342 THE: ORCHID REVIEW. [NovVEMBER, 1923. 
CULTURAL NOLES. 
By J. CoLtier, Gardener to Sir Jeremiah Colman, Bart., Gatton Park, Reigate. 
REPARING For WrnTER:—November is considered the period at 
Pp which the winter treatment of Orchids should commence. During the 
_ dull dark days of winter all the light possible is needed for the well being 
of the plants, and no time should be lost before the cleansing of the houses, 
both inside and out, is given attention ; cleanliness of the plants and their 
general surroundings is most essential. By keeping everything clean and 
giving reasonable ventilation, the plants will grow cleaner and keep 
free from insect pests. It is advisable to reduce the temperatures of the 
various houses a few degrees by night and also by day. In the absence of 
sun-heat, the highest temperature of any of the houses should be between 
the hours of twelve and two p.m., while the lowest should be during the 
hours of darkness. From now onwards all Orchids will be benefited by 
being given all the sun-heat possible, and as the sun is capable of raising 
the temperature of the houses during the middle of the day, advantage 
should be taken by the cultivator to admit a reasonable quantity of fresh 
air. 
AUTUMN FLOWERING CATTLEYAS, L&LIAS AND THEIR MANY HYBRIDS.— 
Henceforward for some weeks these Orchids will furnish the chief attraction 
in the houses. Year by year hybrids of this section increase in the number 
of varieties and fine colourings, and they are of very great value in main- 
taining a display of flowers. The spikes when cut may be used for all 
kinds of decorative purposes, and by artifical light produce a very charming 
effect. The flowers will remain in good condition on the plants for some 
weeks if kept on the dry-side, and the amount of atmospheric moisture is 
reduced. But care should be taken that the flowers are not allowed to 
remain on the plants fora sufficient length of time to cause undue shrivelling 
of the pseudo-bulbs. After the flowers are removed, the succulent flower- 
sheaths should be cut off, severing them as near as possible to the top of 
the pseudo-bulbs. If these are allowed to remain, moisture sometimes 
accumulates at the base and sets up decay. The plants at this stage should 
be afforded a period of rest in the coolest, and best ventilated part of the 
Cattleya house. They should receive only sufficient water to keep the 
pseudo-pulbs plump, and be given every encouragement to form new roots, 
but premature growth should be prevented as far as possible. Weakly 
specimens should have their flower-spikes removed as soon as they appear 
through the sheaths, in order to throw all the energies into growth. 
Plants of Cattleya Triane that have completed their growths should be 
carefully watered, they need only sufficient moisture to keep the old roots 
moist, but the supply may be increased slightly when the flower-spikes are 
