5° THE ORCHID REVIEW. (FEBRUARY, I9%5: 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR FEBRUARY. 
By W. H. Wuite, for many years Orchid Grower to the 
late Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., K.C.V.O. 
URING the month of February the daily amount of sunshine will be 
appreciably increased, and the temperatures of the various divisions 
considerably raised thereby during the middle hours of the day. 
TuRip.—It is at this period that the small yellow thrip insects reappear 
in numbers, and multiply so fast that if immediate and proper means are 
not taken to destroy them they will eventually cause a great deal of damage 
to the plants. As there are now so few hands in many gardens to attend 
to such necessary work, owing to enlistment in His Majesty’s forces, the 
extermination of these pests with brush and sponge will take up too much 
valuable time, and therefore constant vaporizing or fumigation must be 
resorted to. From this period onward it will be good practice to vaporize 
each house once a week. Some amateur growers may consider this method 
too expensive, and in such cases the plants may be lightly sprayed overhead 
with some safe but effectual insecticide. Which ever method is preferred 
it is much safer for such work to be done just before sunset tha: at any 
other time, as then there is no fear of any foliage being scorched by the 
sun’s rays. Before commencing to vaporize, or spray, very little damping 
down should be done, but at the same time a moderately high temperature 
should be maintained, so as to induce the insects to emerge from theif 
concealment, when they are easily destroyed. Should the next morning be 
fine and sunny the plants may be well sprayed overhead with clean tepid 
rain-water, which will partially remove or weaken any settlement of the 
insecticide, and act as a deterrent against any evil effects which may 
otherwise be caused by a sudden burst of strong sunshine. 
ScaLE.—Where time can be spared, it would be advisable to 8° 
thoroughly over all the plants, particularly those that are liable to the 
attacks of scale insects, which frequently not only establish themselves 0? 
the surface and under the leaves, but also behind the thin tissue of covering 
of many pseudobulbs, and low down in the axils of the leaves of many 
species, where it is sometimes very difficult to eradicate them. For these 
Insects a small stiff brush or pointed stick will be best to remove them, 
and afterwards carefully sponge the whole of the plant. In cleaning tendet 
and brittle-leaved plants, exceptional care is necessary, as it is not 
uncommon to see leaves of rare and valuable plants broken and disfigured 
during such work, and the damage done in the majority of cases is 
irreparable, 
REPOTTING.—The potting of Orchids should generally commence about 
