ORCHIDS : now to grow TirEM successfully. 63 



in cold weather, such as garden mats, canvas, or pieces of sailclotli, 

 cither of which would make a difference of from five to ten devices 

 in the warmth of the house, especially when the doors and fui-ther 

 end of the house is protected. Some pcTsons leave the roller 

 hlinds in position for winter protection of the roof, but, as a rule, 

 the canvas is too thin to be of much service and sooi;i wears out 

 with the winttT weather and storms. Whatever is chosen for a 

 covering should be so arranged as to be convenient for use and 

 removal when not wanted. T have; occasionally kept the roof so 

 covered, both night and day, in extremely cold or very windy 

 weather, for if the plants are receiving plenty of light at all other 

 times, a day's comparative darkness now and then does no harm. 



EXCESSIVE HEAT TO ORCHIDS. 



I have already deprecated any attempt to force Orchids pre- 

 maturely into liower or growth, by gi^-ing them a much higher 

 temperature than they ought to have. To ensure free healthy 

 growth, I wish again to warn young growers of the dangers 

 to the health of the plant by so doing, for, from this cause alone, 

 many plants are weakened in constitution, and get into a debilitated 

 state, from which they do not easily recover. This will apply to 

 all species, but more especially to those recognised as " Cool house 

 Orchids," these certainly wall not submit to excessive heat; and 

 nothing could be more suicidal than to attempt to force the flowers 

 to expand at a given date, by placing the plant in extra warmth. 

 Should this be done for exhibition, or for any other purpose, no 

 surprise need be felt if the plant is reduced in vitality, and become 

 an easy prey to insect pests ; while no appreciable difference is 

 made in the time of blooming, indeed, in some cases, it is later, 

 while in others the flowers may be a little earlier but of an inferior 

 quality, and shorter lived than when allowed to develop gradually 

 in their proper temperature. Instead of forcing, it is much 

 safer to retard the blooming, but even this I do not recom- 

 mend. The time of floweiing of a few Orchids may. however, 

 be made earlier or later than its usual period, if desired, by a 

 systematic gentle applicatii^u of more wai*mtli or cold during the 

 time the plants are pushing their flower spikes. The treatment for 

 the first year may make very little difference, but in the succeeding 

 years it will be more apparent, and the plants remain healthy and 



