72 orchids: how to grow them successfully. 



approve of damping the plants overhead unless it is necessary in hot, 

 drying weather. If the atmosphere is properly attended to fire heat 

 should not now be requisite, provided the weather is not exception- 

 ally cold for the time of year. When the sun gets upon the house in 

 the morning let down the blinds, allowing them to remain down 

 until all fear of the temperature being increased has passed. 

 Do not entirely close the Cool Orchid-house by shutting all the 

 ventilators as the sun is decHning, and at the same time damping 

 down the house, or the temperature becomes too hot for the plants, 

 and much moisture then is needed. Cool Orchids object to this 

 close, moist heat, therefore, air should be left on day and night, in 

 large or small quantities, as required. Attend to repotting as the 

 plants go out of flower. Should there be any great difficulty in 

 keeping down the temperature of the house owing to its exposed 

 position, then, in addition to the roller blinds, a permanent shading 

 of " summer cloud," or some similar mixture, applied thinly on the 

 glass, will probably be beneficial during May, June, July and August. 



Intermediate House. — Temperature, day with sun, 75" to 80°; 

 day luithout sun, 70'; night, 65°; morning, 60°. 

 Damping down will now be necessary, morning, noon, and 

 night; and the plants examined each day, and watered only if they 

 are in a condition to need water, for plants, even whilst growing, 

 should not be kept in a saturated condition. At this period of the 

 year, the plants should occasionally be sprayed overhead with 

 clear soft or rain water, especially after a dry, hot day, doing this 

 in the afternoon, when the air has been reduced and the blind 

 rolled up, and warmth from the sun's rays is decHning. The 

 Mexican Orchids, or those growing in the most sunny parts of the 

 house, may be well syringed, as the plants from having little or no 

 shading over them get dry quickly, and it also helps so much in 

 checking the work of injurious insects. By reducing the air whilst 

 the sun is still acting upon the house, an amount of warmth is 

 stored which will last until late in the evening when a little fire 

 heat may be necessary, particularly should the night be cold. 



Warm House. — Temperature, day loith sun, 80. to 95°; day without 

 sun, 75' to 80° ; night, 75° ; morning, 68° to 70°. 

 Attend well to the temperature and atmosphere by ventilating 

 carefully, so that no draught is caused, and the admitted air is as 



