SEPTEMBER, 1917 ] THE ORCHID REVIEW. * 205: 
By J. T. BARKER, The West Hill Gardens, 
Hess orks. 
5 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER. Tl 
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HOULD the favourable conditions experienced for the last few weeks- 
continue, the summer temperatures advised in a previous Calendar 
need not be materially changed. September is often a very variable month, 
as a quite genial period may be followed by another of damp, cloudy, and 
unsettled weather, necessitating a considerable modification of treatment so 
as to secure as equable atmospheric conditions inside the houses as- 
possible. Every opportunity should be taken to admit air and light, so as 
to ripen and consolidate the growths, but during dull, cloudy weather a 
considerable reduction in damping down will be necessary. This- 
particularly applies to the Cattleya, Intermediate, and Cool houses, as in 
the warmer divisions a certain amount of atmospheric moisture is- 
indispensable, in order to counteract the influence of artificial heat. Even 
here a continually saturated atmosphere may do much harm, hence the 
necessity of varying the treatment in accordance with the outside 
conditions. It is also important to gradually inure the plants to increased 
sunshine, but it is impossible to make a rule which is applicable to 
every case, because Orchids are grown in almost every district, and the 
outside conditions vary so greatly as regards light and moisture. Careful’ 
observation is necessary in every individual case. 
WaTERINC and SPRAYING must now be done with discretion, as it is- 
quite obvious that the plants in full growth will not take up as much 
moisture in damp cloudy weather as when the outside conditions are clear 
and bright. Individual plants of the same variety vary to a great extent 
in the amount of water they take up. Again too little water is equally 
injurious in-another direction. Plants cannot be successfully cultivated «by 
any rule of thumb methods, hence the necessity of an intelligent observa- 
tion of these small but important matters in our practice. 
During the present month a commencement must be made to place the 
plants in their winter quarters, this giving the opportunity of examining 
every plant, and cleaning and repotting any that require it. The 
periodical examination of the plants is of the greatest importance, especially 
where large numbers and numerous varieties are grown, and even in the 
cleaning and re-arrangement of the plants, method is a great assistance in 
getting this important work done effectually and well. 
CaTTLEYAS, L#LIOCATTLEYAS, and their allies will from now onwards 
give a good account of themselves, and so many of them produce their 
flowers at this season that it is impossible to enumerate them in detail. 
Any that are in need of new rooting material may be repotted whenever they” 
