22 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR JANUARY. 
By H. A. BURBERRY, King’s Heath, Birmingham. 
THE temperatures for the month should be maintained as near as is possible 
to the following figures :— 
Cool house: Day, 55°; night, 50°; morning, 45°. 
Intermediate or Cattleya house: Day, 60°; night, 55°; morning, 50- 
East Indian house or Stove: Day, 65°; night, 60°; morning, 55° : 
The above figures are given asa guide for the grower to work to. I 
know that it is not always possible to maintain the thermometer exactly to a 
stated degree, nor indeed is it necessary for the welfare of the plants. Let @ 
the above be a guide, allowing the temperatures to fluctuate five degrees 
above or below, according to the conditions of the weather outside. 
Coot HousE.—This department is one that can be described as ue 
ordinary Greenhouse, having sufficient hot water arrangements to maintain 
a temperature of not less than 40 degrees during severe weather, and which 
should be kept rather more shady and moist during the summer months 
than that in which ordinary Greenhouse plants are grown. Having said 
this, I have said all. What, then, is there to prevent the merest amateur 
from growing Cool Orchids if he feels disposed to do so? The cost in 
management is plainly nothing more than that of the most common of 
plants, while the cost in procuring Orchids in these days of enormous com: 
petitive importations can almost be said to be on the same level. This 
Cool Orchid house should, during this month, give but little trouble as 
regards damping, watering, &c. If the thermometer is maintained at about 
the figures given, water distribution for the purpose of causing a moist 
atmosphere need not take place more than once daily, and in mild damp 
weather even this may not be necessary. The plants should all, without 
exception, be kept on the dry side—that is to say, let the compost get pretty 
dry before giving water. It is not possible to say how often a plant should 
receive water, because so much depends on the size of the pot, and the 
corresponding amount of compost about the roots. Again, one house may 
naturally dry up more quickly than another. Therefore, I will say in the 
old and somewhat vague language, water just sufficient to maintain plump- 
ness in the pseudobulbs. Give air on all occasions when the outside 
conditions permit, for if one thing more than another is conducive to the 
keeping of Orchids in a sound and healthy state, it is fresh, pure air 
administered in such a manner as to cause no draughts. Cool Orchids 
mostly prefer to be shaded from direct sunshine when it has much power, 
but no shading whatever should be employed this month. Although 
requiring shade in hot weather, they are nevertheless light loving plants, and 
should therefore be grown as near the roof-glass as it is convenient to place 
