4 SHADING. 



growing season, kept full of water. The pipe when warm heats 

 the water, and causes a gentle moisture to rise amongst the plants, 

 which is highly beneficial to them, especially to those growing on 

 blocks or such as root from the stems in the air. The degree 

 of heat Orchids require is by some growers set too high, and by 

 others too low. I have found, from the experience of a quarter 

 of a century, that the following table, drawn up for my use, and 

 corrected to the state it appears below, is amply sufficient for 

 them : 



EAST INDIAN HOUSE. SOUTH AMEEICAN HOUSE. 



Day. Night. 



Summer 75 to 90... 70 



Winter 65 ... 60 



Day. Night. 



Summer 60to65... 60 



Winter 55 ... 50 



These are average heats, inasmuch as on very hot days the 

 heat will be a few degrees higher, and in very cold weather it 

 may be a few degrees lower without any injury to the plants. 



SHADING-. The house for Orchids being put up, the next 

 thing to think of is how to shade the plants from the burning 

 beams of a summer's sun. At that season of the year the leaves 

 are young and tender ; and if a drop of water is on any one leaf 

 and the sun strikes it, the lens formed by the water becomes a 

 focus, and on that place a burn or scald will take place. To 

 prevent such a mishap the glass should be shaded. Some put 

 on it a covering of whitewash or some other daub, which is 

 certainly effective and saves trouble ; but the objection to this 

 mode is, that the shading being permanent, on dark days the 

 plants suffer from want of light to ripen the pseudo -bulbs : this 

 is a great evil. 



Undoubtedly the best shade is one that can easily be drawn 

 off whenever the sun is clouded. Perhaps the best material for 

 this purpose is the one named Shaw's tiffany ; it is quite stout 

 enough to intercept the rays of the hottest sun. To apply it so 

 as to save trouble, procure a pole, about two inches diameter^ 

 rather longer than the length of the house. At one end fix a 

 wheel six inches diameter. On each side of this wheel nail 



