64 ORCHIDS : HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 



strong. Some species of Dendrobiums are more amenable than 

 most Orchids to this treatment, in the matter of flowering at an 

 earlier date, and when sound plants are grown of such species of 

 Dendrobium as Wardianum, nobile, heterocarpum, Ainswoi-thii, 

 lituiflorum, Devonianum, and Pierardii, the greater part of which 

 flower at the latter end of February, it is easy to extend their 

 blooming period, say from January to end of March. I have 

 often had them in flower at Christmas, but it is too early for them, 

 the flowers being weak and few, and the new growth much 

 weakened. If it is desii-able to have Dendrobiums by the beginning 

 of February, they should be taken from their resting quarters with 

 a cool, dry temperature of between 40 to 50 degrees, and, after 

 being sponged over, and examined for red spider, and tied up 

 neatly to fresh sticks, the plants should be removed and gradually 

 inured to a warmer place in the Intermediate house, where they can 

 have plenty of hght, watering them very carefully, or the flower 

 buds may turn yellow and die, or run to growth instead of flower. 

 The warmth of the Intermediate house will be found sufficient for 

 getting the Dendrobiums into bloom a little earlier, if the instruc- 

 tions given are followed, and the blooms will be better coloured 

 than if pushed on in a warmer house ; but even with this genus no 

 excessive measure must be brought to bear upon them, either to 

 "retard" or to "hasten," or small, weak, and puny growths will 

 result. 



