THE ORCHID REVIEW. 409 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR OCTOBER. 
By W. H. YOUNG, Clare Lawn, East Sheen. 
WE must now be prepared for any and every kind of weather other than that 
we could wish, fog, frost, cold winds, and dull cloud-laden skies, all combat- 
ing against the welfare of our glass-house inmates, which will now more 
than ever require close study and careful management to fit them to resist 
the enervating influences of the exceedingly artificial conditions prevailing in 
these structures during the winter months. In most of the houses we shall 
be obliged to have resource to fire-heat for the maintenance of the desired 
temperatures, these should for the various houses be as near the under- 
mentioned figures as circumstances will admit, viz. :— 
Stove or East Indian house ..._ ... Day 70° Night 65° 
Cattleya and. Mexican houses... ...... ,, 65°" 4,60 
Intermediate house: os ea a OR Se ee 
Coolhouses... . * 0° 
The day readings will vary slightly according to whether the outside 
conditions be bright and warm, or dull and cold, but the night temperatures 
should be as even as possible with the employment of artificial heat. 
During moist warm weather the “nercury may rise a point or more above 
the tabulated degree without injury resulting, that is, if a more generous 
admittance of air through the bottom ventilators be allowed. 
Shading from now will be unnecessary for more reasons than one, and 
the blinds and other appliances should be taken from off the houses, and 
stored away in a dry condition, also all ‘‘ stippling”” that was placed on the 
glass for shading purposes should be washed off, taking care during the 
operation that none of the dirty water runs into the rain-water tanks. 
Instead of preventing light gaining admittance to the plants, every means 
must now be adopted to give it a chance of reaching the plants, and to 
this end all the outside glass should be washed some time this month. The 
removal of dirt and slime from the outside at this period prevents, to a 
certain extent, the deposit of such a thick film during a visitation of one of 
our London fogs. After the outside glass has been done, a commencement 
should be made inside, and every part should have a thorough cleaning, 
washing the woodwork, glass, and everything that will add to the 
cleanliness of the houses, and the appearance of the plants. 
It has often been remarked by observant cultivators, that certain 
Orchids appear to thrive better in dirty tumble-down houses than they do 
in comparatively new and clean ones, and the question is forced upon us 
whether it is altogether advisable to clean off the moss-like growth, &c. 
from the walls and-stages. No doubt such accummulations give off and 
help to maintain moisture in the atmosphere in a more natural manner than 
