ORCHIDS : HOW TO GROW THEM SUCCESSFULLY. 29 



indispensable factor in producing an atmosphere suitable for Orchids 

 and other plants which grow in company with them, and a good supply 

 should always be at hand. Hard, or tap water, will do for damping 

 the stages, floors, and side walls, in order to produce evaporation ; but, 

 for watering the plants, rain water, reservoir, or river water should be 

 used. The atmospheric conditions of the house, of course, varies 

 according to the season of the year, and, whether the plants are in a 

 growing state or at rest, there may be days which are wet and not very 

 cold, when it would not be necessary for the pipes to give out much 

 heat; then, what with the moist air entering the house and but little 

 fire heat to dry it up, and with the plants in a dormant state, 

 very little, if any, watering would be requisite on the floor, stages, or 

 the plants. But on days when it may be very cold, necessitating a 

 great amount of heat in the hot- water pipes, then, of course, sufficient 

 water must be used on the floor for the prevention of a harsh and 

 dry atmosphere, taking care to preserve a proper degree of genial 

 temperature. 



As a general rule, during the winter months, damping down the 

 floors and stages once a day is quite sufficient, and that work should be 

 done in the morning ; but on some days it is not required at all. In 

 the spring and summer months the atmosphere should be more humid 

 than at any other season, as the plants are then making young growths, 

 and it is at this time that a moist atmosphere is so essential to them to 

 induce strong quick growth. A higher temperature is then also 

 required in the Warm house, and more air being given, greater atten- 

 tion must be paid to the damping of floors, stages, &c. During the 

 growing season it is advisable to thoroughly damp down between the 

 pots, floors, and walks three times a day, especially in bright weather 

 morning, noon, and night. The arrival of autumn brings with it a 

 reminder that the plants having made their season's growth less 

 moisture is needed and may be partially, but gradually, withheld. 

 The season of rest having arrived, it is advisable to encourage an 

 atmosphere that is airy, light, drier, and bright, but not even then 

 should the atmosphere be allowed to get too dry, and under such 

 conditions the plants will be sustained in health during this period of 

 rest without exciting premature growth ; second growths late in the 

 season being very undesirable, for rarely can such plants as Cattleyas 

 and Dendrobiums finish off perfectly such growths, even in a long 

 and fine summer. Evaporating troughs on the hot-water pipes are 

 sometimes adopted to assist in generating moisture. 



TEMPERATURE. 



As with the atmosphere, so with the temperature of the house, 

 success depends in a great measure upon the right or wrong degree. 

 Even where proper arrangements have been made for ventilation, 



