&& ORCHIDS : SOW TO GROW TSEtf SUCCESSFULLY. 



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, or perhaps, what would 

 be better, some thick shading such as bamboo or garden mat. 



INTERMEDIATE HOUSE. Summer Temperature. 

 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 it, 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 declining. 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. Summer Temperature. 



Attend well to the temperature and atmosphere by ventilating 

 Carefully, so that no cold arid draught is caused, and the admitted air 

 is as pure as possible. Ventilate chiefly on the leeward side, and use 

 shading during the hottest part of the day, but not too early in the 

 morning, and rolling up the blind rather early in the afternoon, whilst 

 the sun has some power, at the same time reducing the ventilation 

 and thoroughly damping down the house, thus creating a warm and 

 very moist atmosphere which will last until late in the evening, when 

 it may be necessary to have a little warmth in the pipes to prevent too 

 low a temperature. 



JUNE. 



COOL HOUSE. Summer Temperature. 



Great injury will be inflicted on the plants during the summer 

 months, if allowed to suffer from drought at the roots. Examine the 

 plants each morning, and water those where the sphagnum moss shows 

 a whitish colour. Thrip breed rapidly at this season, and, like all 

 other insects, must be kept down by the methods already indicated. 

 Instances of over- watering now will be rare when the plants have been 

 properly potted, and the compost as well as the plants are in good 



