128 GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT. 



properly drained. If the plants are upon rafts or blocks, 

 they should be syringed two or three times a day during 

 the summer, and should be occasionally soaked by being 

 dipped in water. Plants in baskets should receive sim- 

 ilar treatment, and whenever they are dry in the morn- 

 ing they should be dipped. It is an excellent plan, 

 during the bright days of summer, to close the house by 

 the middle of the afternoon and syringe the plants with 

 a fine rose. By wetting down the walks once or twice 

 a day, in hot weather, a moist atmosphere can be 

 obtained, which will be favorable to the growth of the 

 plants. 



Hard water should not be used for orchids, and a 

 cistern in which rain water can be caught is quite 

 desirable. For use in winter, it is well to have a tank 

 inside the house, so that the water will be of the same 

 temperature as the plants. 



CARE DURING GROWTH. 



As a rule, orchids make their growth during the 

 summer, and rest during the winter. When the season 

 for growth approaches, the temperature should be raised 

 ten degrees, and the air kept moist. Since the epiphy- 

 tal orchids obtain most of their food from the air, 

 through their roots, an abundant supply of moisture 

 should be maintained in the air so long as growth is 

 made. During the middle of the day, it is well to dry 

 out the atmosphere and admit fresh air by ventilation, 

 when it can be done without unduly lowering the tem- 

 perature. 



TREATMENT DURING RESTING STAGE. 



As winter approaches, the growths will harden, and 

 the plants enter on their period of rest, during which 

 time the temperature should be lowered about ten de- 

 grees, and maintained at the following temperature for 

 winter: Stove orchids, night, 65°; day, 75° to 80°. In- 



