OllCIIIDS: now TO GROW THKM SUCCESSFULLY. 2'4 



THE ATMOSPHERE. 



Attention liaving been given to Stoking, Heating, Ventilation, 

 and Shading, as already advised, much has been done to create a 

 suitable atmosphere for the plants to live upon. Amateurs will do 

 well to se(! that it is not in any way stufty or close, as stagnant 

 air is as objectionable and injmious to plants as to human beings. 

 Water is an indispensable factor in jjroducing an atmosjihere suit- 

 able for Orchids and other plants which grow in company with 

 them, and a good supply should always be at hand. Hard, or tap 

 water, will do for damping the stages, floors, and side walls, in 

 uvdov to produce evaporation; but, for watc^iing the plants, rain 

 water, reservoir, or river water should be used. The atmospheric 

 conditions of the house, of course, varies according to the season 

 of the year, and, whether the plants are in a grownng state or 

 at rest, there may be days which are wet and not very cold, 

 when it would not be necessary for the pipes to give out much 

 heat; then, what with the moist air entering the house and but 

 little fire heat to dry it up, the plants being in a dormant state, 

 very little, if any, watering would be requisite on the floor, stages, 

 or the plants. But on days when it may be very cold, necessitating 

 a great amount of heat in the hot- water pipes, then, of course, 

 sufficient water nmst be used on the floor for the prevention of a 

 harsh and dry atmosphere, but taking care to preserve a proper 

 degi-ee of g€'nial temperature. 



As a general rule, during the winter months, damping do-wn the 

 floors and stages once a day is quite sirfficient, and that work should 

 be done in the moraing ; but on some days it is not required at all. 

 In the spring and summer months the atmosphere should be more 

 humid than at any other season, as the plants are then making 

 young gi-owths, and it is at this time that a moist atmosphere is so 

 essential to them to induce strong quick growth. A highei- 

 temperature is then also required in the "Warm house, and more air 

 being given, greater attention must be paid to the damping of 

 floors, stages, &c. During the growing season it is advisable to 

 th(»roughly damp down between the pots, floors, and walks three 

 times a day moraing, noon, and night. This must, however, be 

 regulated by the weather })revailing at the time ; for, if dull and 

 damp, it is not necessary to do it so often. The anival of autumn 

 brings with it a reminder that the plants having made their 



