18 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [JANUARY, 1915. 
reblocked on very hard wood just at the right time. Insects whose name is 
legion have to be considered, thrips, red spider, scale, larve, &c., have to be 
fought to the death, though vigorous well-grown plants are the least likely 
to be troubled. On the other hand there are no costly structures to 
consider, no fuel bills, no ventilators to be watched; nature provides both 
ample shade and the maximum of sunshine; the heavens do the watering, I 
will attest; and the net result for the lovers of this fascinating order of © 
plants is the same: A perennial source of pleasure and interest. 
Buena Ventura, Cascafal, J. C. Harvey. 
South Mexico. 
ae OF OPERATIONS FOR JANUARY. 
By W. H. TE, for many years rier rey to the 
C.V.O. 
late ee ‘Trevor Lawrence, Bart 
OR the benefit of new readers of the Orchid Review, of which I trust 
S there will be many, especially young beginners in Orchid culture, I 
may commence by stating that I group the various structures in which the 
plants are grown into five divisions, namely: East Indian or hottest house, 
Cattleya house, Mexican house, Intermediate house, and Odontoglossum 
or Cool house, their respective temperatures for the present time being 60° 
to 65°, 55° to 60°, about 55°, 50° to 55°, and about 50°, the lower figures 
for night temperatures as maintained by fire heat, or a few degrees less 
during exceptionally severe nights, when the houses, owing to the unusual 
amount of fire-heat, are, comparatively speaking, dry, the higher by day, or 
a few degrees higher by sun-heat, which is beneficial to the inmates of all 
the houses. 
ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS.—Up to the time of writing the weather has 
been comparatively mild, and, with a moderate use of fire-heat, no difficulty 
has been experienced in maintaining an evenly-balanced atmosphere in the 
various divisions; at the same time a splendid opportunity has been 
afforded to allow a free circulation of air, both night and day, an agent 
which, as every cultivator knows, is essential to the healthy development of 
the plants. Fresh air in moderation Orchids must have, as without it they 
do not thrive for long, and insufficient ventilation is, doubtless, one of the 
principal causes of spot and other forms of disease so often found amongst 
the plants. As an instance, only a short time ago I had the privilege of 
being shown through a well-known collection of Orchids; one small house 
being filled with moderate-sized plants of Vanda coerulea, and it was : 
pointed out that on a number of the young or topmost leaves a kind of 
‘watery exudation had recently made its appearance. 
tion was at once suspected as the cause and an increase of top air was 
Insufficient ventila- 
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