212 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR JULY. 
By W. H. Younc, Clare Lawn, East Sheen. 
THE grower’s time will now be mainly taken up with watering, damping, 
cleaning, and other similar operations conducive to the well-being of the 
plants in the different departments, few subjects demanding attention in 
other directions, as the majority have been either top-dressed, re-mossed, or 
potted afresh. Of course, in large collections there are always individual plants 
of various species that need fresh material, and no matter whether seasonable 
or not, these individuals should be attended to when occasion demands, but, - 
as stated above, the first and foremost duty to be performed is to see that 
no plant suffers from the lack of the necessary liquid element, and that they 
be kept clean and free from injurious insects. To further this latter condition 
the houses should have a mild fumigation at frequent intervals with 
“ Richards XL.All vaporiser,” a compound which, since its introduction 
and general adoption, has lessened the worries of the gardener and been the 
means of benefitting the general appearance of the occupants of our houses. 
With this preparation the plants may be fumigated whether they be in 
flower or not, without any fear of injury resulting to the blooms. There are, 
I know, a few isolated cases in which the flowers have been discoloured, but 
not to any great extent, the tails of Masdevallia blooms, for instance, some- 
times change colour, those of M. tovarensis turning pink under the opera- 
tion. If possible a dull evening should be selected for the performance, or 
left until late in the evening, say, eight or half-past, when the sun has lost 
power to harm. Fora day or so afterwards the houses should be shaded 
earlier, so that the sun-light does no harm, this being the means of prevent- 
ing injury, which is more often than not attributed to the fumigation instead 
of to the unobservant gardener. In the matter of sponging Orchids, we find 
that nothing is needed other than clean rain water, excepting when we have 
an extra-infested plant, then we use a little soft soap dissolved in warm water. 
It is not advisable to sponge any plant when there are any young and 
succulent leaves or growths that are likely to be injured, excepting when it is 
absolutely necessary for the removal of unwelcome guests, and then the 
utmost care should be exercised to prevent any breaking or disfigurement of 
the leaves or growths. This is especially applicable to the Phalaznopses; 
that only make one or two leaves in a season and which are very tender in 
a young state. 
It will be as well now to take a glance through each department, to note 
the progress made during the last six months, and call attention to any 
imatter or subject that should have the grower’s careful consideration and 
attention during the summer months. Starting with the Cool house, we find 
that the majority of the Odontoglossums have done flowering for this season 
Sia or emer r 
