26 • OECHiD- grower's manual. 



temperature, say from 45° to 55° in winter, and from 50° to 

 65° in summer. This house should be well shaded from the 

 sun with raised blinds (see p. 66), which will help to keep 

 the heat down, as too much heat is dangerous for these cool 

 Orchids. No fire-heat will be required in summer except on 

 cold or wet days and nights, the object of then having re- 

 course to artificial heat, being to keep the house from getting 

 too damp, dampness without the proper degree of warmth 

 being very detrimental to plants of this order. 



There are but few Orchids that will do without heat 

 altogether, except those that come from North America and 

 other cold climates, and these will be treated on in a chapter 

 hj themselves. 



ORCHID TREATMENT DURING REST. 



IS the time of starting into growth varies considerably 

 with different kinds, so also, as a matter of course, 

 will the season of rest, although with but few ex- 

 ceptions it comes on during the autumn months. Rest, it has 

 been elsewhere stated, is of great importance to Orchids, as 

 well as to other things. No plant will continue long in good 

 health without it. Our practice is to give them a long season 

 of rest, generally from November to the middle of February. 

 During this time the temperature of the East Indian house 

 should be regulated so as to keep it as nearly as possible at 

 60° by night and 65° by day, though by sun-heat the tem- 

 perature may rise a few degrees higher, but air must then be 

 given so as to keep it about 65° ; a few degrees of solar 

 warmth above this point will, however, do no harm. A little 

 air should be given on every fine day, in order to di-y up the 

 moisture ; but the air must be admitted so as to pass over 



