-water.
This a beginner is very apt to do, and a grievous fault it is. When plants do not shrivel or flag, it is a sign that they
are content with the humidity that the atmosphere of the house supplies. When ^vater¡ng is necessary, it should not be
done indiscriminately, but according to the wants of particular plants. It is, also, of great importance to use rain-water
only, which may be collected for the purpose in a tank, as shewn in the plan of Mr. Rucker's house, and which should