106 THE ORCHID REVIEW. _ [Juty-Atcust, 1920. 
. CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR JULY-AUGUST. 
By J. T. BARKER, Orchid grower to His Grace the Duke of 
Marlborough, Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxon. 
URING the two warmest summer months, the general growing 
conditions of the various departments should remain as previously 
advised, every effort being made to maintain free and vigorous growth, and 
success will be sure to follow. The daily routine of watering, damping, 
shading, cleaning, and ventilating will occupy the grower’s time, but the 
monotony will be broken by watching the daily progress of the plants, and 
in many cases, the advancement is evident. This is perhaps more apparent 
this season than during the last few years, owing to the increased labour 
available, and the general return to more normal conditions is welcome, 
and should benefit our collections materially. The climatic conditions that 
prevail at this period are generally favourable to the development of the 
plants. Warm days and dewy nights are congenial to the occcupants Of 
the Warm, Cattleya and Mexican houses. The cool dewy nights are also 
appreciated by the inhabitants of the Cool houses, though during the day 
the usual steps should be taken to prevent any excess of temperature. 
VENTILATION.—To give plants every chance of deriving benefit from 
the cool and moist night air, the bottom ventilators should be left open in 
the warm houses, whilst in the cooler departments the top ventilators may 
also be used, whenever the outside conditions are favourable for such a 
procedure. Orchids succeed much better under the modern rational treat- 
ment than ever they did in the days when they were coddled, as fresh air is 
to them as essential as it is to a consumptive patient. 
ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE.—This free ventilation, and the increased 
amount of sun heat, necessitates a greater amount of atmospheric moisture, 
care being taken that this is not carried too far during a spell of cold weather. 
The health of the plants depends entire!y on the conditions provided for them, 
hence the necessity of careful observations of the outside conditions at all 
times. 
SHADING.—In order to strengthen and solidify the new growth, in bulbs 
and leaves, the shading may be removed earlier in the afternoon as the 
season declines, the plants at this season being much better able to with- 
stand strong light, and more air, than they were at the beginning of their 
growing season. As the different species complete their season’s growth, it 
is generally advisable, if possible, to remove such plants to a house where 
they may gradually receive more light, air, and Jess moisture. Those plants 
that are in full growth should receive water at the roots whenever they 
become dry, as perfect development of growth is only possible under 
