278 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER. 
By W. H. YouNG, Clare Lawn, East Sheen. 
To the cultivator of cool Orchids, the advent of this month isa real pleasure, 
for there is no month in which these plants make more real progress than 
they do in this, the temperate climatic conditions usually prevailing at this 
season being conducive to active growth and healthful vigour in the plants, 
when the operations depending on the gardener are carried out in a 
consistent manner. The atmosphere being cooler and moister than during 
the preceding month, considerably less damping and shading will be needed, 
though, as heretofore, the blinds should not be removed until the sun has 
lost its strength, or clouds obscure its ever welcome rays. So far as this 
department is concerned no fire heat will be needed this month, that is, 
providing unseasonable weather does not intervene. An abundance of air 
at night will be as essential as having plenty during the daytime, for it is to 
a very great extent the dewy nights that produce such beneficial results, 
therefore to exclude air because it feels chilly to us after experiencing such 
sultry weather last month would be depriving the plants of a wonderful 
health and life-giving element. No harm will reach the occupants of these 
houses so long as the night temperatures do not recede below 50° or a trifle 
lower, when the weather is fairly mild during the daytime. Nodoubtas the 
month advances an increased amount of artificial heat will have to be called 
into action for the warmer houses, but this should be done with great care 
and discretion, or incalculable harm will result from a too free use of the 
fire-irons. 
It may be as well to mention here that a great deal of annoyance and 
worry would be saved or entirely eliminated were the flues and chimneys of 
the respective heating apparatus cleaned and thoroughly overhauled this 
month, so that when a good supply of heat is wanted the fires will burn and 
generate heat quickly and economically. Work of this description should 
never be left until it becomes an imperative necessity, for inability to raise 
or sustain the inside temperature when adverse climatic conditions render it 
a necessity means damage to the plants, often of an irreparable nature. 
So long as the weather be favourable, summer temperatures should 
prevail in all the warm houses, though a slight decrease in those tabulated 
for the night should occur as the month draws to a close. Almost all 
operations that have through the summer been of daily occurrence should 
be modified to suit the conditions of the declining season, each day having 
a less amount of light and direct sunshine, shading will naturally not be 
required on the houses so early in the morning, and likewise should be 
removed earlier in the afternoon. 
Continue potting and top-dressing the Odontoglossums as they reach the 
