Tun Errect or Foc on Orcuips.—It is astonishing to notice the effects upon 
Orchids of this the most disagreeable of all natural phenomena. The most vexing 
part. of the matter is, that as regards the culture of Orchids we are unable to 
cope with it. Extremes of heat and cold, high winds, and _hailstorms, heavy falls 
of snow and rain—all these we are in a great measure able to prevent from doing 
any harm to our plants 5. but the fog demon, however careful we may be, outdoes 
us. We may keep our doors closed, pull down the blinds, shut up the ventilators, 
but still he is upon us, entering by the laps of the glass, or through the crevices 
of the framework of the house. Nearly all Orchids which happen to be either in 
_ flower or bud at the time a fog comes on, fall a prey to its destructive powers. 
We have seen hundreds of buds of Phalenopsis, flowers and buds of Calanthe, and 
_ the inflorescences of Cattleyas, and other Orchids, turn yellow, and the flowers drop 
off in a very few hours. All this is extremely vexing, especially if after having 
watched some favourite plant, perhaps for years, just as it is showing flowers for 
the first time, we see them thus come to an untimely end. It is fortunate that 
some of the Orchid flowers are able to withstand its effects. Of course, our brother 
cultivators in the country have not so much to fear as those have who are 
located in the immediate neighbourhood of the metropolis and other large cities, 
and we are inclined to envy them their ett surroundings at this trying season 
of the year.—H. W. 
