English orchid houses are especially constructed with flues opening upon the hot water pipes, which distribute constantly a supply of fresh air without creating injurious cold drafts; and such a plan is without question a very excellent one. From the first of December to the middle of February, in this latitude, all shading should be removed from orchid houses, and the full benefit of every ray of sunlight secured. A few species like the Phalaenopsids, Bolleas, Pescatoreas, some of the Cypripediums, and some other scattering examples are benefited by slight shading in winter, on very bright days, but the number is less than might be imagined; and even Phalaenopsis Schilleriana enjoys the winter sunshine without injury. Full exposure to all the sunlight which may be had in winter is of great benefit to orchids; it ripens the bulbs, solidifies the growth, and stimulates the flowering qualities; and stronger growth and better root action result in the spring. So important is this, that the glass should be clean and free from everything which might serve to obstruct the sun's rays. In many collections you will find the opposite state of things, but a close observation of most of the larger and best grown collections of the country justifies the conclusions I have stated.

From the middle of February, or the first of March, to the first or middle of November, according to the incline of the house, roller shades of the thinnest cheese cloth, running on slats elevated six inches from the glass, are better than whitening the glass, as they serve to keep the houses much cooler than if the sun's rays strike directly upon the glass. For a large number of houses shading of this kind may not be possible, but it is by far the best method yet devised; the great advantages being that on cloudy days the shades can be raised and the benefit of the early morning and late afternoon sunlight can be secured without injury, and above all, in this hot climate, a cooler and more moist condition of the atmosphere can be maintained in the houses. Orchids which are not kept clean cannot be healthy, and what with white and brown scale, black and yellow thrip, and green fly, the cultivator needs to be alert. I believe in mild fumigation once a week, as the only proper method for keeping a house clear of thrip and green fly, though many growers have an impression that orchids do not like tobacco smoke. I have never known one, even of the thin-leafed kind, to be injured by a light fumigation properly given; and two of these in succession, or one given every

week, will certainly keep a house clean from these pests. I may add that tobacco stems placed under the benches and kept moist are invaluable preventives of thrip and green fly; and they must be replenished when the strength departs. Most tender ferns will, however, be injured by this process; nevertheless, I can strongly recommend it for orchids. Plenty of fresh air is one of the best preventives of all kinds of thrip, green fly, and red spider. If growers start with clean plants, they can save themselves great trouble by the "ounce of prevention" in the way of mild fumigation. It is easier to keep out insect pests than to get them out when once established. White scale does more injury than is credited to it. Nothing but careful sponging and brushing with soapsuds or insecticide will eradicate it. It is an insidious pest, and ruins the plant before an inexperienced person will detect it. Every orchid ought to be sponged over with clean water two or three times a year; but this is a rule not as generally regarded as it should be, for in many collections dust and dirt are allowed to accumulate upon the leaves, to the great detriment of the plants.

There are many other points in orchid growing which could be taken up and discussed in this paper, but a grower will find them of minor consideration in comparison with those I have mentioned. Personal knowledge of details is of the greatest value, but the beginner as well as the old hand at orchid culture must keep in sight the four prime requisites of success which I have stated, if they expect to maintain their orchids in robust health for any period of years.

DISCUSSION.

Rev. A. B. Muzzey was ready to say that eminent patience is genius, he knew no better definition of that word. Think of it, that in the culture of orchids a man has devoted nineteen years to a single experiment! Now let us carry that same spirit into the work of this Society, and we shall have something of the glorious beauty in this specimen before us, as the result. He bade the Society God speed in all its attempts to promote horticulture; and moved a vote of thanks to the essayist for his patient, thorough,

* A fine, large plant, abundantly bloomed, of Dendrobium Wardianum, from A. W. Spencer.

and admirable essay - which, as a record of what has been done, would find no superior.

The vote was passed unanimously.

President Walcott said that the paper was one well deserving a full discussion, and called on William Robinson, gardener to F. L. Ames.

Mr. Robinson said there was one point he should like to refer to, in regard to collections of Cypripediums. He thought that Mr. Ames has as large a collection of this genus as any grower in the United States, and as large as any private individual has grown anywhere. He had given to Mr. Beard, as the number in Mr. Ames's collection, about seventy-one species; but did not include varieties or American species, so probably Mr. Corning's and Mr. Ames's might have come pretty nearly together as to numbers, if he had counted the varieties and American species in the latter collection.

Speaking of what Mr. Beard had said about keeping the temperature down to fifty-five degrees at night, he thought it a little difficult, particularly in view of such weather as last week's, to keep the house at that temperature during the night and raise it again in the day time so many degrees. Such a temperature may be had and such changes made, provided you have your house so constructed that you can run it without absorbing the moisture by such rises in temperature. Conditionally, he would grant that you can keep the house at fifty-five degrees, and then run it up in the day time; but he thought few orchid houses are so constructed that this can be done.

He thought that the greatest preventive of green flies is putting tobacco stems on the floor and on the pipes. No one trying this will be troubled much with green flies afterwards.

Mr. Beard said his own experience had been that tobacco used as recommended by Mr. Robinson is no less effective than in the form of smoke. Ferns are liable to be injured by the tobacco in either form, but when fumigation is employed they can be taken out, and returned to place after the process is concluded. He remembered that Mrs. Morgan's collection, some years ago, was overrun with the yellow thrip, which is much worse among orchids than any other insect, with the exception of cockroaches; but she put in several barrels of tobacco stems, which were constantly dampened and replenished, and the result was that in a short time

the thrip was pretty well eradicated; so that he could bear testimony to support Mr. Robinson's recommendation of tobacco stems for extirpating all insects that can be killed by fumigation.

His own experience in regard to running up the heat of orchid houses is that, if the weather is so cold that the temperature cannot be run up without great fire heat, it is better to let the day heat remain at fifty-five degrees, rather than attempt to raise it ten degrees. Saturation of the air with moisture is essential in orchid culture. Their native homes are in regions where moisture is constantly around them, and the combined sunlight and fire heat of artificial culture are injurious to them, if they have no atmospheric moisture to counteract it. It is better to allow the temperature to remain low rather than attempt to run it up.

Hon. Marshall P. Wilder could not allow the subject to be closed without saying that this paper is one of the most able and elaborate, on the growth of orchids, that he had ever heard. It is also a very valuable addition to floricultural history; and it will be so esteemed in the Old World, from whence we receive so many of our fine orchids. He did not doubt that we should see it copied in the leading horticultural journals in Europe. Mr. Beard had stated that the speaker presented the first orchid exhibited in this Society. This was very nearly fifty years ago, but he well remembered the plant; it was Oncidium flexuosum. It covered a large space on the wall of his greenhouse; and, if he recollected rightly, had a hundred and seventy-six individual flowers. He was surprised to see that so few of the collectors to whom Mr. Beard had referred · had a large number of Oncidiums. He believed that Mr. Beard had reported Mr. Hunnewell to have about a hundred species and varieties; if so, that is probably the largest collection of Oncidiums in the country.

This paper shows how im rensely a subject may grow in the course of half a century. Beginning with that little plant of Oncidium which had been spoken of, these immense collections have grown up since that time in our country. He might say that the orchids are the most gorgeous plants in creation; and he felt extremely obliged to our generous contributors, who do so much to increase the interest in that order by their exhibitions here, Mr. Ames, Mr. Hunnewell, Mr. Payson, Mr. Pratt, and others, who spare no expense whenever they can add anything beautiful and valuable to their collections. Mr. Ames told the speaker that

- to

he had a single plant for which he paid almost a thousand dollars.

Mr. Robinson said that the plant mentioned is a Vanda Sanderiana.

Mr. Wilder added that we have reason to be thankful for what has been accomplished, and to hope that this order of plants will receive more and more attention, as he had no doubt it would. It is easy of cultivation, and many of the most beautiful species are cool orchids that can be grown with great ease.

James Cartwright was called on and said that most of his orchids are Cypripediums. He has one hundred and twenty plants, which he grows in very cool houses, the temperature having been down to forty degrees a good many times this winter.

Notice was given that, on the next Saturday, Dr. G. Austin Bowen would read a paper on "Homestead Landscapes."

BUSINESS MEETING.

SATURDAY, March 13, 1886.

An adjourned meeting of the Society was holden at 11 o'clock, the President, HENRY P. WALCOTT, in the chair.

On motion of William C. Strong, seconded by Rev. A. B. Muzzey, the following preamble and resolution were unanimously passed:

Whereas, The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has petitioned the Legislature of Massachusetts to enact a law making it the duty of all teachers of public schools in this Commonwealth to instruct their pupils, in such manner as the School Committees of the several cities and towns shall determine, in regard to the importance of protecting our insecteating birds and their nests, and to treat the lower animals kindly; and whereas, we believe it to be for the benefit of this Commonwealth that such instruction be given in the schools:

Resolved, That we do most earnestly ask the Legislature of Massachusetts to grant the petition of said Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.