68 ORCHIDS. 



plant, and an occasional exposure, if not too prolonged 

 or too hot, is not injurious. 



Canvas may be used for this mode of shading. There 

 should be blinds on each side of the house with a strong 

 lath at the top to nail the canvas to with a roller at the 

 bottom. The canvas must be nailed to the roller, but 

 care should be taken in doing this that the awning roll 

 up regularly from the bottom to the top. Such an awning 

 is also useful in cold weather for covering the house in 

 frosty nights, being a great protection to those plants that 

 are near the glass. It is advisable to have a covering on 

 the top of the house for the protection of the canvas 

 when rolled up, in order to keep it from wet. 



Another way which is to be recommended is the use" of 

 movable blinds rolling upon themselves in order to be 

 easily removed. The bars of the blinds should be verti- 

 cal and not horizontal, as thus there is less danger of 

 burning the plants, the solar rays being more divided. 

 These blinds are far more sightly than canvas and more 

 durable. 



WATERING. 



This is an operation always requiring great care. No 

 water impregnated with lime should be used, as it is inju- 

 rious to the plants. The best is rain-water, to secure a 

 supply of which, slate, brick, cement, or wooden cisterns 

 should be provided in every Orchid house. The temper- 

 ature of the water should always be that of the house ; 

 it may be warmer, but colder is injurious. 



The water should be applied by means of a syringe 

 with a flat nose pierced with very fine holes, so made as 

 to throw the water in a continuous stream. 



Water should not be indiscriminately applied to all; 



