146 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



or of some of them, is the cause of Jill failiiros, to a greater or 

 less extent. 



Our climate is naturally chy and arid compared with that of 

 England, from whence we have had most of the hand-books and 

 rules to govern orchid amateurs. The tendency of these is to lead 

 the inexperienced to believe, after reading up on the subject, that 

 too much atmospheric moisture and air can be given. In this 

 respect, however, modern culture has made great progress. The 

 most successful grower now does not hesitate to leave open both 

 top and bottom ventilators of the orchid house, during the sea- 

 son of growth, whenever the outside temperature ranges above 

 fifty-five degrees, except when there may occur a rapid fall of tem- 

 perature of the outside air. In consequence, all kinds of orchids 

 may be freely syringed over head even twice a day during growth, 

 and the walks and benches thoroughly saturated. There is little 

 danger of losing the growth of Cattleyas b}- syringing when the 

 maximum amount of air is given. Slow but solid growth is made 

 in this wa}-, favorably contrasting with the weak, watery growth 

 made in a close, heavily shaded house ; and ever}' orchid grower 

 should arrange to give fresh air through the winter, the period 

 of rest. This is the time when orchids, with the exception of a 

 few species from the hottest climates, become debilitated and lose 

 their vigor. 



A night temperature of 50° is better than one ranging from 55° 

 to 60°, and Cattleyas and many other intermediate kinds, if in 

 robust growth, will do well in a night temperature of 45°. For 

 the majority of all orchids, tropical or intermediate, in winter, a 

 comparatively low temperature is better than a high temperature 

 maintained at the sacrifice of all the atmospheric moisture, drawn 

 out b}' over-heated pipes. The latter condition is the cause of so 

 mauj' of our orchids coming out of their winter rest shrivelled and 

 weakened ; when, had they been subjected to lower temperature 

 and had more atmospheric moisture and more sunligiit, their bulbs 

 would be plump and well ripened aixl ready to start into strong 

 growth. 



Air ought to be given by bottom ventilatf>rs in winter if the 

 temperature outside is very low, and on all brigiit, sunny days 

 the top ventilators should be open. There are many other 

 successful ways of ventilating, but by some method or other 

 fresh air should bp had all the year round. Some of the 



