if allowed to remain on them will disfigure the foliage by causing yellow spots. 
Thrips will also attack them, and increase very fast if they are not kept under by 
adopting the usual remedies. 
SHADING Orcuips.—This is a subject of the greatest importance in Orchid culture, 
and one that is often overlooked until it is too late—the mischief being done. What 
is required is a strong durable material that will wear well, and, where rollers are 
used, stand the strain upon it. It must also be understood that shading does not 
consist of merely daubing upon the glass some opaque material, such as paint, summer 
cloud, whitening, or the like, which though all very well as palliatives in positions 
where rollers cannot be used, such as at the ends and sides of a house, are greatly 
to be deprecated as a shading for the roof, for this reason, that in our English climate 
we are so subject to sudden changes of the weather, that were such a permanent 
shading _to be used, we should frequently, especially during dull weather, have our 
plants in comparative darkness when they should be getting all the light possible. 
This cannot fail to lead to bad results and produce a sickly growth. Some growers 
use thick canvas ; indeed, we have done so ourselves many years ago, but, by experience, 
we have found out the ill effects of it, for when we employed this kind of shading, 
we found the plants under its influence became weak and sickly, producing small puny 
flower-spikes. A lighter shading was then employed, and the difference was marvellous ; 
the plants assumed quite a different aspect. It was at this time that we were 
exhibiting at Chiswick the fine specimens of East Indian Orchids—Aérides, Saccolabiums, 
andas, Dendrobiums, and many others—such as we seldom see equalled now. Since 
then we have used thinner shadings, with the best results. Our Vandas thus treated 
have always been strong and healthy, with broader foliage, producing their flower- 
spikes as often as three times a year, with the flowers of a good colour, lasting @ 
long time in perfection; in fact we are never without flower, always having a good 
display. We refer more particularly to the suavis and tricolor section of the genus — 
Some people imagine Vandas do not flower till they attain a large size, but such 
is not the case if they are properly grown, and thin shading is used. ne 
experience leads us to the belief that all Orchids, with a few exceptions, require 
@ thin shading, that is to say, one that, while warding off the direct rays of the 
sun, will allow the light to enter through it. To arrive at this result we use @ sept 
durable, cotton netting, woven in small squares, close enough to exclude the i 
of the sun, while the light penetrates it with but little interruption. This netting 
stands exposure to the weather much longer than canvas, and on that account ss 
cheaper in the long run. We have used this material for some years; in the vate? 
of Cool Orchids, Mexican, and East Indian kinds, with the best results, the come 
Peing attached to rollers with appropriate gear. For the cool Orchid _ ‘ 
employ raised blinds, upon which we hope to speak further shortly. The blinds 0 
mera with but little trouble. In the winter we take them off the house and a 
them in a dry place until they are required again in the ensuing spring —B. es 
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