88 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
of the outside atmosphere, and knowing the amount of heat in the pipes 
required to maintain a given temperature in the house, would be able to 
regulate the fires accordingly, without waiting until the thermometer in the 
house shows an increase or decline. The same thing is generally done by 
the rough-and-ready system of feeling the pipes with the hand, but Mr. 
Wrigley’s system is far more accurate, and we can readily see its 
advantages. We shall be glad to hear the result of extended observations. 
—EpD.] ; 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR MARCH. 
By H. A. BURBERRY, Highbury, Moor Green, Birmingham. 
The sun is fast gaining power, the temperature of each department becomes 
nicely warmed, without the aid of much heat from the hot-water pipes, and 
the growing season may be said to have fairly commenced. Under these 
circumstances the temperatures must now be raised to the following 
figures :— 
Coot House.—By day 55° to 60°, night 53° to 55°, morning 48° to 50°. 
INTERMEDIATE House and CaTTLeya or MExicaAN House.—By day 
65° to 70°, night 60° to 65°, morning 60°, 
Warm or East INDIAN HousE.—By day 70° to 75°, night 65° to 70°, 
morning 65°. 
The above figures may be taken as a guide, but I am well aware that 
this month is perhaps the most difficult of all in which to maintain a steady 
and regular temperature. Sometimes the bright sun causes the thermometer 
to indicate a much higher degree, but this will do no harm and should be 
endured, rather than put on too much air, which is at this period very 
searching. On the other hand, in the absence of sun the weather may 
sometimes be wintry, and then I would advise a temperature a few degrees 
below that quoted. 
Damping down about three times a day in all departments will now be 
. necessary, for the fire heat by night, combined with the sun by day, which 
is generally accompanied by drying winds, soon causes the atmosphere to 
become too dry, unless this precaution of damping down be taken. But do 
not merely put a can of water on the floor and think that sufficient; do it 
thoroughly well, by saturating between the pots, the stages, the walls, the 
floors, and in fact every space that can be damped without wetting the 
plants overhead. 
Our attention should be now turned without delay to the important 
matter of shading. The cool Orchids, if in a light built house which is 
exposed to the sun’s rays, will now require it, as also many of the warm 
house Orchids, which are partial to shade for a few hours during the day. 
Many are the kinds of shading employed, and various are the ways and 
