56 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
watering takes place, it is well to put a little moisture about the floors once 
a day for evaporation. Newly imported plants not yet potted up, or plants 
on blocks, should be moistened oftener than pots of compost. If the plants 
are perfectly sound and vigorous—which they are sure to be if the house is 
one which dries up pretty quickly—they may be syringed overhead, if done 
during the morning, and lukewarm water is used, and no damping off will 
take place, even at this time of year, not even with the new growth of 
Dendrobiums. Plants grow all the better when this bold treatment can be 
given. Whether it is advisable to wet over-head or not, can only be judged 
by the one who has the management of the house, for various houses produce 
various conditions, and what is suitable for one may not be so for another. 
What I want is to advise amateurs to work upon the syringing system when 
watering, if possible, for it is the life and soul of the plants. There is some- 
thing natural about it. It is like a shower of rain coming just when it is 
wanted. It is also a quick, easy, and clean way of watering. A man might 
water a whole house full with a syringe while he is watering half a dozen 
with a pot. Be careful, however, to use lukewarm water. Those in bloom 
may be wetted just the same as others: the flowers will not spot, but are 
refreshed equally as much as the foliage. The idea that Orchids necessarily 
damp if water touches the leaves or flowers is absurd, and out of date. 
CooL OrcuHiIps.—In conclusion, under this heading, I beg to give 
amateurs and beginners a word of advice, and to point out a mistake which 
is often made when they are commencing to grow Orchids. They desire to 
grow Orchids, and naturally think that they may be grown in their green- 
house, with their varied collection of half hardy plants, with no extra cost for 
increased warmth. But the term “Cool Orchids” is an elastic one. There 
are many so-called cool Orchids, but the question is, can they be successfully 
grown in an ordinary green-house under conditions which suffice for half 
hardy plants? The answer is, No! They may not die, they may even 
grow, but rarely do they increase in size, or make satisfactorily plants. 
Their failure is not so much due to an insufficiency of heat, as to the aridity 
of the atmosphere—too much air at times, or too much sun. It should be 
borne in mind that Orchids, though fond of fresh pure air, are.also fond of 
moisture and shade to a reasonable extent. 
somewhat evenly balanced temperature, 
ordinary greenhouse. 
They also require a regular and 
and that is seldom found ia an 
Better companions for cool Orchids, if we consider 
the year throughout, are ferns and the warmer kinds of greenhouse plants 
such as Palms, cool-growing Dracznas, Aralias, Bougainvilleas, Cleroden- 
drons, Streptocarpus, &c. In fact I have previously stated that Cool and 
Intermediate Orchids may be all grown together in one house, the only 
difference being in the summer treatment, which I will further explain 
hereafter. 
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