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[591] 



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plentifully. When less air is required 

 every other aperture need only be opened 

 or the shutters may be propped only hall 

 open. "When they are opened, the fresh 

 air \vill rush in, and, meeting with the 

 pipes in its progress, will be partiallj 

 heated and softened before it comes in 

 contact with the plants a point wortf 

 attending to. For nine months in the 

 year this way of giving air to the Indian 

 house will be found all that is wanted 

 During the three hot months of summer, 

 it will be necessary to give some air a1 

 the highest part of the roof. The ridge 

 of the house should be made flat, about 

 nine inches broad, and parts of it made 

 moveable, to lift np with an iron rod 

 whenever the heat of the internal air 

 exceeds the proper degree. This is the 

 guide on all occasions and all seasons. 

 When the heat is too much, give air. 



It will be found that the Mexican 

 house requires more frequently to have 

 air given to it than the other, because 

 the plants in it do not require so much 

 heat. To know, at all times, when to 

 give air, have a copy of the table of heat 

 for the orchid-house copied, and hung up 

 in a convenient place to refer to. 



Besting. To know when the bulbs are 

 in a proper state to go to rest may be, to 

 our readers, of some consequence. They 

 ought to be strong, and, if expected to 

 flower, at least three feet high, stout, and 

 firm, quite to the apex. All the leaves 

 ought to turn yellow, and drop off in the 

 same manner as any other annually leaf- 

 shedding plant ; and all this ought to take 

 place early in autumn. As soon as it 

 does so, remove the plant, or plants, into 

 a drier and cooler house, and keep them 

 there until the buds at the bottom of each 

 pseudo-bulb begin to appear. 



Cleansing the Leaves. Take down the 

 plant from its high position; if the moss 

 or peat, whichever it may happen to be 

 growing in, is dry, give it a good soaking 

 in the cistern, the water of which is at a 

 temperature of 70. Whilst it is soaking, 

 all dead leaves are to be carefully re- 

 moved, and every part of the plant tho- 

 roughly washed with a sponge. If the 

 leaves are thick and leathery, the sponge 

 is ta be rubbed over them several times 

 with a heavy hand. In fact, it might be 

 called a good scrubbing; being careful, 

 of course, not to injure it. For more 

 tender leaves, we have, very lately, used 

 jBomething else. We observed that the 



sponge, though used ever so lightly on 

 these tender, thin leaves, injured them 

 slightly. Happening to observe a piece 

 of thick leather, such as soldiers' belts 

 are made of, it was taken and wrapped 

 round the end of a small stick, fastening 

 it firmly to it with some small copper 

 wire, leaving half an inch of it projecting 

 beyond the stick; it had then the ap- 

 pearance of a brush made of leather. 

 With this instrument the leaves were 

 washed, and it was so soft and pliable 

 that it did not injure the youngest or ten- 

 derest leaf, yet effectually washed the 

 dust and dirt off from the leaves. This 

 washing not only clears off the parasites 

 and any other obstruction, but also de- 

 stroys insects, particularly the red spider 

 and black thrip, two of the most perni- 

 cious enemies to orchids. Let every part 

 of the plants be well cleansed leaves, 

 stems, and pseudo-bulbs. Not only will 

 the plants .look better, -but they will be 

 greatly benefited in their health. 



Potting. Generally , speaking the 

 months of January, February, and March 

 are the proper times ; but as there is no 

 rule without exceptions, some orchids re- 

 quire potting at all seasons of the year. 

 The beginner may know when to pot his 

 plants by this observation : Whenever 

 they are determined to grow, they must 

 be potted. The only precaution neces- 

 sary to observe, in the dark seasons, will 

 be to use the stuff you pot them in (for 

 it can hardly be called soil) in a mode- 

 rately dry state, and give no water except- 

 ing a sprinkling to settle the compost. 



In the first place, have ready a quan- 

 tity of broken pots or potsherds of several 

 sizes; next, procure some good turfy peat, 

 knock it into pieces with a heavy hammer, 

 crushing the finer soil entirely out of it ; 

 then pass it through a fine sieve, and 

 what remains in the sieve is the best stuff 

 for orchids: it is light, open, and porous. 

 Next, have some charcoal at hand, broken 

 nto pieces no larger than a hen's egg, 

 nor smaller than a hazel nut. Another 

 article, and you will have all you need 

 or pots and baskets ; this is white bog- 

 moss, or sphagnum, which should be par- 

 tially chopped with a sharp hatchet, and 

 the dust also sifted out of it We have a 

 great abhorrence for anything close or 

 ine about orchids, excepting terrestrial 

 ones. 



Having all in readiness, take your 

 lant, turn it out of the pot carefully, be 



