368 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
for Orchids that were originally built for another and a cooler class of plants, 
consequently the piping is insufficient to ensure the requisite degree of 
warmth without unduly heating the pipes, hence on the occasion of hard 
weather a dry and scorching atmosphere is created, althogether unfitted to 
the welfare of the choice and oftentimes costly inmates. What to do under 
these circumstances is a sore puzzle to the grower. Inthe first place he tries 
to maintain the temperature, and then in order to counteract the dryness of 
the air throws water about to produce moisture, which usually ends in 
remedying one evil and promoting another. Under these circumstances I 
would recommend that the temperatures be kept lower during a spell of 
severe weather, so that the above state of affairs does not occur. The evil 
of over damping during winter, when fire heat is so much in evidence, is 
two-fold in its action; first, we get a superabundance of moisture in the 
air, and second, the moisture condenses on the bars and rafters, forming 
drips, which, excépt under the most favourable circumstances, falls on the 
plants, and causes irreparable damage. In most modern built houses drip- 
proof bars and rafters are used, which carry off the condensed moisture, but 
even then a surcharged atmosphere is not at all beneficial at this season, 
this often proving the forerunner of the much dreaded “ spot.”’ The wisest, 
and in the long run the cheapest, method is, when a new house is being 
built, to place under the stages a much larger quantity of piping than is 
usually considered sufficient, for the greater the heating surface, the lowe¢ 
proportionately will be the temperature of the whole, yet the aggregate 
will be sufficient to raise the temperature of the house to the required 
degree, without the usual fiery sensation so much disliked by us as gardeners. 
Referring again to damping, I may say that in most houses there are 
certain parts that become dry much sooner than others, and consequently to 
keep them moist water has to be thrown on them frequently. This is not 
always wise providing there is sufficient moisture in the air without that 
arising from these sources, for, as before stated, an over abundant supply of 
moisture cannot be too strongly condemned ; hence it is often better to allow 
these dry regions to remain dry than to damp them frequently and create 
more moisture. _ The ashes or other moisture holding material beneath the 
pipes and stages should be damped when showing signs of becoming dry, 
but all quick evaporating surfaces should only be damped on favourable 
occasions. In the matter of airing, the Cool houses should, excepting 
during very severe weather, always have a chink of air on, as these, having 
less fire heat to. create a circulation, become ‘‘ stuffy” much sooner than the 
warmer departments. The latter should be ventilated on all favourable 
occasions, daily if possible, if only for an hour or so. The question of 
watering during winter has already been dwelt upon, but I must again urge 
the necessity of temperance and moderation in this respect. 
