20 PHAT,.?:Noi'srs. 



fan suggest. The Phalpenopsis honse nt Tring Park is a half-span, 

 and being the inner division of a long range facing south, no cold air 

 from the opening of outer doors can enter it. The floor is 2 feet below 

 the surface of the ground, and there are front and back beds covered 

 with slate slabs ; the front bed for the smaller plants averages 2| feet 

 from the roof-glass, the back bed for the specimen plants averages 4| 

 feet from the roof. The house is heated principally by hot-water pipes 

 in the pathway, and by two 4-inch pipes in each of the covered 

 beds ; in addition to these there are two 1-inch hot-water pipes both 

 along the front and along the back, placed as near the roof as possible. 

 Ample ventilation is provided for along the whole length at top ; the 

 shading is effected by means of a roller blind, and on hot, bright 

 days with the addition of an upright canvas screen 10 feet high, 

 placed immediately in front of the house, and which can be set up 

 and removed at pleasure. The plants are for the most part cultivated 

 in upright teak cylinders, the potting material being that described 

 infra. Many of them have been thus cultivated for ten years, and 

 have not only flowered in a satisfactory manner, but have greatly 

 increased in size. 

 The cultural routine practised by the most experienced growers of 

 Phalsenopsis may be thus formulated : — 



Temperature. — Phalaenopses usually commence their season's growth 

 in March, at which time the temperature of the house should be 

 gradually raised till the end of April, when the night temperature 

 should not be allowed to sink below 21° C. (70° F.), and the 

 day temperature should range from 24° — 27° C. (75° — 80° F.), 

 according to the brightness of the weather. These temperatures 

 should be maintained till the middle of November, from which time 

 they should be gradually diminished up to the end of the year, when 

 the plants enter upon their resting season, which continues till about 

 the end of March. During this season, the night temperature should 

 range from 15°— 18° C. (60° — 65° F.), according to the state of the 

 weather, raised in the daytime to 18° — 21° C. (65° - 70° F.), or 

 even a little higher on bright days. 



Watering. — This must be regulated according to the season, as Phalae- 

 nopses grow naturally in an atmosphere that is nearly always saturated 

 with vapour. The humidity of the house during the growing season 

 must be maintained to near the saturation point; this is effected chiefly 

 by "damping down," that is to say, by sprinkling with water all the 

 available surface within the house from which it will evaporate freely, 

 as the floors, side-walls, stages, etc. ; this should be performed at least 

 three times a day in sultry weather. During the winter months the 

 " damping down " may be restricted to once a day, or so often as is 

 sufficient to counteract the drying effect of the hot-water pipes, and no 

 more water should be applied direct to the plants than is sufficient to 



